11 January 1968: Forests Commission to Pesticides Review Committee: “To protect long term growth study plots you area dvised that the Commission wished to apply Malathion at the rate of 5 1/2oz. in 3 gallons No.2 Fuel oil per acre… The Brittania Creek area is about 1 1/2 miles upstream from the the take-off weir of the Yarra Junction water supply… Past aerial spraying operations particularly in the Tarago-Bunyip River areas have been conducted with no detectable effect on water…”
1 February 1968: Forests Commission to Pesticides Review Committee: “…apply Malathion to 280 acres of Mountain Ash forest in the Powelltown area, subsequent studies of insect population have shown that the boundaries of four areas to be sprayed will have to be extended…” Brittania Creek 146 acres, Fitzpatricks Road 74 acres, Ada River 110 acres, Dowey’s Spur 140 acres.
1 March 1968: 15th Meeting Pesticides Review Committee: Application from the Forests Commission to spray areas with Malathion for the control of phastmatids in the Powelltown area.
22 November 1968: 22nd Meeting Pesticides Review Committee: 31. Letter received from Forests Commission advised of spraying program at Brittania Creek, Fitzpatricks Road, Ada River, Dowey’s Spur, Learmonth Creek Road. FCV letter dated 11 October 1968 – aerial spray 4676 acres “…The Brittania Creek area is of particular concern is about 1 1/2 miles upstream from the take-off weir of the Yarra Junction water supply. It is intended that no insecticide will be released within two chains of the water course – due to start 3/1/69 to 17/1/69.
7 February 1969: 23rd Meeting Pesticides Review Committee: Letter dated 23rd December received from Forests Commission requesting extension of area to be sprayed – Amalgamated Chemicals to supply “Dibrom” as comparison to Malathion area to be sprayed 100 acres.
11 Dec 1970: 41st Meeting Pesticides Review Committee: Item 31 Aerial Spraying by Forests Commission: “The Chairman advised the meeting that after discussion with Dr MacKenzie he had rung Dr Moulds concerning the area to be sprayed. It was thought that it might be too close to the water take-off of Brittania Creek. Dr Mackenzie advised that he had gone to the area to watch the spraying. He said that there was no difficulty with the water and advised the Forests Commission that it would not be necessary to provide water samples as the water take off was more than a mile away…” Letter dated 30th November received from Forests Commission advising of the proposed spraying of 15,000 acres, for the control of phasmatid insects. The chemical compound to be used is Maldison. Decision. To advise the Forests Commission that the Committee has no objection to the conduct of the spraying as outlined.
5 Feb 1971: Meeting of Pesticides Review Committee: Letters dated 24th December and 8th January received from Forests Commission requesting permission to spray further areas for the control of phasmatids.
24 Nov 1972: 90th Pesticides Review Committee Meeting: Item No31(a). Letter dated 13th November, received from Forests Commission Victoria advising of Commissions proposed control measure against the plague populations of phasmatids Didymuria videsceus in areas in the Upper Yarra and Neerim forest districts. Decision 24/11/72 To advise the Forests Commission that the Committee has no objection to the spraying program as set out.
16 Feb 1973: 91st Pesticides Review Committee Meeting: Item No31(a) Letter from Forests Commission dated 13 December 1972 received advising of spraying to control phasmatids. The area is adjacent to the water catchment for Warburton township water supply. Letter received from MMBW dated 13 December confirming information provided by Forests Commission.