J~ __.,....+"' . '

VICTORIA

Report

of the

SOIL CONSERVATION AUTHORITY

for the

Year ended 30 June 1981

Ordered by the Legislative Assembly to be printed

MELBOURNE F D ATKINSON GOVERNMENT PRINTER 1982

:>lo. 7 420311B2-2151F1) Cover and above: A reminder of what could happen when soil conservation measures are not implemented. During the 1930s, high winds caused millions of tonnes of soil to blow away in the Mallee region. In some areas, two metres of soil vanished exposing tree roots.

2 SOIL CONSERVATION AUTHORITY

378 Cotham Road, Kew, , 3101

The Honourable Vasey Houghton, MLC. 30 October 1981 Minister for Conservation.

Dear Mr. Houghton, In accordance with the provisions of the Soil Conservation and Land Utilization Act 1958 No. 6372, the Soil Conservation Authority submits to you for presentation to Parliament its Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 1981. The Authority wishes to express its appreciation for the continued co-operation and assistance of Government departments and State instrumentalities, municipal councils and landholders. Yours sincerely,

A. MITCHELL, M.Agr.Sc., D.D.A., Chairman

/ J.S. GILMORE J.P., Acting Deputy Chairman

J.F. ALLINSON, Dip.Ag., M.Env.Sci., Acting Member

3 AIMS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Soil Conservation Authority is a public • To ensure correct land use in water supply statutory body established in 1950 and operates catchments, with the object of protecting water under the Soil Conservation and Land Utilization quality and maintaining sustained yield. Act 1958 and associated legislation. • To provide a service to landholders which will Three members, appointed by the Governor-in­ ensure the efficient utilisation of "on-farm" Council, manage the Authority's overall activities. water resources in areas outside designated The Authority reports to Parliament through the irrigation areas. Minister for Conservation. • To promote community awareness of the need The principal objective of the Authority is to for soil conservation. achieve the adoption of soil-conserving land use • To provide advice and co-ordinate the policies practices by all land users in the State. and activities of government departments and Specific aims are: public authorities on the alienation, occupation, care and use of Crown lands to ensure that soil • To achieve correct systems of land use and erosion does not occur. management on all !and in the State so there is • To control shallow extraction of soil, sand and neither loss of soil nor its fertility. gravel to ensure soil protection during and after • To control erosion and reclaim eroded land. extraction.

CONTENTS

AIMS AND RESPONSIBILITIES 4 STRUCTURE OF THE AUTHORITY 5 MEMBERS OF THE AUTHORITY 6 THE YEAR IN BRIEF 8 EROSION PREVENTION 10 EROSION CONTROL AND RECLAMATION 14 PROTECTING WATER SUPPLY CATCHMENTS 20 IMPROVEMENT OF WATER RESOURCES ON FARMS 22 PROMOTING COMMUNITY AWARENESS 23 CO-ORDINATION OF SOIL CONSERVATION IN GOVERNMENT 26 CONTROL OF SHALLOW SOIL AND GRAVEL EXTRACTION 27 INVESTIGATION=s-- 28 LANDHOLDER PARTIC'-=IP-'A-=TI""'O-,-N...,IN,...,.-SOIL CONSERVATION 32 ADMINISTRATION""------~--~ fi'NANCE 35 APPENDICES 39 REGIONS AND DISTRICTS 51 ~~~~~--~------~------

4 STRUCTURE OF THE AUTHORITY

AUTHORITY DISTRICT Chairman ADVISORY -- Deputy Chairman COMMITTEES Member

i SECRETARY

CATCHMENT FIELD RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS & LAND ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS INVESTIGATIONS & INFORMATION CAPABILITY DIVISION DIVISION DIVISION SECTION DIVISION I J t I J Personnel I Publications I Office services Publicity Budget Media contact I Stores Displays & field days Land Catchment Technical library Photographic services Capability l' Investigation REGIONS Public relations ~

Special South land & Joint Central Mallee Northern Eastern Studies Hydrology ' Projects I ~ """"""' '1!111111111111 ~ ·~ -

Alpine & North J Coastal Barwon Glenelg Eastern laboratory Agronomy I Economics I a-ordination I I "] J I ,.. I - - - Farm water supply service .1 Soil conservation land use & management Erosion control and reclamation Extractive industries Catchment management Extension & advisory services

5 MEMBERS OF THE AUTHORITY

Chairman Mr. Gilmore represents the Authority on the A. MITCHELL Victorian Irrigation Services Advisory Committee M.Agr.Sc , D.DA, MA JAS. and the Natural Resources Conservation League. He has the responsibility of liaison with the 23 Mr. Mitchell has been Chairman of the Authority statutorily-appointed District Advisory Committees, since 1973. He is Deputy Chairman of the Land which represent clients of the Authority, and is Conservation Council, Member of the Chairman of the Bogong High Plains District Environment Protection Council (appointed Advisory Committee. He supervises grants and Chairman on 11 November 1980), Member of the loans made to landholders for soil and water State Co-ordination Council, and Member of the conservation, and grants to organisations for Commonwealth/States Standing Committee on erosion control on foreshores and Crown land. Soil Conservation (currently its Chairman). During Farm water supply services are a further the period 9 to 16 September 1980, Mr. Mitchell responsibility. was appointed Acting Member of the Environment Acting Member Protection Authority during the absence overseas of the Deputy Chairman, Mr. Alder. He is J.F. ALLINSON Chairman of the Thomson Stage Ill Water Supply M.Env.Sc., D.DA Catchment Committee and Convenor of the North Mr. Allinson, formerly Chief Conservation Officer, East Alpine Areas Working Group. was appointed Acting Member on 16 February Acting Deputy Chairman 1981. His responsibilities include oversight of soil conservation and erosion control programs, land J.S. GILMORE capability investigations and extractive activity J.P. controls. He represents the Authority on the Flood Mr. Gilmore, Member, was appointed Acting Plain and River Management Committee of the Deputy Chairman on the granting of leave of River Murray Commission. absence on 16 February 1981 to Mr. D.N. Cahill to undertake a soil conservation assignment of one year for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in the Ganges Basin of India.

A meeting of the Authority. From left: David Aughterson (Secretary), Jim Allinson (Acting Member), Alex. Mitchell (Chairman) and Jack Gilmore (Acting Deputy Chairman).

6 Acting Chief Soil Conservationist STANDING COMMITTEE ON SOIL HA ALLEN CONSERVATION D.D.A., M.A.T.A. The 44th meeting of the Standing Committee on Principal Research Officer Soil Conservation was held in between 29 September and 3 October 1980. This included F.R. GIBBONS inspection of soil conservation problems and B.Sc. activities in the Western District of Victoria. The Chief, Catchment and Land Capability main items considered were the proposed National Division Soil Conservation Program and recommendations arising from the sub-committees and working R.M. JOY parties of the Standing Committee. BA (Hons), M.Sc., M.Env.Sc., Dip.Ed. By invitation, Mr. Mitchell attended a meeting of Secretary the Standing Committee on Agriculture in Hobart D.M. AUGHTERSON on 5 February 1981, when the resolutions of the Standing Committee on Soil Conservation were considered.

The Authority expresses its deep appreciation for the dedicated and loyal service of its staff. lt also sends its thanks to Government Departments. State The Chairman. Alex. Mitchell. plants a red gum at lnstrumentalities and Local Government for their co­ Points Reserve. Coleraine. to commemorate the v!sit operation and support throughout the year. by the Standing Committee on Soil Conservation to the Glenelg Catchment on 29 September 1980.

7 THE YEAR IN BRIEF

The Authority's major achievements during 1980/81 were: • Group Projects: One hundred and two group projects involving 2, 778 landholders and covering 7,892 Km 2 throughout Victoria are in various stages of completion. • Farm Water Supply A total of 843 dams, 273 Km of pipeline and 338 ha of irrigation layout were surveyed and designed to improve water resources on farms. Soils from over 150 sites were tested for suitability for dam construction. • Financial Assistance One hundred and sixty-four landholders were paid grants totalling $87,678 to complete erosion control works. Forty-two loans for soil and water conservation totalling $317,600 were approved. • Advisory Visits A total of 10,965 field inspections were made for the purpose of providing advice on erosion prevention and control in water supply catchments and in public and freehold land. • Puckapunyal Army As part of a five-year program, $946,000 provided by the Commonwealth Range Government was spent on the treatment of 2,800 ha of the 20,000 ha extension to the Puckapunyal armoured vehicle range where the Authority is the prime contractor. • Dryland Salting Continuing studies of non-irrigated grazing and cropland showed that approximately 90,000 ha was saline and about 60,000 ha scalded resulting in an annual production loss in the order of $3 million. An assessment of the present and projected public and private costs of dryland salting funded by the Australian Water Resources Council, is in progress. • Coastal erosion Forty grants totalling $141,000 were made to foreshore Committees of Management to assist with the control of coastal erosion. • Land Capability and Twenty-one planning authorities were provided with maps and information on Erosion Risk Studies the capability of land to sustain particular uses without the occurrence of significant degradation. This information is being used by authorities as a basis for planning decisions and controlling land use in water supply catchments. • Water Supply Seven water supply catchments totalling 4,080 Km' were proclaimed and one Catchments was Land Use Determined. Proclamation alerts the community to the value of catchment lands for the production of water and need to manage it accordingly. • Land Studies Land studies and maps at scales of 1:100,000 and 1:250,000 were prepared for a total area of 40,000 Km to provide basic information to field staff, land resource management organisations and as input to L.C.C. reports. • Soils for Septic Tanks New and improved soil permeability tests to assist in the design of septic tank effluent absorption fields were introduced and will be included in a new Victorian septic tank manual to be published by the Ministry of Water Resources and Water Supply and used by the Department of Health and municipalities. • SoU Conservation at The Authority's land disturbance guidelines and advice are being applied at Major Work Sites major construction sites including the SEC's Loy Yang Power Station earthworks, SR&WSC's Blue Rock (TanjU) Dam, CRB's Berwick by-pass road, and Alcoa's Portland construction site. This is significantly reducing soil loss and stream turbidity and sedimentation problems. • Alpine Conservation Vegetation monitoring on ski slopes and the production of detaUed land­ vegetation species mapping continued. This will assist in providing better land use prescriptions for the increasing ski resort developments in the Victorian Alps.

8 • Restructure Under an approved Public Service Board restructure, the number of Regions was increased from four to eight. Increasing management autonomy is being delegated to Regional Officers. A new Catchments and Land Capability Division was created to give extra emphasis to these aspects of Authority work. • The Plowman Award An Award was established by Dr. Sidney Plowman and his family, of "St. Hillier", Devenish, for outstanding practical service made by Authority officers. The award was announced in April 1981 by the Honourable W.V. Houghton, MLC, Minister for Conservation. • National Soil At the time of writing this report, it became known that the proposed National Conservation Program Soil Conservation Program will not proceed. This Program whereby the Commonwealth Government was to provide funds to the States on a planned five year basis was proposed following the joint Commonwealth-States collaborative study of the extent and cost of achieving soil conservation in . The proposal was terminated by the Commonwealth Government as a result of recommendations of the Committee of Review of Commonwealth Functions.

9 EROSION PREVENTION

STUDIES OF THE lAND Soil becomes eroded when its managers fail to understand the risks resulting from combinations of soil type, slope, climate and geology. The soil conservationist must be reliably informed about the land's physical characteristics. In order to supply this information, some 30 years ago, the Soil Conservation Authority commenced a systematic study of the lands of Victoria. Studies of two-thirds of the State are now completed and interim mapping is available for the remaining one-third. Soil conservationists find this data invaluable in the formulation of land use prescriptions for a wide range of land managers. from farmers to government departments, agricultural consultants, schools, universities and municipalities.

PLANNING USE ACCORDING TO THE CAPABILilY OF lAND The Authority has a responsibility to predict which management practices will cause erosion and to recommend development and management which will avoid problems. Using either existing or specially initiated studies, officers experienced in the use and management of land produce maps of erosion-risk areas and land capability for particular uses. The land capability and risk rating given by the Authority is an Sigrid Kraemers. Research Officer. collecting and increasingly demanded service. Land use planners analysing samples part of a land capability study in make it a basic consideration prior to the application the Portland region. of social and economic criteria. The land capability approach is also used in water supply catchment considerations.

lAND CAPABILilY STUDIES FOR PLANNING BODIES Area Progress Erosion Risk Studies: Documentation of hazards and Report completed. input to Municipal planning. Report completed. Report completed. Shire of Beechworth Report completed. Rural Report completed. Draft report completed. Shire of Talbot-Clunes Report completed. Work in nr()Or·""" Upper Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges Region: Land Constraints Mapping of land constraints to • Urban Zones development to assist in Report completed. implementation of land use • Landscape Living Zones policy. Report completed.

10 Area Purpose Progress Loddon-campaspe Region: Capability for domestic effluent disposal and erosion risk: • Bendigo Sub-region Mapping to assist in Report completed. • Castlemaine Sub-region development of strategy plan. (Supervision provided for work by Dept. of Planning and Regional Authority staff.) Gippsland Energy Resources Study Area: Broad-scale capability study Input to development of strategy Report completed. plan. Shire of T raralgon Inputs to development of Draft report completed. Shire of Morwell strategy plan and municipal Report in preparation. Shire of Narracan planning. Work in progress. Capability studies around: • Boolara, Churchill, Draft capability maps Glengarry, Moe, Morwell, completed. Rosedale, Traralgon, Tyres, Willung, Yinnar. • Yallourn North Work in pr<>qn?ss. Gippsland Lakes Environs: Development of procedures: Draft material incorporated in input to development of strategy plan. strategy plan. Final report in preparation. Portland Area: Erosion risk mapping Input to development of Draft report completed. Capability studies strategy plan and municipal planning. • Portland Township Draft report completed. • 30 km radius from Portland Work in Coastal Studies: • Descartes Bay to Port Fairy to coastal management Report completed.

Shire of Pakenham: • Capability study Input to municipal planning: Work in progress. extension of coverage of an earlier study to remainder of the Shire. *Note that all studies listed in this table are also providing land capability information for use in municipal planning. See also table entitled "Land Capability Studies in Water Supply Catchments".

11 IMPROVING THE QUALITY AND INCORPORATION OF SOIL ACCESSIBILITY OF lAND RESOURCE CONSERVATION IN PlANNING INFORMATION ORDINANCES The completion this year of a staff manual detailing The prevention of soil loss reduces the costs of road procedures for collection of data and the rating of and drainage works and water treatment. The use land for its capability will ensure improved of land in accordance \vith soil conservation standards. The skills of the Field and Land principles therefore has direct cost benefits. As well, Capability Officers and a Computer Programmer there are intrinsic and aesthetic benefits. have been combined to reduce the time involved in These benefits are being increasingly recognised by producing land capability ratings. A trend away muncipalities and other planning authorities with a from detailed reports to self·explanatory maps is resultant upsurge in demand for the Authority to assisting to speed up and reduce the cost of provide comments on new or revised planning providing land resource information to clients. schemes or interim development orders. CAPABILITY OF LAND TO ABSORB Providing input to planning ordinances has potential SEPTIC TANK EFFLUENT for the attainment of soil conservation at minimum costs to the community. Where soil conservation is The capability of the soil to absorb and transmit incorporated as part of a planning scheme. they can water and septic effluent is closely related to its be administered by the planning authority with structure. Over-application of effluent to poorly minimum input by the Authority. Provisions of structured and steeply sloping soils can result in advice to planners is therefore seen as an important erosion and the movement of soil and pollutants aspect of the work of the Authority. into water supplies. Land capability data provided by the Authority was The Authority needs information on the capability used by the Department of Planning for revising of land to absorb septic tank effluent to provide a planning controls in the catchment to Lake better basis for both erosion prevention and the Eppalock in the Shires of Mclvor, Metcalfe and determination of appropriate land uses in water Strathfieldsaye. In the Lake Eildon catchment, the supply catchments. Authority provided information for a review of the Two contracts were let to La Trobe University to planning scheme administered by the Shire of assist the Authority in this work. One study has Mansfield. improved procedures available for estimating the The Authority continues to co-operate with the rate of effluent absorption into particular soils. The Ministry for Planning and Shire Councils in other, in its final stages, evaluates the effectiveness providing input to the "Rural Mapping Program". of various evapotranspiration methods of effluent disposaL "Erosion Risk" maps and accompanying reports have been prepared for the Shires of Beechworth, The Authority has introduced two new and more Benalla, Chiltern and Winchelsea. Similar work is in convenient tests for measuring soil permeability. progress for the Rural City of Wodonga. These replace the widely used but unscientific soil percolation test. On the basis of the research carried A supporting "guidelines" report on "Assessment of out at La Trobe University design criteria for Erosion Risk and On-site Effluent Disposal'' was effluent absorption fields, transpiration beds and produced by the Authority for the Bendigo Sub­ combination absorption transpiration systems have Regional Strategy Plan. been partly completed. These criteria will be used in The Authority, State Rivers and Water Supply the new Victorian septic tank manual which is being Commission and Department of Agriculture prepared in co-operation \vith other departments. regional officers are represented on the Loddon/Campaspe Regional Planning Authority's Soil as a Purifier of Septic Effluent Rural Land Use Committee. A major task for The research done at La Trobe University showed 1980/81 has been the production of a draft that nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen can only "Planning Policy for Rural Areas" move a few metres away from effluent disposal trenches in the majority of cases. Adequate trench REDUCING SOIL LOSS AT length is important to avoid saturated soil conditions CONSTRUCTION SITES and poor retention of nutrients. A 1980 circular from the Premier (80/16) requires all State Government instrumentalities to implement techniques to minimise soil loss at construction sites.

12 Guidelines for this work are provided in a manual was made available for construction of urgent published by the Authority. One full-time officer erosion control earthworks. and Regional-based staff on a part-time basis provide on-site advice to construction authorities. SOIL CONSERVATION IN ALPINE AREAS Major users of this service are the State Electricity There are increasing recreational pressures on the Commission of Victoria on the Loy Yang and other Alpine lands of Victoria which increase the risk of power station sites in the Latrobe Valley; State erosion. The development of recreational facilities Rivers and Water Supply Commission at the has disturbed native vegetation and soils. Trampling Mitchell River and Blue Rock (T anjil) Dams and the pressure of large numbers of people "wear out" Sandhurst Reservoir; Country Roads Board on the plants and expose soil to erosion by raindrop Berwick Bypass and other major highway action, frost heave, snow melt and wind. In the constructions; and Alcoa of Australia Ltd. at its harsh Alpine climate, re-establishment of vegetation Portland construction site. is more costly and takes longer to achieve than at These major construction authorities recognise the lower altitudes. benefits of implementing soil erosion and As well, once erosion occurs it is difficult to control. prevention techniques on construction sites. They find that working conditions are improved, with In order to prevent or minimise soil and vegetation damage, the Authority is represented on ski resort definite cost reduction advantages for projects and for personnel. For example, diverting water away Committees of Management at Falls Creek and from work areas using low-cost diversion banks Mount Hotham. At Mount Buller, advice and keeps the site drier and extends working times supervision of earth works and revegetation are during wet weather. Establishing grass on provided to the Management Committee. completed or temporarily completed earth works Applied research is improving the quality of maintains finished construction levels avoiding the information available for deciding on land use and need for continuous maintenance. Grassed sites management programs above the snow line. prevent silt from clogging drains and the dust from Examples of current programs are as follows: blowing around the site. The grass coverage also reduces stream sedimentation and so decreases the Bogong High Plains Vegetation Map effects on downstream water users. Such A knowledge of the location and condition of improvements are achieved at a fraction of the total vegetation communities, especially fragile ones, is site construction costs. essential for conservation and proper land-use The benefits of minimising soil loss and land planning in the Alpine areas. A detailed vegetation disturbance at construction sites are recognised to map at a scale of 1: 15 000 is being prepared from the extent that the guidelines are being incorporated recent colour aerial photographs and data collected in strategy planning documents, such as the from 300 sample quadrants. The map consists of Bendigo Sub-Regional Strategy Plan. five sheets, some of which will be published for sale to the public. During 1980/81, 44 ha of earthworks were stabilised for construction authorities by direct hire Colour Aerial Photography, Bogong High of the Authority's mechanical mulching and seeding Plains equipment. This operation earned $17,000 in revenue, an increase of $4,300 over 1979/80. Low-level aerial photos using colour and infra-red film provide a means of mapping existing vegetation The selection of plants for use in stabilising soils and erosion, and serve as a basis for monitoring bared during construction is an ongoing study. future vegetational change. Areas included are the sensitive summit ridges of Mounts Bogong, Fainter EROSION PREVENTION FOLLOWING THE and Nelse; fenced experimental areas at Rocky YEA FIRE Valley and New Species Gully; upper sections of Following the March 1981 bushfire in the Yea Cope, Watchbed and Whiterocks Creeks, and ski District, particular attention was given to assisting runs at Falls Creek and Mount Hotham. farmers in completing work which would both The Authority gratefully acknowledges the prevent erosion and improve production. Advice assistance of the Environmental Studies Division, was given concerning the establishment of perennial Ministry for Conservation, in providing funds. and pastures on steep hill country and the proper the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, erection of subdivision fences to prevent which made their specially-equipped plane overgrazing. Machinery owned by the Authority available.

13 EROSION CONTROL AND REClAMATION

The Authority provides services for the control of Stumpclearingat$20/ha $ 6,260 erosion to municipalities, Government departments Pasture establishment at "Bnd farmers. Advice given to clients goes beyond $30/ha $ 9,390 control and reclamation of the actual erosion; it must include treatment of the cause which may Follow-up fertiliser applications require land use changes elsewhere. Where at$10/hafor3years $ 9,390 inappropriate use or management is identified as Erosion control works- tunnel the cause, the land manager needs to be ripping and gully battering $ 2, 700 encouraged to adopt the required changes. $27,740 or $88/ha The financial benefits of erosion control to both the community and the landholder vary according to In this case, the Authority provided a grant circumstances. For example the $1.2 million amounting to $1,350 which represented 50 per invested by the Government in the 827 km 2 cent of the erosion control earth works. Eppalock Catchment Project showed a return on investment well above ruling interest rates. Erosion Dryland Salinity control in this Project was obviously a sound This example is on an eastern Mallee property economic investment for the community and the where the Authority's field staff gave advice for the participating land holders. control of seepage from sand dunes causing salt Where benefits are essentially long term and accrue areas on the valuable flat cropping land immediately mainly to the community, land holders find it below the dunes. difficult to finance erosion control programs. They This salting occurs under natural rainfall conditions. are assisted to control erosion and make the It is the result of reduced water use by vegetation required changes to land use and management and trees, and it followed the clearing of the original practices with grants of public funds. mallee. Rainfall not used by plants now seeps downslope carrying dissolved salts. The seepage EXAMPLES OF EROSION CONTROL ON raises the water-table in the inter-dune flats. When FARM LAND the saline water reaches the root zones, pastures fail and crop yields fall. Eventually bare soil occurs and The following examples show that to effect control the area becomes totally non-productive. of erosion, the client has to invest considerable sums of money. Whether the investment in erosion Where the origin of salt is local dune seepage not control and management change earns improved complicated by high saline regional water-tables, the levels of income, depends largely on the nature of optimum solution is to change land use on the sand the problem. dunes from annual pasture and cropping to grazing of lucerne - a deep-rooted perennial legume Tunnel and Gully Erosion which uses large amounts of water. This will reduce dune seepage. The lucerne must be grazed to allow This example is on 313 ha of grazing land at St. sufficient foliage to remain to provide for adequate Arnaud in the North Central Hills Region. Tunnel transpiration. The planting of salt-tolerant grasses and gully erosion on this hilly country was due to a and legumes will prevent the erosion of the bare soil long history of overgrazing of native pastures after areas. clearing following early settlement. The low levels of water use and runoff interception by the overgrazed The change of land use from cropping to grazing native pasture, compared to 1that of pre-settlement reduces the income earning capacity of the land. by trees and grass, was allowing excess water to In this Mallee example, the property contained two move through the subsoil to the highly dispersible separate inter-dunal salt areas totalling 30 ha. The clays, starting tunnel erosion. High velocity runoff sand dunes contributing the saline seepage covered after rainstorms was causing sheet and gully 60 ha. erosion. The cost of establishing the lucerne on the dunes The treatment was to replace the native pasture was $780. Fencing to initially prevent grazing and with improved species which would use more later to facilitate careful control of stocking rates after rainfall and because of increased sward density, pasture establishment was $2,800. The cost of slow down runoff and reduc~! its erosive power. establishing salt-tolerant grasses totalled $620 or Pastures would have to be managed to prevent $20/ha. Trees planted to assist in interception and overgrazing. The direct costs of achieving this transpiration of seepage cost $100 including tree change on the 313 ha were: guards.

14 Gully erosion which was ravaging profitable farmland on Percy Rathjen's property near Flynn (above) was brought under control with the assistance of the Authority (below). The time lapse between the two photographs is about ten years.

15 The direct costs of treating the total area of 90 ha in To Coastal Foreshore Managers the interests of preventing further loss of land due to Grants made available to managers of coastal land dryland salinity was $4,300 or $40/ha. In this case, including Foreshore Committees of Management, the Authority provided a grant of $1,590 towards the Crown Land Management Section of the the cost of protective fencing and the seed of salt­ Crown Land and Survey Department and the tolerant grasses. National Parks Service were as follows: Failure to control this problem will result in larger • 40 grants approved: areas going out of production. As well, the loss of capital value due to salinity is paralleled by the -7withinPortPhillipBay $ 36,000 community's loss of a productive land resource. - 33 along ocean beaches outsldePortPhillipBay $105,000 GRANT INCENTIVE ASSISTANCE FOR EROSION CONTROL $141,000

To Farmers • Grant applications for which Three hundred and seventy· two landholders fundswerenotavailable $ 30,000 applied for approved grant assistance in the form of To local Government cash, materials or labour assistance totalling $178,393. Finance was available to pay 164 Grants to local government are mainly for roadside landholders grants totaUing $87,678. erosion control. The amount of funds available to municipalities is small in relation to the extent of the To Farmers in Project Areas problem. Incentive grants to farmers within group project During 1980/81, ten grants were approved to three areas are approved at a marginally higher rate shire councils totalling $30,400 on the basis of a $5 because of the advantages of group activity. One Authority grant for every $1local contribution. hundred and twenty-two grcmts totalling $122,667 were approved during 1980/81, being in the form of cash or materials towards specified works.

Councillor Bill McKay, President of the Lakes Entrance Foreshore Committee of Management, and Frank Garden, District Soil Conservationist, discuss the success of reclamation work on the Ninety Mile Beach, Lakes Entrance.

16 GROUP PROJECTS Authority at a ratio of 2 to 1. Land holders co-operating in a group to overcome On a State-wide basis, works have been completed, common erosion problems are an important feature or are in progress, in 88 Group Conservation Areas of soil conservation in Victoria. The benefits of a and 14 Conservation Projects, involving a total of group approach accrue to land holders and to the 2, 778 landholders and 7,892 km'. State. Fifty-four projects involving 2. 982 Km' have not Land holders benefit particularly when control commenced due to insufficient resources, although measures pass through property boundaries. For most of the 1, 460 landholders involved are keen example, in water-eroded cropping land, excess to proceed. In addition, three requests were water may be disposed of via specially constructed received in 1980/81 for group projects in the grassed water-ways which start at the top of a Woodshed Creek, Brooks Cutting and Glendaioch catchment and eventually discharge into a creek in areas. the valley. Excess water from erosion control banks In anticipation of an accelerated soil conservation and dams on each property may be fed into the program funded by the Commonwealth water-way so that it becomes a discharge area for Government, project planning procedures and the the group. priorities of projects were reviewed. A "Group Conservation Area" project constitutes a Six "program" areas have been established. These formal agreement between the landholders and the are areas containing similar climatic, land and Authority to adopt a methodical approach to erosion problems. Within the program areas. achieve soil conservation. The work and financial projects have been selected in priority order for responsibilities of each landholder and the Authority planning and works execution. are also detailed. Where the inter-dependence of control measures is THEPUCKAPUNYALPROJECT of less significance. but there are still advantages in The Authority fulfils two main roles in the dealing with the problem on a group basis, the less Puckapunyal Project. It acts as prime contractor. formal "Conservation Project" approach is adopted. arranging, administering and supervising works. and During 1980/81, the planning and commencement execution of the soil conservation program on of three Group Conservation Areas of Berrimal, behalf of the Commonwealth Government. lt also Devenish East and Nillahcootie totalling 34,870 ha advises on soil conservation aspects of further were approved by the participating land holders and development. the Minister for Conservation. Between 1971 and 1981. a $4.8 million works Planning of Parwan Valley No. 5 Group program was completed on the Puckapunyal Armoured Vehicle Range of 42,700 ha. The Conservation Area of 2,190 ha was completed Authority organised all the erosion control and during 1980/81. This completes the planning of pasture improvement works enlisting the co­ soil conservation and erosion control in the 180 km' Parwan Creek section of the 1060 km' Melton operation of other departments where their specialist services were needed. A maintenance Reservoir catchment. The Parwan catchment program was initiated by the Authority for execution provides most of the silt which has reduced the Reservoir's capacity by 29 per cent since its by an Army works maintenance team. so that the $5 million investment in soil conservation on construction 60 years ago. "Range East" and "Gray'town Proving Range'' will The smallest project yet approved by the Authority not deteriorate. is the 10 ha Long Gully Conservation Project near The Authority is undertaking the same "prime Violet Town. This was approved in 1981 and was works contractor" role for a five-year program on the worst concentration of gully and sheet erosion in north-eastern Victoria. The benefits of erosion the newiy acquired 20,000 ha "Range West" land. The project commenced in 1980/81 with a budget control are small to the land holders, but large to the of $946,000. public. Silt and water runoff from this area affects road safety, road drainage and contributes to a The aim is to control existing erosion on this former flooding problem. agricultural grazing land and prevent erosion which Because of the public benefit of controlling this easily develops as a result of military tank and erosion. the Authority will contribute $5,520 and vehicle movements. and live weapon firing the land holders $2,700. Land holder contributions exercises. in projects usually exceed those provided by the The Army required a firing range where moving

17 targets could be fired at by stationary tanks. At and hence an increased value for training Colston Hill. the Authority works program included together with the reduction in dust and other the selective bulldozing and wind-rowing of forested problems in the cantonment area. The land to allow moving targets to be periodically concentration and hence loads of suspended visible. Scattered tree corpses were retained on this solids have certainly declined in many of the range and the cleared areas prepared for sowing to streams and the high turbidities that remain are pasture. The natural density of forest was not largely the result of point inputs such as fords disturbed where trees were outside the firing lines. across the creeks." During 1980/81, a total of 2,800 ha of land was FIELD ADVISORY SURVEY AND prepared for sowing to perennial pastures including SUPERVISION SERVICES fence removal, stump clearing, erosion gully During 1980/81, field officers completed the battering and cultivation. Contract sowing of only following: 1,600 ha was completed due to a dry autumn and the lateness of effective rains. Inspections for clients 10,975 The achievements of the Au:hority at Puckapunyal Design for gully-head structures 95 (42built) have, perhaps, been best ass.essed in the Survey and supervision of Puckapunyal Revegetation Program Report, grassed water-ways 21.2 ha number 12. published by the~ CSIRO, an extract from which is reprinted below: Recommendation for protective fencing 13 km "As a measure of the success of the project a recent map produced by the Army shows a very Recommendation for reclaiming great reduction in the 'no-go' areas relative to salt-affected land 117.0 ha the situation prior to 1971. In addition long-term Recommendation for the range users, reposted officers and both military establishment of improved and civil recurrent visitors report an pastures on eroded and erosion- improvement in the quality of Range stability prone land 412.6 ha

shows a bad section of the eroded Lake King on his property at Broadlands (near Bairnsdale} to Sami Hisheh. Publications and Information Officer. and Dick Aukema. District Soil Conservationist.

18 TREE PLANTING behalf of the Authority, for works recommended During the year, 120,000 trees were planted and approved by the Authority. throughout Victoria specifically for the control of During 1980/81, 421oans totalling $317,600 were erosion. This represents twice the number of trees made available. Seven of the loans totalling planted during 1979/80. Plantings were increased $43,000 were for the construction of erosion­ in particular in the Glenelg and Dundas projects in control schemes, 26 loans totalling $170,400 were south-western Victoria. for the installation of stock and domestic water­ supply schemes and nine loans totalling $104,200, FINANCIAL LOAN ASSISTANCE FOR SOIL provided from the Rural Finance Commission Farm AND WATER CONSERVATION Improvement Fund, were applied to farm In addition to incentive grant assistance, a loans development where soil conservation and farm scheme is available. Finance allocated is water supply improvement was a major content of administered by the Rural Finance Commission on the work.

1979-80 1980-81 Purpose of Loans No. $ No. $ (a) Loans for stock and domestic water supply 37 186,000 26 170,400 (b) Loans for soil conservation 14 75,000 7 43,000 (c) Loans for irrigation and piped water supply 17 231,000 9 104,200 schemes (Farm Improvement Loans) TOTALS 68 492,000 42 317,600 The reduced number of loans in 1980-81 is a reflection of the reduced allocation available and the increasing cost of each project.

19 PROTECfiNG WATER SUPPLY CATCHMENTS

CAPABIUlY OF LAND TO PRODUCE Gully erosion is a major problem in the WATER Honeysuckle Creek catchment, which provides The Authority has responsibilities in proclaimed water to Violet Town. The Violet Town Waterworks water supply catchments for determining land use Trust, owners of land in the catchment and the and management methods which will ensure clean Authority have commenced a co-operative project water. Land capability studies provide a systematic of land stabilisation. This will involve fencing and basis for the selection of land use options and for the revegetation of drainage lines using grasses and presenting these options to planning authorities. trees and the construction of small-scale diversion banks. The Authority is assisting with advisory Studies were completed in the Shires of Bungaree, planning and financial grants towards the erosion Bannockburn, BaUan and Buninyong, which control components of this work. include the Lal Lal and Moorarbool River (Sheoaks) catchments supplying the City of Ballarat. Particular The townships of Erica and Rawson and attention was given to land adjoining the townships surrounding land were mapped and assessed for of Dunnstown, Mount Egerton, Wallace and the effects of residential development on water Bungaree where future development may occur. quality, particularly in the Tyers River water supply catchment. Field work for a capability study of the The Delatite River Basin, part of the Upper Tanjil River catchment is complete Land capability Goulburn (Eildon) Proclaimed Water Supply studies in the water supply Catchment, was the subject of a land capability catchments are in draft form. study during the reporting period. This work precedes the statutory determination of use and The following table shows the status of land management of land in the catchment under capability studies in water supply catchments: Section 23 of the Soil Conservation and Land Utilization Act.

LAND CAPABILITY STUDIES IN WATER SUPPLY CATCHMENTS • Area Purpose Progress Input to municipal planning Report printed schemes: SCA Land Use Shire of Bannockbt:rn Determination Report printed Tanjil Catchment Input to Land Use Field work completed, data Determination analysis in progress Eppalock Catchment Input to revision of planning Report completed controls Upper Goulburn Catchment Input to Land Use Field work and preliminary • Delatite River Catchment Determination analysis completed. Report in preparation. Shire of Romsey Inputs to municipal planning Draft report completed • Catchments to Lancefield, scheme and LUD revision Romsey, . Gisborne and Sunbury Erica-Rawson Township Input to planning decision Report completed (Tyers Catchment) (MMBW, Dept. of Planning and Shire of Narracan) 'Note that all studies are also providing land capability information for use.

20 APPROPRIATE LAND USE IN WATER water supply. The catchment contains the proposed SUPPLY CATCHMENTS Mitchell River Dam. Section 5(1)b of the Land Conservation Act (1970) Bealiba catchments: drain to storages providing the and Sections 22 and 23 of the Soil Conservation main and emergency domestic water supply to and Land Utilization Act (1958) provide for: Bealiba. The catchments, which are located in a relatively dry region with erratic and unreliable • Proclamation of a water supply catchment which rainfall, have suffered appreciable soil erosion in the is a legal definition that a specific area of land has past. The catchment areas total5.6 km 2 of which a prime use, the production of water for human 75 per cent is freehold land. consumption. There are now 72 proclaimed catchments covering • Determination of the uses to which land in a 2 proclaimed catchment may be put without 36,626 km of the State, much of which exist within causing deterioration or detriment to water supply the prime water production areas. catchment areas. LAND USE DETERMINATIONS • The specification of conditions or management A Land Use Determination is a statement of how methods which should be applied by government land within a proclaimed water supply catchment instrumentalities and land holders to protect water may be used to maintain, and where possible, supply catchment areas. improve the quality, quantity and reliability of water During the reporting period, seven catchments were supply. The Authority makes these Determinations proclaimed as follows: under the provisions of the Soil Conservation and Land Utilization Act following a detailed Within the Strezlecki Ranges in Gippsland: investigation of the catchment and following Narracan Creek catchment: is the source of consultations with locallandholders, District domestic water supply to the and some Advisory Committees and Government adjacent towns, Thorpdale and Trafalgar. Total lnstrumentalities particularly the Land Conservation 2 Council and the local planning authorities. This catchment area is 82.3 km , most of which is freehold land. year, one Land Use Determination was made for the following area: Sunny Creek catchment: an area of 4.7 km>, is the main source of domestic water supply to Trafalgar. Painka/ac Creek catchment: which was proclaimed in 1979, is located in the north-west of the Otway 2 Rollo Creek catchment: some 6 km in area, is the Range and provides domestic water supply to source of domestic water supply to Yarragon. Aireys Inlet. Within the Otway Ranges in South-western Studies within four other proclaimed catchments are Victoria: proceeding towards Land Use Determinations. Penny royal, Matthews and Gosling Creeks Over 600 visits were made by Authority staff during catchment: is an extension of the Upper Barwon 1980/81 (667 in 1979/80) to owners of land Catchment {proclaimed 1953) that provides water within proclaimed and land use determined water supply for the Geelong urban area. An additional supply catchments to encourage the adoption of 74 km2 is involved, with less than half this area land management practices which are compatible being freehold land. with water production.

2 Skenes Creek catchment: an area of some 8 km , provides the domestic water supply to the township of Skenes.

Other Catchments: The two remaining catchments are: Mitche/1 Riuer catchment (East Gippsland): is predominantly public land, with about a quarter of the total catchment area of 3,900 km2 1ocated above the snow-line (elevation 1,220 m). The catchment extends from Mount Hotham to near Iguana Creek where headworks are to be constructed for the redevelopment of Bairnsdale's

21 IMPROVEMENT OF WATER RESOURCES ON FARMS

Under Section 14( 1) (d) of the Soil Conservation and Land Utilization Act, the Authority is charged with assisting farmers to develop and use water catchments available on the farm. Services provided during 1980/81 in that area included: 843 dams designed and constructed with a capital value of $1,630,000; 273 km of pipeline designed and constructed on 92 properties with a value of $803,000: 338 ha of irrigation layouts (survey, design and advice) completed for 20 farmers. The irrigation layouts were for land to be watered from catchment-filled dams or bores in areas outside proclaimed irrigation areas. Demand for farm water supply work has increased over previous years due partly to the influence of the summer-autumn dry period and partly to the change in income tax laws, allowing farm water supply costs to be totally deducted in the year of construction. Use of "on-farm" water supply, which may otherwise run to waste or contribute to erosion problems is an important aspect of farm planning. Such water supply, whether for stock, domestic, or irrigation uses, is provided without the huge overhead costs of regional schemes. Farmers are assisted by the Authority with long­ term, comparatively low-interest loans for the conservation of approved water supply schemes. When funds are not available. the Authority provides technical advice to land holders to enable them to apply for loans from other sources.

22 PRO:MOTING COMMUNITY AWARENESS

GENERAL PUBLICITY has been developed for presentation by Authority During 1980/81, a higher priority was given to personnel to students of the Schools of Agriculture promoting the role and achievements of the at Melbourne and LaTrobe Universities. Occasional Authority and the importance of soil conservation, lectures and field excursions are provided for the especially to the wider community. Graduate School of Environmental Science at Monash University and other tertiary institutions Selected staff have been given the additional role of throughout the State. Regional Publicity Co-ordination. Their efforts have resulted in an increase in the number and quality of news items distributed to the media throughout the PUBLICATIONS State. The following publications were produced during The new colour pamphlet "Soil Conservation at 1980/81: Great Western", explaining contour layout of vines, is proving popular with visitors to Seppelt's Booklets and Brochures vineyards at Great Western. Western Mallee Soil Conservation Competition North-eastern Soil Conservation Competition SCHOOLS EDUCATION South-western Soil Conservation Competition The Authority's display caravan carrying the Glenelg Catchment Project teaching unit What is Soil, visited 21 secondary Soil Salting schools throughout the North East Region. This Soil Conservation at Great Western educational program follows similar visits to 30 secondary schools in the Ballarat, Bendigo, External Reports Maryborough and Charlton districts over the past Parwan Hydrological Experimental Area by two years. AY.K. Wu A set of six full-colour posters entitled Losing Land On-site Treatment and Disposal of Domestic together with explanatory notes have been printed Waste water with Special Attention to the Role of and collated. The posters have been in strong the Soil by J. Brouwer demand by schools and the public. Broad-scale Land Capability A guide for use by schools conducting excursions to Assessment prepared by M.R. Wells the Warby Ranges was edited by the Ministry for Conservation prior to production and distribution. A Report on the Narracan Creek Catchment Four teaching units entitled Coastal Land Use and including Little Narracan Creek Catchment by the Environment were released to schools in March. l. Master Three units on Dry/and Salting are in the final A Survey of the Vegetation of Selected Coastal production stages. Such units have evolved from Areas by K.G. White past teacher in-service eduction training courses. A Report on the Penny royal Matthews and Gosling Before release, testing and evaluation are Creeks Catchment by A. Kuniciunas completed by a range of teachers and students. Land Capability Study in the Shire of Benalla by Pamphlets entitled Services Offered to Schools and J.F. Wood and P.R. Burns Booklets and Pamphlets Free to Schools were both direct-mailed to all secondary schools in Victoria A Report on the Sunny Creek Catchment - A during February. The response was reflected in Proposal for Proclamation by I. Master higher sales figures for kits produced by the A Study of Land Capability in the Shire of Authority. Buninyong by P.J. Jeffery The Authority acknowledges the support received A Report on the Skenes Creek Catchment by P.F. from the Education Department in providing a Clinnick secondary teacher secondee. Having a teacher Bendigo Sub-Regional Strategy Plan Investigation among the staff ensures that information provided Areas. Assessment for Erosion Risk and On-site to teachers and students is aligned to their specific Effluent Disposal by Jillian M. Wood needs. A Report on the Mitche/1 River Catchment by UNIVERSITIES AND TERTIARY P. Clinnick and D. McKinnon EDUCATION COLLEGES Guidelines for Land Capability Assessment in A lecture series on land use and soil conservation Victoria by R.K. Rowe, D.F. Howe and N.F. Alley

23 A Study of Land Capability in the Shire of North-east Region DAC's Conference. Dookie Bannockburn by P.J. Jeffery and R.T. Costello Agricultural College A Report on the Catchment to Ro/lo Creek Report on International Congress on Dry/and Reservoir (Yarragon Waterworks Trust) by Farming by T.W. Speedie I. Master Submission to Public Bodies Review Committee A Report on the Bea/iba Water Supply Catchments Farmers' Field Day Notes, Garden State Victoria by N.A Penrose and D.M. McKinnon Report on the Land Use Determination for the Pamphlets Painkalac Creek Water Supply Catchment by DA A total of 18 pamphlets were reprinted during Forsyth 1980/81. Parwan Val/ey No. 5 Group Conservation Area DISPLAYS AND FIELD DAYS Planning Report by Andrew clackson and Ken Polmear A new Dry land Salting display was shown for the first time at the meeting of the Standing Committee Soil Mapping in Australia by Frank Gibbons on Soil Conservation held in Melbourne on 2 and 3 Soil Conservation Authority Annual Report October 1981. In addition, it was exhibited at; 1979180 • Elmore Field Days, 7 to 9 October 1980 Dry/and Salting and Reforestation (Inter­ • National Water Well Association Conference. departmental Committee on Dry/and Salting) Cowes. Phillip Island, 11 to 16 October 1980 Coastal Land Use and the Environment • Benalla Agricultural Show, 17 to 18 October 1980 Internal Reports • Wimmera Field Days, near Horsham, 3 to 5 Farmers' Perceptions of Group Conservation March 1981 Programs and Soil Conservation Practices by Darrel Brew in • Murray Valley Development League seminar on trees. Rochester. 17 March 1981 Land Capability Studies in the Central Gippsland Region (Preliminary Report) by L.D. Russell • Beef Field Day. Dookie Agricultural College, March 1981 Berrimal Group Conservation Area Planning Report by H. Alien • National Soil Conservation Conference. Tamworth, N.S.W .. 30 March to 3 Aprill981 Report on Studies at Cornell University, New York State, USA, September 1979 June 1980 by • "Environment Education Approach for the M.S. Lorimer Eighties" Conference, Lorne, 24 to 25 April 1981 A Study of Salinity Problems and Research in South Western Australia by John Duff Postal Salting Survey () by Laurie Norman Report on South-East Coastal Areas by W. Sharp A Crystal Clear Yarra - Is It A Possibility? by A. Mitchell A Report on the Australian Soil Conservation Mission to the People's Republic of China by A. Mitchell Staff Conference Manual Dry/and Salting and Reforeswtion (Inter­ departmental Committee on Dry/and Salting) Focus on Farm Trees. Abstracts of Papers for Focus on Farm Trees Conference held at Melbourne University, November 1980 Gully battering demonstrated at the South- western Hanslow Cup Competition Field Day held at Scan No. 214 "Overdale''. near Stawell

24 A Static display was prepared for the launching of HANSLOW CUP COMPETITIONS the "Guidelines for Minimising Soil Erosion and In accordance with the bequest of Mr. Harold Sedimentation on Construction Sites" in the Hanslow, the Authority holds three competitions Gippsland area during September 1980. each year to determine the best efforts in soil The Authority presented a Farm Water Supply conservation. The Competitions serve a double display and a lecture at a successful weekend field purpose, namely keeping landholders informed of day for hobby farmers organised by the Shire of developments in soil conservation and helping to Tullaroop. About 5,000 people attended this field promote a good working relationship between the day at Carisbrook. Authority and landholders. A small display illustrating the highlights of the The following are details of the competitions held: Authority's activities was prepared and exhibited at The winners of the Western Mallee Competition the Annual Staff Conference held at Dookie were Mr. and Mrs. Ken Duthie of Woomelang. A Agricultural College between 2 and 4 December field day held on their property "Carawatha Farm" 1980. attracted more than 250 people. The Authority participated in the lrr-Equip '81 Field Sir An drew and Lady Grimwade were the winners Days held at Ayson's Reserve, Elmore, between 1 of the North Eastern Competition. A field day held and 2 April1981. Over 2000 people visited the on their property "Green Valley", south of field days which featured land layout Mansfield, attracted over 300 people. demonstrations and the latest in irrigation equipment. A video-film on farm water supply The South Western Competition was won by services provided by the Authority complemented a Messrs. A.G. and G.H. Holden for their 2371-ha static display on the Authority's services to property "Overdale", east of Stawell. A field day landholders held on their property was attended by a large crowd.

The Chairman, Alex. Mitchell (left), presents the Hanslow Cup for the South-western Region to Allan Sir Andrew and Lady Grimwade. winners of the 1981 and George Holden for their efforts in Soil Hanslow Cup Competition for the best effort in soil Conservation on their property "Overdale", near Stawell. conservation in north-eastern Victoria.

25 CO-ORDINATION OF SOIL CONSERVATION IN GOVERNMENT

Throughout this report there are ample examples of the way in which the Authonty works with other Government departments, public authorities and municipalities to achieve soil conservation. There is generally excellent co-operation between officers of the Authority and other departments. The three-man Authority meets on a regular basis with the Chairman and Commissioners of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission and the Forests Commission. The first of similar meeting arrangements was completed with the Director­ General of Agriculture and Senior Officers of that Department. Agendas at such meetings are essentially aimed at reducing any work overlap and improving co-operation and understanding of specific work roles

The overflow from a 125-megalitre dam (inset) on Bruce Robinson's property near Fernbank was causing gully-head erosion which was threatening the dam. With advice from the Authority, a galvanised-iron structure was installed which now effectively controls the erosion.

26 CONTROL OF SHAlLOW SOIL AND GRAVEL EXTRACfiON

Extractive Activities Co-ordinating Committees in north-central Victoria, north-eastern Victoria and east and west Gippsland continue to play an important communication role between the member departments and the Country Roads Board, municipalities and contractors. In November 1980, the North East Committee organised a seminar: "Extraction, Use and Management of Road making and other Construction Materials" at Wangaratta. Ninety representatives of private industry and Local and State Government participated in the seminar. This work emanates from the statutory responsibilities of the Authority to co-ordinate policies and activities of government departments and public authorities, with the aim of controlling and preventing erosion, and to control the extraction of gravel, sand and soil to a depth of two metres.

Highway construction can result in soil loss and land disturbance. To minimise these effects, the Authority provides construction authorities with on-site advice and guidelines on effective techniques that can be implemented.

27 INVESTIGATIONS

Many of the Authority's programs are multi­ out at the University of Melbourne. It found that, divisional. A research phase is followed by with the techniques available then, neither digital investigations in which the aim is to provide local maps produced from satellite imagery nor the data so that the research can be applied to the imagery itself were satisfactory for accurately problem. This is done in the third phase, which is mapping or monitoring the enlargement of salt the development of action plans. Putting these areas. plans into operation in a works program is the fourth phase. Investigations tie together the research Groundwater Bores and actions on the field. To observe and monitor the fluctuating saline water­ The Authority currently has 94 investigational type tables beneath dryland salt areas, ground water projects in progress most of which are handled by its bores have been drilled at Axe Creek, Knowsley, own staff. Other projects are contracted to Sheep Pen Creek, Timor West, Dundas and universities and colleges of advanced education. A Manangatang. selection of these investigational projects is Preliminary results from the Manangatang bores described below: indicate that regional water-tables, in the order of 40,000 ppm Total Dissolved Solids and in some LAND STUDIES IN CATCHMENT AREAS places within 1 to 4 m of the surface, contribute to Significant effort was invested during 1980/81 in some extent to all forms of dry land salting, posing a the following land studies in catchment areas with major threat to productive cropping land. the aim of providing basic land resource information at map scales of 1:100 000 and 1:250 000. Salt and Water Balances This project, carried out in conjunction with the Gippsland Lakes Catchment (20,000 km2) C.S.I.R.O., involves the study of the origin and Eighty-four land systems have been mapped, destination of salt and water within catchments on grouped according to their proneness to the northern slopes of the Great Dividing Range. deterioration which may follow land use, and a The project, which is scheduled for completion in draft report is being prepared. December 1981, is funded by the Ministry for Conservation. The information gained will assist in Avoca and Otways Catchments (3,600 km• prescribing land use and management methods to and 3,360 km2 respectively) minimise the impact of the salt problem on The reports for these catchments have been agriculture in this area. completed and are being printed. Surveys Campaspe Catchment (4,200 km2) Surveys of land affected by dryland salinity in the Land zones have been established on a geomorphic Otways and Pyrenees Soil Conservation Districts basis and mapped, and land systems are being have shown that although in most cases salted areas identified. on any one property tend to be small in relation to the total farm areas, they are extending. In the Yarra and Ovens- King Catchments (4,400 2 2 Otway District 5, 721 ha were wholly or partly km and 4,100 km respectively) unproductive due to salinity representing 0.8 per Reports on these catchments are being revised and cent of the District. In the Pyrenees District, 388 prepared for publication. sites have been found with an aggregate of 2,118 ha. DRYLAND SALINITY IN VICTORIA Water Transmission Through Soils Over 90,000 ha of non-irrigated grazing and cropping land in Victoria has become saline since The Reserve Bank of Australia provided funds to settlement. The total area affected is increasing at an aid the Authority with studies on the properties of average rate of 2 per cent per year with the rates of soils which have an influence on dryland salting. increase being higher following wet seasons. The findings, which were completed in 1980, will Increasing stream salinity is an associated problem. assist in the design of salinity control measures. A number of projects - research, investigation or plan development are linked to this program. Kamarooka Studies Funds provided by the Reserve Bank again Procedures for Rapid Mapping supplemented those of the Authority to allow A report has been received on contract work carried completion of co-operative work with the State

28 Rivers and Water Supply Commission and the the catchment. The next problem will be to Department of Minerals and Energy in this area determine whether such land use can be north of Bendigo. economically viable and how landowners can be encouraged to adopt the required practices on This is an area where 466 ha are salted to the extent where there is no production. On a further catchment lands so that problems for owners of salt­ 280 ha, salinity is significantly reducing the yields prone land are minimised. from crops and pastures. A rise in the existing As the solutions to these problems at Kamarooka water-table levels of 0.5 to 1.0 m would cause will have applications in other parts of Victoria with serious cereal production decreases over another similar geomorphological and hydrological 3,000 to 4,000 ha. Stock water supply dams in the conditions there is a sense of urgency. area are becoming increasingly saline to the extent To give emphasis to the solution of these problems where to maintain stock health and growth rates the Authority needs additional finance. Applications farmers are considering installation of a piped water have been sent to several sources without success. supply. Drilling and monitoring of bores over several years Northern Slopes Land Management Options have produced important results. There is no doubt These options are being investigated in a pilot area that at this site the major source of water causing the at Axe Creek near Bendigo. Preliminary results rise in water-tables is emerging from sub-surface which will provide an indication of the types of weathered bedrock. Saline water moves from the land- use change necessary to reduce the impact of surface of the water-table upward through the soil to the salt problem are expected in December 1981. discharge and evaporate on the surface of salt areas. This water is replaced within the water-table DRY LAND SALTING AS AN AUSTRALIA· by water not used by plants on the catchment WIDE PROBLEM moving down through the soil on the catchment A co-operative inter-state project for the Standing into the bedrock. Committee on Soil Conservation is the compilation This indicates that if plant water use on the of a map at the scale of 1:6,000,000 showing the catchment can be increased to the extent where there is no excess moving beyond the root zone of plants, further rises in the water-table can be 4.- -~"- ,q~<--~ :~:;-*:-::::-,' stopped. .~:··-~ Two major problems remain to be solved. The first is to select and establish plant species and prescribe the management methods which will ensure that all water falling as rain is used within the surface soil on

Kamarooka farmer Andrew Hay (left) and Fred Shea. Alex Gibson positioning a tree guard after planting out Conservation Assistant, inspect damage caused by seedlings on a salt-affected section on his property at on his property. Manangatang.

29 occurrence of non-irrigated or dryland salinity SOILS INVESTIGATIONS throughout Australia. Other States have provided information for compilation by the Authority . The Soil Transport of Pollutants map and an accompanying report are in the final In order to improve advice given to the managers of draft stages. land in water supply catchments, the Authority CATCHMENT HYDROLOGY STUDIES needs information on soil transport of pollutants and nutrients into streams. A contract with the Many of the problems of soil erosion and other Caulfield Institute ofTechnology, commenced and types of soil degradation in Victoria are caused by scheduled for completion in 1982, wiU provide the various forms of water flow such as surface runoff, detailed information required. subsurface flow or deep percolation. These in turn depend on the type, use and management of land. Soils for Dams A knowledge of the effect of changes in land use and management in various land types is therefore Authority laboratory staff are providing input to essential to an understandin!J of the processes of solving some of the problems of leaking farm water degradation and to the devis.ing of control supply dams. This is a particular problem in well­ measures. structured red clay soils such as those in the Kinglake area. A study is in progress to evaluate The Authority has four Experimental Areas treatments already installed by landholders as a Parwan (near Bacchus Marsh), Stewarts Creek result of past Authority advice. (near Daylesford), Long Corner Creek (near Myrtleford) and Reefton in the Upper Yarra Soils from over 150 individual dam sites were tested catchment (near Warburton). for suitability for use in construction during the year. This work is completed in addition to other support These Experimental Areas are representative of services of soil and water testing required by Field different major land types in Victoria. At each, and Investigations Officers. catchments are first calibrated in terms of rainfall­ runoff relationships. Land use changes are then imposed on particular catchments, and the effects on the timing, quality and quantity of runoff and percolation are determined. At Parwan, the land use conversion from severely degraded native pastures to improved perennial pastures. previously carried out with only partial success because of poor seasons. has been completed successfully. and studies on the effects on hydrology have been commenced. At Stewarts Creek. normal management and measurement of the catchm

30 Soil Erodibility Soil erodibility or the characteristics of soil which cause it to erode quickly or slowly are specific to each type of soil. Work summarised in the Authority's 1979/80 Annual Report is being continued with the aim of developing index values for use in predicting soil loss under particular land use and management methods. Soil loss prediction is a valuable extension aid when attempting to convince landholders of the importance of the need for, and the effectiveness of, soil conservation.

ECONOMIC INVESTIGATIONS The economics of the completed Eppalock Project have been well demonstrated by external consultants•. The Authority needs information from further studies to assist in making its advice to land managers more meaningful in the pre-project stage. The following two major contract studies are under­ way with the School of Agriculture, La Trobe University:

Economics of Dryland Salting in the Victorian Murray River Basin Finance provided by the Australian Water Resources Council allowed the commencement of this project which will assess the present and projected public and private costs of dryland salting. Projected land use changes to control the problem will be evaluated in economic terms. Possible forms of incentive subsidies to encourage desirable land use change will also be evaluated.

Economics of Conservation Cropping Computerised models of farming systems are being used to analyse the costs and benefits of soil conservation practices, such as protective works and minimum tillage.

*Economic Evaluation of the Eppalock Catchment Soil Conservation Project, Report No. 9 of the Commonwealth and State Government Collaborative Soil Conservation Study 1975-77, Australian Government Publishing Service, 1978.

31 lANDHOLDER PARTICIPATION IN SOIL CONSERVATION

Throughout Victoria there are 23 District Advisory • Authority activity within proclaimed water supply Committees (listed in the Appendices section}, each catchments of which services a soil conservation district. A • extension to municipalities and school groups majority of the representatives on these seven­ member Committees are elected by landholders. • "Conduct of field days In carrying out their statutory responsibilities, • treatment of dry land salinity areas planned inspection programs and providing advice • foreshore erosion control and assistance to the Authority, the Committees had a very full year. • vermin control in work areas The Committees are becoming increasingly active in • soil disturbance and grazing in Alpine areas performing their vital role as a link between the The Authority met with 35 members of the North Authority and its widespread and diverse clientele. West Region Committees during their Regional During the year, assistance was given with such Conference held at Dookie Agricultural College. matters as: The advice and assistance emanating from this • development and establishment of Conservation Conference has been of considerable value to the Projects Authority in planning and carrying out works programs in the Region.

Dougal Drysdale (left) describes his success with aerial seeding of perennial pastures on steep· hill country at Yea to Soil Conservationists Pat Feehan and Robert Chaff e.

32 ADMINISTRATION

STAFF DEVELOPMENT was used on works of preventative maintenance nature or for urgent works, with the result that In-service Training planned major renovations to residences deemed to During 1980/81, the Authority conducted four be substandard, were unable to be undertaken. courses involving 85 officers. The courses were: Negotiations are still proceeding to obtain additional Publicity and Public Relations, Aerial Photo­ accommodation at Head Office where an interpretation, Conservation Cropping and overcrowding problem exists and at the Benalla Geomorphology. In addition, 32 officers attended Regional Office where the Authority occupies totally courses in middle management, defensive driving, inadequate and substandard premises. effective presentation, and letter and report writing. These courses were organised by the Ministry for Funds for improving substandard office Conservation. accommodation and houses are in urgent need. External Training Other significant projects which have been included in estimates are the replacement of an existing Nine officers undertook either full-time or part-time residence at Charlton, renovations and extension to courses at Melbourne, Monash, LaTrobe, Deakin, a residence at Ouyen, and provision for depot areas Macquarie and Sydney Universities. In addition, a at Colac, Hamilton and Benalla. further four officers undertook courses at colleges of advanced education. Six officers are continuing UBRARY their studies for the Certificate of Applied Science (Conservation and Resource Development). During 1980/81, the Authority's Library spent $4,553 on journal subscriptions and $3,134 on Staff Appraisal book acquisitions. A pilot staff appraisal program was carried out by all The Library continues to be used by a high officers in the Field Operations Division. The percentage of Authority Officers as reflected by the program used a modified version of that developed figures below: by the Soil Conservation Service of New South Internal External Wales. Loans 2,696 75 Staff Conference Items photocopied in lieu of loans 2,542 61 "Teamwork and Technology of Soil Conservation" Requests made to other libraries was the theme of the Staff Conference held at 651 Dookie Agricultural College between 2 and 4 Workload in the area of interlibrary and internal December 1980. The Conference which was loans has increased considerably during the past attended by approximately 170 officers from all year. For the Library to continue providing an Divisions. aimed at bringing to the attention of staff, adequate service to both the staff and general changes and advances in technology which will public, it is considered essential to acquire a full­ either directly or indirectly affect their work. time Clerical Assistant.

Training Officer During the reporting period, the Authority's Training Officer was relocated by the Ministry for VISITORS FROM OVERSEAS AND Conservation to a "Central Training Section" within INTERSTATE the Ministry's office. This has had a counter The Authority hosted visitors with soil conservation productive effect on the organisation of specialist interests from various countries and other states of technical training within the Authority. Australia: ACCOMMODATION • Five officers from the Ministry of Water During the year under review, a new residence was Conservancy, People's Republic of China, purchased at St. Arnaud at a cost of $51,000 from toured central and western Victoria, inspecting a special allocation provided by Treasury, soil conservation practices within project areas, supplemented by funds from the Ministry for and on individual properties. Conservation. Forty thousand dollars were • Mr. Habib Hizem, Chief of the Soil allocated to maintain and renovate the 17 Authority Conservation Section of the Ministry of residences and 24 offices, and to provide new office Agriculture, Tunisia, inspected methods of furniture. Of necessity, the majority of this allocation watershed management.

33 • Mr. Doug Saunders, Senior Soil Conservator by the Authority in the areas of land with the North Canterbury Catchment Board, disturbance, farm water supply and water New Zealand, inspected land management supply catchments. techniques employed in various environments. • Members of the Standing Committee on Soil • Mr. Gerald Darby, Soil Conservation Service, Conservation inspected group project areas, USA, inspected erosion control works in the hydrological research sites, and "Project Eppalock Project, as did Mr. ltzchak Ofer from Treecover" areas in south-western Victoria, the Ministry of Agriculture, Israel. prior to the Annual Meeting of the Committee, • Four officers of the lraql State Organization for held in Melbourne. Soil and land Reclamation inspected • Mr. Warren Jackson, Extension Officer with the techniques for reclamation of wind eroded Department of Agriculture, Tasmania, spent areas in the Mallee. two weeks observing soil conservation methods • Professor John Burton, Foundation Professor employed in the Yarra District (east of Melbourne). of Natural Resources, University of New England, inspected projects being undertaken

A soil conservation delegation from the People's Republic of China listen keenly to a talk by David Elvery. Regional Soil Conservationist. while on a tour of the Eppalock Catchment Project.

34 FINANCE

STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE 1980/81 Allocation Expenditure Estimated 1980/81 1980/81 1981/82 $ $ $ VOTE FUNDS Salaries and Payments in the Nature of Salary Salaries and Allowances 3,025,223 3,024,841 3,306.064 Payments in Lieu of Long Service 27,711 15.000 Leave, etc. 3,052,934 3,052,550 3,321,064 General Expenses Travelling and Subsistence 84,196 84,195 115,500 Office Requisites, Equipment, 21,463 21,462 33,500 Printing and Stationery Books and Publications 57,287 57,286 111,500 Postal and Telephone 105,938 105,938 224,560 Motor Vehicles Purchase and 252,302 252.301 417,320 Running Fuel, Light, Power and Water 19.309 19,309 20.000 Incidental Expenses 11,405 11.404 55,500 Laboratory and Other Equipment 8,100 8.100 12,500 Publicity 17,895 40,500 578,600 577,890 1,030,880 Other Services District Advisory Committees 9.400 9.385 11.000 TOTAL VOTE FUNDS 3,639,825 4,362,944

!If----- Salaries and Payments in the Nature of Salaries

,.____ General Expenses

0.2% ______Other Services VOTE EXPENDITURE 1980/81

35 Allocation Expenditure Estimates LOAN FUNDS (WORKS AND SERVICES ACCOUNT) Water Supply Catchments 282,508 282,507 336,500 Other Conservation Projects 434,716 434,714 678,500 Plant and Machinery 14,164 14.164 89,500 Farm Water Supply 741,671 741,668 1,130,500 Loans and Grants Assistance 117,078 117.077 155,000 Crown Land and Foreshore Erosion 77.478 77.478 90,000 Control Port Phillip Foreshore Erosion 30,000 29.997 35,000 Barwon Heads/Queenscliff Foreshore 50,000 Erosion Erosion Control in National Parks 224.556 224,552 420,000 (Expenditure by PWD)

Land Purchase ~ Riddells Creek Buildings - Adaptations 41.000 39.039 76,000 and Maintenance Storage/Depot Facilities 24,000 Additions to SCA Kew 50.000

Replacement Residence~ Charlton 50.000 Renovations/ Extensions to 20,000 Residence~ Ouyen Purchase of Residence St. Arnaud 52.200 93.200 90,039 220,000 TOTAL LOAN FUNDS 1,056,259

Water Supply Catchments Other Conservation Projects Plant and Machinery .,_____ Farm Water Supply

Loans and Grants Assistance Crown Land and Foreshore Erosion Control Port Phillip Foreshore Erosion .#------Barwon Heads/Oueenscliff Foreshore Erosion

WORKS & SERVICES EXPENDITURE 1980/81

36 Balance Receipts Payments Balance (1/7/80) (30/6/81) TRUST FUND Commonwealth Extension Services (Conservation) Grant Account 4,886 47,325 51,431 780 Puckapunyal Project Trust Account 97,900 626,566 615,398 109,068 Soil Conservation Authority Trust Account Competition Trophies 1,354 1,241 703 1,892 Dryland Salting - Kamarooka 5,938 5,938 Dryland Salting Bendigo 1,367 1,367 Hire of Mulcher 11,468 8,170 10,322 9,316 Land Capabilities Study 1,719 318 1,401 Army Health School 509 509 Gippsland Lakes Study (2,585) 60,000 57,415 Land Resources Data Bank 2,892 2,875 17 Tanjil and Mitchell Rivers 9,078 59,000 65,596 2,482 Study Conservation Cropping 987 9.700 10,682 5 Alpine Ecology Research 18,792 8.950 26,521 1,221 Brick & Pipe White 16,610 4,125 15,898 4,837 Elephant Project Loy Yang Project 1,230 6.000 234 6,996 Hire of Plant 11,687 179 11.508 Portland Regional Study 27,000 7,032 19.968 Other 71,034 105,873 207.264 59,643 Special Youth Employment 19.116 116 Training Program TOTAL TRUST FUNDS 888.880

Puckapunyal Project (Commonwealth Funds)

23.2% #-----Projects and Studies Funded by Outside Organisations

TRUST FUNDS EXPENDITURE 1980/81

37 SUMMARY Allocation/ Expenditure Estimates FundsAvailable 1980/81 1981/82 1980/81 Vote Funds 3,640,934 3,639,825 4,362,944 Loan Funds 1,059.427 1,056,259 1,770,500 Trust Funds 893.209 TOTAL 6,133,444

Audit comments on the financial statements and accounts of the Soil Conservation Authority are included in the Auditor-General's report to Parliament.

Vote Expenditure in last five years Works & Services Expenditure 4 in last five years 1.2

3 : 3.15 1.0 2 2 Q 0.8 0 ..J ..J j 2 :E 0.6 :::. V> 0.4

0.2

78i79 79180 80/81 YEAR

38 APPENDICES

TABLE 1 STATE SUMMARY OF MAIN ADVISORY ACTIVITIES 1980/81 Totals 1979/80 NE NW SE SW for State Figures GROUP CONSERVATION AREA (GCA) ACTIVITIES Visits During Planning 163 8 10 211 392 250 Visits for Execution of Works 301 551 159 385 1,396 1,385 Visits for Reviewing GCA Plan 10 13 34 35 92 144 Landholders Present During Visit 253 304 42 282 881 767 NON GCA ACTIVITIES Initial Inspections Made 239 442 485 324 1,490 1,425 Initial Inspections Outstanding 52 50 55 89 246 168 Subsequent Inspections Made 251 291 126 158 826 767 Subsequent Inspections Outstanding 61 92 15 54 222 115 Other Visits Made 700 1,506 686 770 3,671 3,421 SPECIAL ASPECTS Farm Water Supply Advice 576 737 621 505 2,439 1,930 Water Supply Catchment Supervision 145 114 223 135 617 667 Inspections Regarding Extraction of Sand, Gravel, etc. 255 159 228 114 756 927 EXTENSION ACTIVITIES Talks and Lectures Given 15 22 54 32 123 94 Radio and TV Broadcasts Made 2 19 3 4 28 13 Field Days and Excursions Held 12 15 9 14 50 64 Meetings of Landholders Held 5 7 1 4 17 24 School Excursions Conducted 19 23 53 34 129 100 ShCM1 or Trade Exhibits Staged 5 11 2 7 25 15 Press Releases Made 22 26 10 20 78 40 Field Days etc. Attended 37 113 78 53 281 292 DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMITTEES Meetings Held 20 24 17 14 75 71 Inspections Conducted 18 18 18 12 66 54 INSPECTIONS FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS State Government 377 347 656 183 1,563 1,399 Commonwealth Government 5 27 16 7 55 82 Local Government 208 216 444 161 1,029 1,019 Other Organisations 181 22 222 36 461 598

39 TABLE2 STATE SUMMARY OF MAIN WORKS COMPLETED

Projects Individual Properties Totals WORKS ITEM 1980..81 1979-80 1980..81 1979-80 198()..81 1979-80

No. 42 20 19 24 61 44 m'' 237.5 254.8 1945.3 No. 12 9 19 8 31 17 Groynes No. 7 29 2 7 31 m 16.6 145 5 16.6 150 Revetment m 782 240 460 240 Grassed Chutes No. 4 10 5 7 9 17 m' 338 1.634 340 678 EARTH WORKS Diversion Banks m 50,186 Heads Battered No. 73 19 32 17 105 36

Grassed Waterways m 510 ~2 5,3CX) 1,800 5,810 2,702 ha 10.7 6.1 10.5 6.1 21.2 12.2

Graded Banks m 4,940 7.1~ 15,802 12,570 20,742 19,760 ha 139 300 71 99 210 399 Gully Plugs No. 14 16 24 30 27 rn3 m Contour Furrows, L!Hs 13 6 24 21 37 27 and Cultivation ha 138.5 56.0 351.7 294.3 4~.2 350.3 MaUee Dune Shaping L/Hs 2 1 2 1 ha 13 4 13 4 FENCING (Not Coastal) Protective km 80.5 50.1 49.5 24.9 130.0 75.0 Protective Subdivisional km 18.9 4.1 4.4 06 23.3 4.7 TREE PlANTING Tubed Trees and No. 19,269 MULCHING Finn ha 14.9 11.0 17.5 11.0 32.4 ASSISTED PASTURE EST ABUSHMENT Aerial Seeding L/Hs 3 2 4 5 7 7 ha 152 174 213 148 365 322 Chisel Seeding L/Hs 14 26 23 12 37 38 ha 185.5 582.0 865.0 521.6 1,050.5 Pasture Improvement L!Hs 17 20 6 1 23 21 ha 388.4 914.5 24.2 57.0 412.6 971.5 Salt Reclamation L/Hs 4 9 18 11 22 20 ha 45.5 53.0 71.5 25.5 117.0 78.5

40 TABLE 2 (continued) STATE SUMMARY OF MAIN WORKS COMPLETED

Projects Individual Properties Totals

WORKS ITEM 198().81 1979-80 198().81 1979-80 198().81 1979-80 FARM WATER SUPPLY SURVEYS Dams No 81 42 612 472 693 514 ML 110.7 72.5 Pipeline Reticulation No 64 63 64 63 m lmgation Prcjects No 2 6 5 8 5 ha 2 25 40 27 40 COASTAL Protective km 1.1 5.2 6.1 6.3 6.1 Marram Grass ha 10.0 10.0 19.0 20.1 29.0 30.1 Walkways Surface No. 6 14 6 14 m 358 730 358 730 Elevated No. 1 1 1 1 m 50 3 50 3 Cliff Revegetation No. 3 3 3 3 m' 700 700 Dune Shaping No. 2 2 2 2 m' 200 14,600 200 OTHER WORKS GrOliDdwater Investigation No. 4 26 4 26 -bores m 480 480 Trickle Pipes No. 4 10 9 10 13 m 78 300 81 300 159 No. 2 1 2 m 400 Gravel Pit Reclamation No. 12 12 ha 30 30 Tea-tree Sand m 80 80

41 TABLE3 WATER SUPPLY CATCHMENTS PROCLAIMED UNDER PROVISIONS OF SOIL CONSERVATION AND LAND UTILIZATION ACT 1958 Date of Date of Use of Name of Catchment Proclamation Gazettal Area (km:!) Water Hume 4.7.50 5.7.50 10,062 I Upper Barwon 4.11.53 11.11.53 145 T Parwan 24.1..56 1.2.56 157 I Upper Goolbum 18.12.56 19.1.57 3,535 I Glenma!De 4.12.57 4.12.57 1,909 I Rocklands 17.9.58 17.9.58 1,342 I Wimmera Systems 2.9.59 4.9.59 4,386 S&D Riddells Creek 12.1.60 13.1.60 5 T Gisbome-Sunbury 12.1.60 13.1.60 6 T Lancefield 22.3.60 23.3.60 19 T Romsey 22.3.60 23.3.60 9 T Woodend 22.3.60 23.3.60 4 T Mount Macedon 22.3.60 23.3.60 3 T Macedon 22.3.60 23.3.60 3 T Eppalock 19.7.60 20.7.60 2,116 I Cairn Curran 29.5.62 30.5.62 1,594 I Sunbury 29.5.62 30.5.62 18 T Ojeniwarrh 27.11.62 5.12.62 26 T Tyers River 30.1.63 6.3.63 317 T Ki!lTlCI'e 25.5.63 29.5.63 5 T Bunyip River 25.6.63 3.7.63 39 T T rawalla Creek 8.10.63 16.10.63 108 S&D Lorne 15.7.64 22.7.64 28 T Healesville 8.9.64 16.9.64 3 T U~Kiewa 24.2.65 3.3.65 409 HE Mir North 24.2.65 3.3.65 8 T Orbost (Rocky River) 18.5.65 26.5.65 23 T Lake Merrirnu 31.8.65 8.9.65 85 I & In McCraes Creek 9.11.65 8.12.65 5 T Billys Creek 1.3.66 9.3.66 21 T Drouin 1.3.66 9.3.66 14 T Tarago River 30.5.67 7.6.67 114 T Lake Nillahcootie 19.9.67 27.9.67 413 I, S&D Lake Merrirnu (Goodmans Creek) 13.2.68 21.2.68 39 I, ln&T Gellibrand River 5.11.69 12.11.69 507 T&ln Ryans Creek 3.3.70 11.3.70 77 T Rosslynne Reservoir (Jac:kson Creek) 8.9.70 16.9.70 85 T Tarra River 26.1.71 17.2.71 28 T Rosslynne Reservoir (Riddells Creek) 14.9.71 22.9.71 21 T Micks Creek 26.4.72 3.5.72 5 T La! La! Reservoir 6.6.73 13.6.73 219 T Betka River 18.9.73 26.9.73 108 T Thomson River (Stages 1, 1(a) and 2) 25.9.73 3.10.73 332 T Lake Menimu (Lerderderg River) 15.4.75 23.4.75 218 I& In Avoca Town Water Supply 19.8.75 27.8.75 10 T Nicholson River 19.8.75 27.8.75 451 T Honeysuckle Creek 25.5.76 2.6.76 25 T Cann River 27.7.76 4.8.76 632 T Running Creek (Hurstbridge) 3.5.77 11.5.77 20 T

42 TABLE 3 (continued) WATER SUPPLY CATCHMENTS PROCLAIMED UNDER PROVISIONS OF SOIL CONSERVATION AND LAND UTILIZATION ACT 1958 Date of Date of Use of Name of Catchment Proclamation Gazettal Area (km:~) Water Moorabool River (Sheoaks) 16.5.78 24.5.78 460 T Stony Creek 16.5.78 24.5.78 26 T Painkalac Creek (Aireys Inlet) 16.5.79 13.6.79 34 T Lance Creek 16.5.79 13.6.79 20 T Tennent Creek (CandOOJie Reservoir) 16.5.79 13.6.79 19 T Nine Mile, Clear and Hurdle Creeks 16.5.79 13.6.79 63 T Bakers Gully (Bright) 16.5.79 13.6.79 7 T Creswick 16.5.79 13.6.79 33 T King River (Lake William HoveU) 16.5.79 13.6.79 332 I Buckland River 12.6.79 20.6.79 322 T Monument Creek 12.6.79 20.6.79 9 T GeUibrand River (South Otway) 12.6.79 20.6.79 183 T Tanjil River 11.12.79 19.12.79 509 I, In & T Ballarat 11.12.79 19.12.79 98 T TuUaroop Reservoir 27.5.80 4.6.80 722 I& T Britannia Creek 27.5.80 4.6.80 18 T Pennyr~al Matthews & Gosling Creeks 12.8.80 20.8.80 74 T Sunny Creek 2.12.80 10.12.80 5 T Narracan Creek 16.12.80 7.1.81 82 T Skenes Creek 23.12.80 7.1.81 8 T Mitchell River 17.2.81 25.2.81 3,900 I& T Rollo Creek 28.4.81 6.5.81 6 T Bealiba 28.4.81 6.5.81 6 T Total: 72 catchments Use of Water: Symbols used: {I) Irrigation, (In) Industrial, (T) T

43 TABLE4 WATER SUPPLY CATCHMENTS - LAND USE DETERMINATIONS AND LAND USE NOTICES MADE BY SOIL CONSERVATION AUTHORITY Date of Gazettal Name of Catchment of Determination or Notice Area (km:!) Rocklands (Parishes of Tyar, Daahl, Yat Nat) 16.9.59 1fiJ Riddells Creek 27.7.fiJ 5 Lancefield, Romsey 18.1.61 28 Gisbome-Sunbury 18.1.61 6 Woodend 18.10.61 4 Eppalock (Shire of Nwham/Woodend) 14.11.62 14 Upper Barwon 30.1.63 145 Macedon and Mount Macedon 8.4.64 5 Sun bury 10.6.64 18 Djerriwarrh Reservoir 8.7.64 26 Kilmore 2.6.65 5 Healesville 2.3.66 3 Eppalock (Kyneton Water Supply) 2.3.66 12 Eppalock (Northern Section) 2.3.66 258 McCraes Creek 21.9.66 5 Lake Merrimu 2.11.66 85 Billys Creek 14.12.66 21 Rocky River (Orbost Water Supply) 2.8.67 23 Bunyip River 7.8.68 39 Lake Merrimu (Goodmans Creek) 2.7.69 39 Tarra River 9.6.71 28 Lake Cairn Curran (Notice only) • 16.2.72 55 T arago Reservoir 16.5.73 114 Micks Creek 25.7.73 5 Lal Lal Reservoir (Notice only)* 14.11.73 18 Thomson River (Stages 1, 1(a) and 2) 11.9.74 332 Ryans Creek 30.10.74 78 Mirboo North 4.12.74 8 Tyers River 7.5.75 317 Avoca Town Water Supply 24.9.75 10 Rosslynne Reservoir (Riddells Creek) (Notice only) • 21.7.76 5 Upper Goulbum (Eildon) 2.3.77 868 Rosslynne Reservoir (Jackson Creek) 18.5.77 85 Stony Creek 21.6.78 26 Painkalac Creek 13.5.81 34 Total: 33 Land Use Determinations 'Land Use Notices are interim controls on changes in land use, specified under the provisions of Section 22(2) of the Soil Conservation and Land Utilization Act 1958.

44 TABLES STAFF - NUMBERS. DISTRIBUTION AND FUNCTION

Public SeJVice Board Appointments (Section 13 of SC&W Act)

Temporary Location Permanent or Total

Head Office Kew 60 5 5 70 South-Eastern Region and Districts Region (Box Hill) 4 4 Yarra (Box Hill and Ulydale) 7 4 11 Avon and Tambo (Baimsdale) 5 1 6 Avon and Tambo (Research) 2 2 4 South and West Gippsland (Warragul) 2 2 South-Eastern Regional Total 20 2 5 27 North-Eastern Region and Districts Region (Benalla) 8 1 9 LcMter Ga.Uburn (Benalla) 4 2 6 Upper Ga.Uburn (Alexandra) 4 4 8 Upper Murray (Wodonga} 2 2 Ovens (Wangaratta) 2 2 Central (Broadford) 3 3 North-Eastern Total 23 30 Barwon ~ and Districts Region ( at) 3 3 Moorarbool (Bacchus Marsh) 5 1 4 10 Otway (Colac) 5 1 6 Central (Gisbome) 2 2 Barwon Regional Total 15 1 5 21 Glenelg Region and Districts Region (Horsham) 3 3 North and South Wimmera (Horsham) 1 1 Glenelg and West Coast (Hamilton and Coleraine) 5 10 15 Glenelg Regional Total 9 10 19 Mallee Region and Districts Region (Swan Hill) 1 1 Eastern Mallee (Swan HUI) 1 1 Western Mallee (Ou~) 3 1 4 Northern Mallee (M" dura) 2 2 Mallee Regional Total 7 1 8 Northern Region and Districts Region (Bendigo) 2 1 3 Campaspe (Bendigo) 2 1 3 Avoca River (Charlton) 4 2 6 Northern Regional Total 8 4 12

45 TABLE 5 (continued) STAFF - NUMBERS, DISTRIBUTION AND FUNCTION

Public Service Board Appointments (Section 13 of SC&LU Act)

Temporary Location Permanent or Total Central Region and Districts Region (Bendigo) 7 7 Campaspe (Bendigo) 1 1 Research (Bendigo) 1 1 1 3 Pyrenees (Ararat) 4 3 7 Upper Lcx:ldon (Maryborough) 2 1 3 Central (Heathcote and Puckapunyal) 3 1 3 7 Avoca River (Charlton) 1 1 Central Regional Total 19 2 8 29 Alpine and Coastal Co-ordinatim Region (Box Hill) 1 1 Alpine (Benalla) 3 3 Alpine and Coastal Regional Total 4 4 TOTAL 165 10 45 220

STAFF BY FUNCTION Field Operatims Division 102 2 35 139, Research and Investigations Divisim 20 5 5 30 Administration Division 32 4 36 Catchments and Capability Division 8 3 1 12 Publications and Information Section 3 3 TOTAL 165 10 45 220

46 DISTRICf ADVISORY COMMITTEES AVOCA RIVER 0. R. Poole, R.M.B. 1~. Wedderburn (Chairman) B. C. Cl.ll11{MI, Department of Agriculture, State Offices, Bendigo F. 0. Sanderson, "Bromley Park", Coonooer Bridge A M. Scott, R.S.D. Terricks, Pyramid Hill J. K Donovan, Forests Commission, St. Arnaud D. F. Martin, Soil Conservation Authority, High Street, Charlton (Secretary) AVON E. E. Cumming, "The Retreat", Glenmaggie (Chairman) R. J. Reilly, "Deighton Vievl', Bengworden R. Blandford, 18 Gilsenan Street, Paynesville N. F. Chester, 3 Mill Street, Heyfield R. F. Pitrnan, Department of Agriculture, Maffra D. F. Stevenson, Forests Corrnnission, Traralgon J. Aukema, Soil Conservation Authority, State Public Offices, Baimsdale (Secretary) BOGONG HIGH PlAINS J. S. Gilmore, Soil Conservation Authority, 378 Cotham Road, Kew (Chairman) W. H. Wagner, 10 Dover Street, North Clayton G. B. Fitzgerald, "Shannon Vale", Omeo W. J. Hicks, Box 69, Dederang Roadskie, via Wodonga E. A Weston, Eurobin R. K. White, Principal HydroEngineer, Kiewa, SEC, Mt. Beauty F. F. Holt, Department of Cr

CAMPASPE R. F. Laudernan, Kamarod

47 D. H. C. Murphy, "Karadeen", Casterton H. K. C

OTWAY R. P. Bingley, 45 Harvey Street, Anglesea (Chainnan} I. J. Bcyd, Naroghid W.S.D., Cobden P. B. Kee, Coooemungle W.S.D., via TimOOon A. J. Holding, "The Ranch", l.Jnton J: R. Channon, Forests Commission, Ballarat G. Mitchell, State Rivers & Water Supply Commission, CamperdOINn K. G. White, Soil Con.<;ervation Authooty, Colac (Secretary) OVENS J. L. Baldwin, "Mundara", Laceby (Chainnan) S. P. Humphry, "Avondale", Springhurst M. E. Zelman, Department of Crown Lands & Survey, Wangaratta R. J. Ritchie, Forests Commission, Wangaratta D. K. F. Heywood, "Glenlock", Everton S. Dallxlsco, Porepunkah M. C. O'Meara, Soil Conservation Authooty, State Public Offices, Wangaratta (Secretary}

48 PYRENEES L. J. Millar, Wayside Mail, Beaufort (Chainnan) F. R. Boatman, Glenlofty via Elmhurst E. J. Ball, "Morella", Lexton C. E. Price, Stawell H. R. Dalkin, "Westgate", Armstrongs via Ararat R. W. Howlett, Department of Crown Lands & Survey, Ararat K. G. Knights, Soil ConseiVation Authority, State Public Offices, Vincent Street, Ararat (Secretary)

SOUTHERN GIPPSIAND D. A MacAulay, "Albert Valley", Gelliondale (Chairman) D. F. Stevenson, Forests Commission, Traralgon R. J. Rathjen, "Mount Pleasant", Flynn via Traralgon P. Newcome, "Dalvarra", Fish Creek N. H. Paulet, Flynns Creek Upper via T raralgon J. C. Vinall, P.O. Box 161, Morwell S. B. Ellwood, Soil ConseiVation Authority, P.O. Box 268, Warragul (Secretary)

SOUTIIERN WIMMERA A. R. Gross, 8 Francis Street, Horsham (Chairman) L. W. Loeliger, "Oaklands", Lubeck P. J. Heard, "South Wonwondah", Box 58, Horsham G. J. Cranage, Box 72, Edenhope R. J. Elliott, "Yonda", Noradjuha J. D. Gillespie, Forests Commission, Horsham I. R. McAJpine, Soil C'OnseiVation Authority, Box 179, Horsham (Secretary)

TAMBO D. K. Richardson, Cobungra Station, Omeo (Chairman) J. Armit, Bindi C. F. Marshal!, Box 428, Orbost F. H. Kramme, Johnsonville E. K. Gidley, Forests Commission, Baimsdale M. J. Lee, Department of Agriculture, Baimsdale F. M. Garden, Soil ConseiVation Authority, State Public Offices, Bairnsdale (Secretary) UPPER GOULBURN K. Webb Ware. "Yirraba", Yea (Chairman) J. J. Tehan Jnr., "Wappan", Maindample G. A. Scott, Wairerer Road, Mansfield P. 0. Miller, R.M.B. 1260, Alexandra H. B. Prewett, Forests Commission, Healesville J. Montgomery, Department of Agriculture, Benalla R. F. Chaffe, Soil Conservation Authority, Box 69, Alexandra (Secretary) UPPER LODDON F. T. Longmire, "Fairview", Werona (Chairman) K. O'Connell, Majorca Road, Carisbrook R. M. Nicholson, Wareek via Maryborough G. S. H. Miller, "Ellerslie", Kyneton Cr. R. Kinnersly, Tourello via Creswick B. J. McConchie, Department of Agriculture, Bendigo B. J. Osbom, Soil ConseiVation Authority, Box 71, Maryborough (Secretary)

49 UPPER MURRAY G. C. Jarvis, "Roseworthy", Cudgewa (Chairman) I. R. Roper, "Kadumba", Tawonga L. H. Jewell, "Keelangie", Private Bag 20, Tallangatta K. H. Godde, Tallandoon via Tallangatta M. E. Zt!lman, Department of Crown Lands and Survey, Wangaratta C. A Almond, Forests Commission, Wangaratta C. F. Paul, SoU Conservation Authority, P.O. Box 722, Wodonga (Secretary) WES1ERN GIPPSI.AND H. A. Hewson, Warragul (Chairman) I. M. Gibson, "Leathome", Trafalgar East W. J. Edgar, Forests Commission, Traralgon H. C. Berry, Wonthaggi T. D. Kelly, Nerrena Road via Leongatha J. M. Cunnlngham, Department of Crown Lands and Survey, Cranboume S. B. Ellwood, SoU Conservation Authority, P.O. Box 268, Warragul (Secretary) WESTERN MAll.EE A K.. Burstall, P.O. Box 36, Underbool (Chairman) J. B. Griffiths, Department of Agriculture, Walpeup G. D. Anderson, "Bronzewing", via Ouyen A G. S. James, State Rivers & Water Supply Commission, Ouyen H. M. Mitchell, Yaapeet K. C. Duthie, Woomelang P. D. W. Berg, SoU Conservation Authority, P.O. Box 89, Ouyen (Secretary) YARRA A. J. Thompson, Link Road, Silvan South (Chairman) A McD. Bethune, Fincks Road, Bayles B. F. Mullens, "Nanowie", Yea Road, Dlx.ons Creek P. J. McEwan, Department of Planning, 150 Queen Street, Melbourne P. L. Pedersen, Blake Street, Shoreham D. G. Hill, SoU Conservation Authority, Suite 6, Whitehorse Plaza, Box Hill (Secretary)

50 rn~ C)..... SOIL CONSERVATION AUTHORITY 0 OFFICES AND REGIONS ouvene & REGIONAL BOUNDARY z 0 REGIONAL CENTRE Cll MALLEE • ()!STRICT CHHRE ... PROJECT Of.fiCE ~ 0

1;11 0 ...... Cll GLENELG ~..... ecolcraine (j .Hamilton KEW (alpineJcoastar! eL!IydaiP. ,.. ..., BAR WON ,..oasox HILL .1 _,( 1 6 (south eastern) SOUTH EASTERN ••Btmnsdale ...,.,.---...,~-----,-J..,; ; '" ..... ' Geelong·--.., __ , ,.. /\ ,.~""" - Cll , -~ •.~ f ... - ew.,,.gul .-"' ', .. -...... _ ... , eco!ac: (-.. ~ ...., _,.,. ,--'.:\" ,-,"N v;> / / , -~~ / -, , ' / \ -' ., -.... r ,_.. \ ""'"'" .,.., v ,~~r~ .... \'J $ "\. ~