I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ffi\[NJ (Q)'\07~ ~'\07~ ~ (Q)[F I ~~CGJ~(Q)[N]ffi\Ll [p[lffi\[NJ[NJ~[NJCGJ ~~~QJJ~~ I 1· , ', ~)~'.l~®mm@®IT' ~~ TOWN & COUNTRY 711. PLANNING BOARD 4099 456 I GIP:T I ----- I .I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 711 . 4099 2563478 456 GIP:T An overview of regional planning issues in the Central Region I I I MPE LIBRARY . - 11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 M0003880 lw I I I I I I AN OVERVIEW OF REGIONAL

I PLANNING ISSUES IN

I THE CENTRAL GIPPSLAND REGION I I I I I I I Town and Country Planning Board I December 1976 I I

----- I I~, I I TABLE OF CONTENTS I Page I INTRODUCTION . I CHAPT~R I -;THE REGION IN PERSPECTIVE 1.1 Location and Physical Setting ...... 6 1.2 Principal Characteristics of I Sub-Regional Units ...... • ~ .... 7 1.3 Historical Development······~·····~~· 9 I · 1.4 Pattern of Urban Settlement and . Economic Activity ...... •.•••.... ~. 11 1.5 16 . Transport...... I 1. 6 Land Uses ...... ••...... : ... 19

I CHAPTER II - THE PHYSICAL RESOURCES AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE

II 2.1 Brown Coal ...... -...... 20 . . . ,• . . . 2.2 Forests ...... ; ...... · ... 21 ·1 2.3 Agriculture ······•.···········•··~· ... ·24 2.4 Water Resources ...... •... ; ...... · ... 27

I CHAPTER iII - PLANNING.FOR THE FUTURt ~MAJOR ISSUES. I 3.1 Economic and Demographic tr~hds ..... 34 3. 2 Major Planning Issues .... ~ ... ~ .. : ... 36 I I 1· I I

. ' . .:...-·------~~-~ I 1... I I LIST OF TABLES

I Table Page I 1 · . Workforce by Industry Group; I ·.Central Gippsland Region, Sub-region, Rest of Central Gippsl~nd I Region 1971 ...... ~ ..•..... 14 ...... 2 · Percentage Distribution of Emplo,Yment · I by Industry Sector in Local Government •, Areas of Central Gippsland Region, 30th Junei 1911 ...•..•. ~ •...... ~ ..... ~ ... 15 I .. 3 Brown Coal Deposits. in - I . i 975 ...... ·...... ~ ...... ~ ~ . . . . 22 I 4 Selected .Statistics Relating to Agricultural and Pastoral Activities I in the Central Gippsland Region~ 19747-75 Season• ...... ~ ...... ~ ...... 28 ·

11 5 • Average· Annual Ra infa 11 of Selected · .

.. · Towns ·;n the Region ...... 30 I I I

I .. I I 1· I, .. I LIST OF FIGURES I I Figure ·. Fol lowing I Page 1 Regional Boundaries for Government I Activities in Victoria ...... ~.. 2

I 2 Municipalities of the Region~ ...•. ; .. ; 6 I 3 Major Physical Units ...... •...... •. 6 ·I 4 Population Distribution by Urban Centr~~ ...... •...... 12

! I 5 Transport Network ...... 16

I 6 Major Land Uses ...... •. ~. 20

I 7 Brown Coal Areas 22 I 8 Rainfall ...... ·...... ~ 30 I 9 Rivers Ahd Streams ······•·········~··r 30 I I I •' I I I

'I ·~ I II INTRODUCTION I REGIONAL PLANNING IN VICTORIA

I Regional Planning in Victoria had its beginnings in 1944, . . following a conference between State Premiers and the I Prime Minister where it was agreed that each State should define regions and establish regional planning committees I to facilitate the investigation of resources in the region and the planning of future development. The Committees ' were.established throughout Victoria, being adm.inistered by I a Central Planning. Authority, although neither the. possessed 111 Conmittees nor the Central Planning ·Authority ·.; statutory powers.

By the middle of the 196o•s, however, the need for. I . . statutory backing for regional planning had become app.arent. Following ~ request by the then Minister for Local I Goverhment, the Hon. ~.J. Ha~er, the Town and Country Planning.Board in July 1967 published a Report "Organisation '. I for Strat~gic Planning" which sug,gested th~ need to develop : ' strategic planning arrangements at .the regional .level ... · .-·: I throughout Victoria. ..

Largely on the basis ·of the recommendations contained in the I Board's Report, the Town and Country Planning Act 19.61, was. amended in 1968 to incorporate provision for strategic I pla~nin~ inc]uding the establish~ent of Regi6riai ~lanning Authoritiei. The most urgent need for ·regional planning I at that time was i~ the Port Phillip District. With th~ and M.etropol itan Board of Works providing the I statutory Regional Planning Authority for Melbou~ne, the I I " I - 2 - .I I fir$t new Authorities set up under the Act. were for Western I Port and Ge~long.

Increasingly, in recent years, the State Govern~ent's I attention has been drawn to the need to provide for co-ordinated planning at the regional level in the non­ I metropol itan areas of Victoria. In these areas, although growth may be small~ there are considerable problems and pressures on the. use of land and.other resources. I In 1973, a.new system of regions was established as the. I basis for ~he organisation 6f gbvernment activities and to facilitate co-operation between government departments and I local councils in undertaking their·activities (see Figure i). These regions are also intended to be us~d as.the framework for the establishment of Regional Planning I! Auth6rities in country Victoria. The first such Regional Planning· Authority was established in the Loddon-Campaspe I Region in 1973~ Subsequently, a Regionai Planhing Committee was established in the > Region. I

To facilitate th·~ development of effective regional planning throughout Vi.ctoria, the Town and Country Pl anhihg Board has· I embarked on a· s~ries of regional planni.ng stud_i.es in the 0 no;;.;.lnE?'tr.opolit~n regions. . .in . the State .. The o~erall aims of I this progressive programme of studies are as follo\."'s:- p) to determine the role of each region in the State; I qi) to provide the basis for the preparation of regional I ·policies and plans; (fii) to.provide the basis fdr adv~sing Governrn~ht I authorities on the appropriate policies to be app~ied .· . in each region; and I I I - -.- -· ------,,- ., -· - .- .-"I I

REGIONAL BOUNDARIES FOR GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES

NORTHERN MALLEE SCALE 0 50 100 kilometres N ' .

WIMMERA LO ODON -CAMPASPE ' ...... EAST GIPPSLANO. ' .. '

SOUTH WESTERN . . .

1 .. ~ \. - 3

(iv) to develdp a framework within which co-operation between the vario~s State, Local Govern~ent and ·Regional bodies, involved in the administratio~ and 'development of each region may be advanced. I The first two such studies (for the Loddon-Campaspe and Central Highlands Region) have recently been completed and the programme is continuing with similar .studies of the

11I Central and East Gippsland Regions.

I PLANNING IN THE CENTRAL GIPPSLAND REGtON

I The Ceritral Gippsland Region contains ·num~rdus resources which are of critical significance to the future of I Victoria, including large brown coa1 ·deposit~, ext~nsive forest areas, several maior rivers and rich agric~ltural I 1ands. Numerous State Bovernment departments and instrumentalities··· I are engaged in· major activities relating .to the future planning and-development of the regions, including the State I Electricity Commission, the Forests Commission, the Melbourne and· Metropolitan Board of Works~ and the Ministries· bf A~riculture, S~ai~ De~elopme~i, tonserv~tion, Minesi and · I Fuel and Power. The involvement of these bodies includes not ·only ~nvesti~ations into various aspects of the R~~ion's I resources, and the potent i a1 . ro 1 e of those . resour.ces in increasi~g the social and economic opportunities available I both to res{dents of the Region itselt and to Victorians as a whole, but also the programming and implementation of I severa 1. 1a rge deve 1opment works (e.g. Thomson River barn, Loy Yang power station) which will. have a maj.or impac·t on the future physical, economic and social character of the I Region. I I l I - 4 - .I' I In June 1975, the Victorian Government formally recognized I the importance of the resources of the Central Gippsland Region to the future of Victoria by its ad6ptibn of .. Statement of Planning Policy No. 9 (Central Gippsland.Brown I Coal Deposits in the Cont~xt of Overall Re~6urces). I Several State Government Committees are currently u·ndertaki ng investigations and/or developing programmes relating to the further utilisation and development of the Region's· resources. •1 Examples of such committees are the Brown Coal Resources I Inter-Departmental Committee established to def.irie areas of economically winnable brown coal and to make recommendations I on ~uitable means of prot~cting them pursuant to Clause.2~1 of ·statement of Planning Policy No. 9, the.Thomson River Water Resources Joint Committee and the Latrobe Valley I I Co-ordinating Committee. I There is a ne~d, however, to bring together arid rationalise all progr·ammes or activity relating, to planning in the I Central Gipps.land Region and tO" relate those programines to. a set of agree·d planning objectives" for the ·Region as a . whole .. In. recogniti.on of this fact the Victorian I Government .is cµrrentlY. actively cons.idering the.· nature. of. I the. institutional. ·framework. for planning in the Central Gippsland Region. which wo.uld facilitate mos't effectively the deve.lOpment ·and implementation of effective .. policies, I plans and programmes for the future of the Region. I AN INITIAL OVERVIEW .

Al though the aims of the Board 1 s prog_ramme of t-egional. I . studies in eath of the Stat~·s Regions are similar, the Board is anxious to.ensure that the programme of studies I I I I 1. - 5 I I undertaken in any single region is tailored to the specific requirements and circumstances of that region. I The regional studies programme which the Town and Country Planning Board proposes to undertake in the Central I Gippsland Regioh. during 1976/77, therefore, will be designed to act as an important instrument towards the effective 1,I planning and co-ordination of private and public sector activitie~ in C~ntral Gippsl~nd. The present overview ts . . designed to provide an initial -Outline of the majbr issues I with whfch those concerned with planning for the futtire of the Central Gippsland Region will need to be concerned. I Its purpose is to provide a focus for discussion. amongst those concerned with planning in the Region of the ~ature of I the major planning issues cdnfrdnting the ~egion and it~ · component parts at the pre~ent time~

I It is also intei'1ded to provide a framework for identifying the investigatfons which need to be undertaken ~s part of I the Town and Country PJanning Board's Regional Studies Programme in order .. to provide groundwork for th~ further . . . ' I development of plans and policies relating to the futu~e of Central Gippsland. I I I I I I I I - 6 - .1 I I CHAPTER I I THE REGION IN PERSPECTIVE I 1.1 Location and Physical Setting

The Central Gippslahd Region consists of twelve muni~ipalities, II part of one other municipality and the Yallourn Works Area (see Figure 2). It covers an area of 12 ,i33 square I ' ' kil6ni~tres, located between the Melbourne Metropblitan Region and the East Gippsland Region in South Eastern Victoria. I Physital1y the Region can superficially be divided into four separate units running east to west across the Region, which •' ' I may be d~sjgnated as the Eastern Highlands, the Latrobe ·Valley, the Strzeleckis and the So.llth Gippsland Coastal Plains respectively (see Figure 3). The Latrobe Valley and I Coastal Plains are physically separated by the Strzeleckis which also act as a significant economic and I sot ia l .barrier. I The distinctive physical ·characteristics of .·each of th~se · four land units, combined with similarly distinctive patterns of climate, soils and ~!~eral deposits in e~th has.given r~se I to a. unique pattern of resource usage and economic· activity ' . . . . ' within each unit. In turn this pattern of resource.usage I and economic activity.has influenced the _pattern of ·urban' settlement which has emerged iri the Central Gippsland I Region, and ..the nature of physical, economic and ·social interaction between the different parts of the Reg.ion ..: I I I I !I '

1. . . I MUNICIPALITIES OF THE REGION I I I I I I I I I I

I . SCALE 10 0 10 20 30 40 1· kilometres

I .. I

.. I I .I I 2. I Ii ·..+i==- ,II

I., ·' I .MAJOR PHYSICAL UNITS I I I 1· I I 'I ,1 I ·1 I

I SCALE 10. :o 10 ·20 30 40 I kilometres I !

I I .I I ·.3. I ,j =-" I 1. - 7 I I 1.2 Principal Characteristics of Sub-Regional Units . Th~ priricipal physical characteristics of the fo~f major II land units illustrated in Figure 3 are described in the · fo 11 owing paragraphs.

I The Eastern Highlands:

I The northern part of the Region is part of the plateau ~~d southern foothill section of the Great Dividing Ran~e 6f·· I Victoria.·. Topographically, this area (The Eastern Highlands) comprises a geologically complex dissected p1ateau, with a· II ·moderately steep esc::arpment, lying between 915 and 1525 metres above sea level, with elevations generally increasing in a north and north~easterly direction,reaching its highest I elevation on the Baw Baw Platea~. ·_This plateau is the soutce of the ~ajar rivers in th~ Region - the ~atrobe and I Thomson, which'discharge from steep well disse.cted slopes. Jhe steep slopes and soils of the Eastetn Highlands make I them especially sui.table for the gro_wth of timber. Forestry is the.principal for)li of economic.activity in much of the,.. I highland areas of th.e Region.·

The.Latrobe Valley: I .. . . To the south of the Easter.n Highlands is a primarily low-iying I land unit known as the Gippsland Plains which·descends from close to ·Melbourne in the west to the just I beyond the bo~ndary of .the Central Gippsland Regi~n i~ .the· east. These plains are divided into western and eastern I sections.. bY higher land near and Drouin. I I I

·• J. I - 8 .I I The eastern extension of the Gippsland Plains is an east-west I -depression - historically known as the "Great Valley of Victoria", more commonly called the Latrobe Valley. The Valley's origin began in Tertiary times with its ·down-warping I and· a corresponding up-warping of the adjacent areas to the · north and south. Continued down-warping has maintained the I Va 11 ey character even though considerable sed imentat ioh has occurred since the inltiai formation of the depression. I The Valley is a 1so fractured by severa 1 cross fau 1ts.

The most significant physical resource of the Latrobe Valley I is the extensive deposits of brown coal, which have provide.d the basis for substantial mining and industrial development I in the Valley. The Valley is drained by the ~hich meanders through ·it~ broad flood pl~in. The rich I soils of the flood plain, together with a suitable climate . . make parts of the Valiey specially suitable for dairying. I and the grazing of sheep and cattle.

The Strzeleckis:. I

Physically separating the·L.atrobe Valley from South Gippsland I is a mountain range, having a north~east/south-west . . . . orientation,. commonly known as the Strzeleckis. · I These ranges are block-faulted mountains consisting chiefly of older sedi~ents overlain by geologically recent deposits I of sands arid gravels. The up-thrown blocks are deeply dissected with steep Y:outhfui valleys and narrow ridges· I resulting in a ·hilly topography. The Strzeleckis have be~n disse~ted to a much greater extent than the Eastern I Highlands, particularly on the southern s·lopes where the types of soil and lack of vegetation have encouraged erosion. I I I I 1. - 9 - I I South Gippsland Coastal Plains: South of the Strzeleckis lies the area commorily known as I South Gippsland which consists of the municipalities of Woorayl, South Gippsland and Alberton. iopographically, I South G1pps_land is similar to much of the Latrobe Valley. The area is drained by the Tarwin, Franklin, Agnes, Albert, Jack and Tarra Rivers which rise in the Strzeleckis and 1,I follow short courses to the sea, traversing the-fertile Yarram Flats. The soils in South Gippsland are suitable 'I for dairying and the grazing of beef cattle and sheep.

I 1.3 Historical Development

Settlement began in Central. Gippsland in the ·mid 1850 1 s with . I the introduction of .pastoral activities. Angus McMillan the way for this early settlement in 1838-41; Previous paved . . I to this sealers and ~halers had landed at·vario~s points along the toast, but no permanent settlements were ~stablished. I It was Count de Paul Strzeleckis~expedition iri 1840-41 which .· opened .Llp a trail_ across Central Gippsland. While seeking . I a 1and 1 ink betwe~n the Eastern pa·rt of Gippsl and and Port Phillip Bay; he traversed Central Gippsland from east to west.

I The early pastoralists, who specialised largely in grazing

o{ cattle, had their. ·holdings on the fringes of . the forest I areas. When, in 1865, a coach road was finally completed. ·between Melbourne and Sale, settlement along this route I. flourished, especially affer gold was discovered at Walhalla in the early 1860 1 s. Ten years later, the pastoralists ~ad moved ~nto forested areas, deriuding parts df--the I Strzeleckis,_ especially the foothill areas, by the 1870ts. The pioneer~ all shared the misapprehension that thick forest· I meant fertile soils. ·They battled with plagues of I I I - 10 .1 I caterpillars, forests regrowth, inadequate road transport, I lack of markets for their products and collapsing l~nd prices. This period of hardship resulted in a move away from beef · cattle grazing towards dairying. I

By 1878, the train line from Melbo~rne extended ~s far east I as . Branch 1 ines connecting the farming hinterland carried dairy and timber products from the Region to Melbourne. The location of the railway and the main roads in c1ose I proximity to each other had the effect of reinforcing a linear urban settlement pattern within the Latrobe Valley. I Because of the gold discovery, however, Walhalla was the . ' dominant urban settlement of the Region until the turn of the I 20th century. Traralgon was the first ranking .Latrobe Valley town,·gaining benefit from its large dairying I hinterland ..

In 1887, the Great Morwel.l Coal Mining Company started I mining ~rom the newly discovered brown coal deposits near the L~trobe ~iver~ 's ~rowth in the late 1880 1 s can I be attributed to this discovery. However, despitethis expansion, Latrobe Valley towns still remained basically I rural s~rv{te and transport centres.

In. 1917, after the decision was made to electrify the I Melbourne suburban railway network, it was recognized that the power generating capacity of the State would have to be I supplemented. After a thorough government investigation of.possible coal sources, Morwell brown coal was favoured I as the cheapest fuel source, if powet ~ould b~ generated at the mine. Because of the~istance of the mine 1rom the 1· existing townships of Moe and Morwell, a government authority, the State Electdcity Commission ($.E.C.) undertOQk the development of Yallourn township and by 1925, ' Yallourn had a· I 1. I I 1. - 11 I I population of 1,100 people. The subsequent development of the Latrobe Valley has been summarised by Dr. ran Puffin in his recent Report on "Life in the Latrobe Valley" in the following manner:

"The S,E.C. has been the cohtroJiing force. in the urban development of the Latrobe Valley. !:'.very heavy industry in the area - power, briquettes, I char, paper, cement has used brown coal. When the S.E.C. has initiated new projects there has been an ·infusion of capital, manpower, and urbanized energy into the Valley, and by the same token, the spaces I between these initiations have been marked ·by a I slowing of growth". Employment opportunities in the Valley were further stimulated by the establishment of the Australian Paper._Manufacturers I · (A.~.M.) at Maryvale in 1931. This plaht hag ~xperienced I continued growth since its commencement. The settlement and developments of other parts of Central Gippsland has been as~ociated p~imar~ly with agritu1~ural I ·and pastoral a<;tivities. North of·the.Latrobe Vall_ey and in the strzeleckis extensive areas have been planted with . . . I hardwoods and softwoods. - I 1.4 Pattern of Urban Settlement and Economic Activity

At the ~ehsus date.of 30th June, 1976, the population of the.-· I Central Gippsland Region was 118,4q8 persons. The Region is the second most densely populated regiori of Victoria,· I outside the Port Phillip District, being only exceeded by the Barwon Region .. This .fact mainly reflects the presence within the of the urban-industria1 ~complex of . I . Regi~~ larg~ . . . the Latrobe Valley. . .The pri·ncipal features of the pattern I of.u.rban s·ettlement in the Reg-ion.may be··summarised. as follows: I I I - 12 - _I I ( i) the dominance of the three Latrobe Valley urban areas. I bf Moe-Newborough - Yallourn, Morwell and Traralgon~ which together contain approximately 45~ bt the · Region's population; I (ii) the.existe.nce of Warragul, a city of' over,3,000 persdrts o~ the western ~dge bf the Region~ I. (iii) the locatfon throughout the Region of six towns (, Drouin, , Churchil, Yarram I and Traralgon)of between LS00-3,000 persons which together account for approximately 1j3 of the Region's I population; and

(iv) the existenc~ of.sixteen smaller towns of.between I 200 and 1~200 persons. I The remaining jQ% of th~ Re~ion's pop~la:tion ;~sides in rura 1 areas •.. I The locati~n d~ Llrba~ centres in the Region and their· relative populations at 30th June, 1971 are shown On I Figure 4. ·

The Latrobe Valley is the. focal area of the Region., The I retaile~s in the Latrobe Valley urban tentres attract. custom from a wide area which includes almost all the Region. I' Employment in the Valley attracts rriany sc·hool leave.rs to The I Gippsland Institute of Advanced Education at Churchill. Further, the urba~ areas ~r~ able to p~ovide a wid~ rahge of soc~al, cultural and medical facilities which are frequently I used by res.idents of the rest ·of the Region. The dominant physi'cal barrier within th·e .Region~ the.. StrZeletk'is. prevents I a high level of ~nteraction occurring between the urban centres in South Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley. ·1 I I - --

;~ I

I POPULATION. DISTRIBUTION I ' ' I BY URBAN CENTRES I I I I I j 0(:\ I l Warra~uLJ GRosedale _lt Trafalgar I I-- ~" I J G)KDrumburra - I - \ 0L.eongatha . I I L Yarram~ , I I SCALE 10 0 10 20 30 40 I I· kilometres I !

I . I . ·1-

I * Moe inctudes Yallourn pop. I .I ·I ··-···-+------·-· .. r:- ~·-- ' ------·- ----· ---~------13 - I I· Leongatha, and to a lesser extent Korumburra and Yarram, maintain a keen ~ndependence fro~ th~ Lat~obe Valley. Whereas the Latrobe Valley urban areas have a dual role of I providing employment in secondary and tertiary occupations and acting as service centres for the surrounding rural ar~a~ I many of the other towns are heavil~ dependent ori a continuing role as rural service towns, often focussed on a contracting I dairy industry.

The distribution of population outlined above reflects the. I pattern of economic activity in different parts of the Region. In theCentral Gippsland Region as a whole, as indicated by I Table 1, 26% of the workforce is engaged in primary industry. In the Lattobe Valley, however, ohly 13% 6f th~ workforce i~ I engaged in agricult~re, whereas in other parts of the Region, in excess of 37% of the workforce is engaged in that indu~try. I As indicated· by·rable.1, in many .lbca1 govern~ent areas outside the Latrobe Va~ley area, more than 40% of .the I workforce is engaged.in agricultural and pastoral activity. Whilst th~ Latrobe Valley S~b-Region accdunts for about 45% I of the Region's population, it accounts for a much hi.gher . ' proportion of the Region's workforce particularly in mining, I manufacturing and .community.services. Tables 1 and.2 h~ghlfght the importance of e1ectricity ~~ner~iion as a source of ·employment in the Latrobe Valley reflected by I the h~gh proportion of wo~kers ih Moe, _Morwell.and Traralgon cities and the Yallourn Works Areas employed in .the tertiary I sector. I I- I I .TABLE 1 . WORKFORCE BY INDUSTRY GROup·: CENTRAL GI PPSLAND REG ION, LATROBE VALLEY SUB-REGION, REST OF CENTRAL GIPPSLAND RE~ION 1971 (persons)

Sector/Industry . Central · Latrobe ·va Tl ey Rest of Central % of Total Gippsland ~egi6n Sub-Reg ion · Gippsland· Region Regional Employment· located in i'tO;· % No.· % No. % Latrobe Va 11 ey PRIMARY Agriculture 10468" 22.6 3663 12.9 6805 37.4 34.9 Mining 1594. 3.4 1461 5.2 133 0.8 91.6 Total 12062 .. 26.0 5124 18.1 6938 38.2 43.4 SECONDARY Manufacturing 6079· 13.l 4143 14.6 1936 10.6 68.1 Construction· 3538. 7.6 2323 8.2. 1215 6.7 65.6. Total .9617 20.7 6466 22.8 3131 17.3 67.2 TERTIARY ElectriCity etc. 5634 ,' 12.2 5414 19.1 220 1.3 96.0 Wholesale and Retail 6779.· 14.5' 3882 13.8 2897 15.9 57.2 Transport and Storage · . 1291 2. 7. 693 2.4 598 3.3 53. 6' Communication · 646 ·. 1.4 332 i.2 314 1. 7 51.3. Finance etc. 1516 3.3. 929 3.3 587. 3,3 .· 61.'2 Public Adm. & Defence 1054 .. 2.3 . 596 2.1 458 2.5 56.5 Community Service 3823 8.2 2322 8.3 1501 8.3 60.7 Entertainment · 1571. 3.3 916 3.2 655 3.6 58.3 Other and N6i ~tated 1878·· 4.0· 1192 . 4.2. 686 3.7 63.4 Unemp 1oyed .· 596 1.3 424 1.5 172 0.9 71.1 Total 24788, 53.3 16700 59.1 8088 44.1 67.3

TOTAL 46467· 100.0 28290 100.0 18177 100.0 60.8 Source: Australi.an Bureau·of Statistics 1971 Census Data-: Latrobe Valley Sub-Region defined as City of Moe, City of T_ra_ralgon, Shires of Mirboo, Morwell, Narracan, Rosedale (part), Traralgon and YalTourn Works Area. - -· -· ------. I 1. - 15 ... I I TABLE 2 · PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF EMPLOYMENT BY I INDUSTRY SECTOR IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF THE CENTRAL GIPPSLAND REGION, 30TH JUNE~ 1971 I Local SECTOR Government Area· Primary Secondary Tertiary I % % % Buln Buln.· 41.2 21.3 37.4 I Warragul 21. 2 19.9 58.9 Korumburra 41.0 19.0 40.0 I Woorayl 41.3 14.6 44.1 Mirboo 55.9 11.3 32.7 I Narracan · 37.2 55.5. 47.3 Moe 9.3 20.0 . 70.3 Morwel 1 14.1 24.0 ~-~-61.8 I Traralgon City 5.0 36.6" 57 ;6 Traralgon- Shire 46.7 . 17. 7 . 35.4 I Rosedale 54.4 16.1 29.3· Alberton 43.6 16.0 40.6 I South G.ippsland 51.8 12 .4 . 35.9 I . TOTAL REGION 26.3 20.9 52.7 I ...

I Source: Ca.lculated from Australian Bureau of Statistics, I ·. 1971 Census Data ,- 1 I I 16 _I I 1. 5 Transport I The transport network has in the past exerted an important influence on the pattern of development in the Central I Gippsland Region and it will continue to do so in the future. In particular the maintenance and upgrading of the intra­ I regional road system to meet increasing demands will ensure that flows of people and goods between urban areas is I possible, and that residents in the rural ~ari~ of the Region have·ready access to the available social and cultural facilities and services, particularly those in the I Latrobe Va 11 ey . I Road and Rail Network: I The structure of a regional road and rail network is by necessity closely related to the physical .char·acteristics of the Region, its historical development and the pattern I of land use in the Region. Central Gippsland is travetsed 1rom west to east by the Princei Highway which.links the I four largest urban c.e.ntres in the Region; as.we.11 as pro~iding a maj~r thro~gh route between Mel6ourne and ~ast I Gippslandand beyond ·~o Ne~ South Wales. The South ~ '" . . Gippsland Hi~hway travers~s the nar~ow coastal plain I through the urban areas of Korumburra, Leongatha, and Yarram and joins the Princes Highway at Sale (just outsid~ the Region}. Both the Princes and South Gippsland I Highways run parallel to railway 1 ines, although the South Gippsland li·n~ terminates at Yarra.m. The main features of I the regional road and rail network are. illustrated on Figure 5. Those areas of the Central Gippsland Region I which are largely inacces~ible or present difficulties for construction such as the Eastern Highlands and th~ -, Strzeleckis are chara.cterised by poorly surfaced, narrow I I !,-i·-1

·1. I .TRANSPORT NETWORK I ·I. r-"'~~ I, I "'-r-~~.J { Q. J I I ·I' I I 'I I I ,I . ' I I

I . SCALE . 10 0 IO 20 3() 40 I'; kilometres I}

I I .·I I

·' ) ·.

I p Ii =46· ---··+- I 1. - 17 '_O.', I windfog roads. Even the Midland Highway which links:the I Latrobe Valley with South Gippsland is a little trafficked·· road. Connections between these two areas are not clearly. I defined and the road network lacks a distinct hierarchy. Because of the poor road network linking So~th Gippsland I with other parts of the Region, many people i~ South Gippsland look to centres outside the Region for the I provision of retail, cultural, heaith and welfare facilities. Those in.the eastern half of South Gippsland gravitate I towards Sale,·while those in the western half look to Danden6ng or Melbourne for p~ovision of these facilitfes.

I The Princes Highway, the major regional road~ ii a two lane carr~ageway, with passin~ lanes on steep sections, ~lthough I the Moe by-pass and the stretches between Moe and.Morwell and Morwell and Traralgon.are largely a four-lane divided highway. Further b_y-passes are intended for a number of ...... I urban areas, including those for Drouin·and Warragul now under construction. In terms of road ·movement, the I . inter-town flows of traffic are very high in _the Latrobe· . . . . Va 11 ey, . part i cul arl y between the urban cen~res. of Moe, I .Morwell and traralgon, and to a iess~r extent between Moe · and the-towns 6f Trafalgar and Yallou~n. Increased I demands ~ill be place~ on thi La~robe Va1.ley•s:r~ad an~. · rcdl network by the .expansion of S.LC. and A;P.M~ works,.: I especially within the vicinity of the Loy Yan·g coal field:. I Air Services: Air Service is provided to the Region from Melbourne by I daily flight~ landing (optional) at the Latrobe Valley Ai~field (east oi Morwell) on rouie to ~ale Airf~~~d (just I outside the Region) on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. I I

------·------··-··---····------~------I - 18 -· _I I

On Tuesdays and Thursdays there are flights via to Canberra ·from the Sale Airfield. Increasing service by I air is unlikely because the alternative modes of transportation are generally sufficient. I

Port Facilities: I

Port Welshpool is the major port of the Central>Gippsland Region. . It has an average d~pth of about t.5m, is I . . . . . relatively sheltered, and is entered by mearis of a natrow and shallow channel in Corner Inlet. Thete may be a need I to devel6p the·port facilities at Port Welshpool further or at alternative iocations such as Western Port along . . . the. . I coa~t, t~ caier for the possible e~port of large quantities of brown coal or associated products. The two critical I factors in the evaJuation of suitable sites for a port will be the slze of the' ships needed to handle the conunodities and the land requirements next to .the wharf required for I storage ~nd loading facilities. The possibility of establishing offshore loaders on the Gippsla~d c~ast·must I : . . . ' ,. be weighed up against the . . . ver.y heavy. swellS. . corii1ng in from the Tasman Sea.which make it difficult to use such facilities I effectiveiy~ .. These alternatives. would.·ihvolve significant changes to the. existing road and ~ail :network·;· either within 1· ·Central and Ea·st Gippsland or between Gippsland and Western Port. .The tho.ice. of a port site,. if required, must .. I therefore take into account the economic and social tost . . and benefits of making changes to the transport corridor$ as well as seeking to identify the deepest and most . I environmentally.suitable harbour along the coast. I I I I I 1. - 19 - I I 1. 6 . La:nd Uses The principal uses to which land is devoted in the Region I are illustrated in Figure 6. In many of the shires which comprise the Region~ more than 80% of the land is devoted I to agriculture, but in others,·forests predominate. Much of the natural vegetation that once co~ared the Cent~a1 I Gippsland R.eg1on has been cleared for agriculture and forest activities.· What natural vegetation remains consists - . I . primarily of fot~sts at the higher altitudes.of the Eastern Hi~hlahdS. Much of the Strz~l~tki~ were clear~d Of forest~ at an early stage. Aside from isolated areas in I . . the Latrobe Valley, the National Parks and some of the co.astal dune areas, most of the natural vegetation on the I plains (lowlands) has given way to agricultural pursuits.· I I

I ... I I I I I I I I - 20 - . _I I

CHAPTER I I I I THE PHYSICAL RESOURCES AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE I As indicated .in Chapter I, the historical development of the Central Gippsland Regi.on has been primarily based on the . progressive.development and exploitafion of sev~ral major·.· I natural resources in the Region. The variation in economic activity which characterises the different parts of the · I Region reflects to a large extent their different n·a tura l resource base. I

2.1 Brown Coal I Brown coal is the major· source of primary .energy available in Victoria. and will be increasingly called upon in the I future to meet the demands for energy arid other cpai~ba.sed. . products. tn t~rlils of energy; the readily recoverable I reserves ·6f brown coal: in the Central G{ppslari~ Region· . . . . . repre~ent some 85 percent of Victoria-'s present declared . . ' . . . I fossil fl.tel. reserves (coal, oil .and natural gas) ·and nearly a qu~rte~ of 's rese~ves ... I The b~own ~oal of the Valley is a young, relatively soft coal, but through modern techniques it can be won in great I quantitie·s and at low costs. It is one of the world's largest _single deposits of brown coal with sea~~ ~P to I several hundred metres thick in close proximity to th~ surface. I :.- I I I ·,1 ··-· 1',.- I .. ::1 II I: .MAJOR· LAND USES I I I .I· 1· I I 1· I I

I SCALE 10 :o IO 20 ~ 40 I kilometres

__,,, -,,_\I~ I . I,,.__,, ,._, \,,. ·'DAIRYING I , ~. I I •

.•:l: ·:-:~·:.-;;. ;+i;.:1::•,,·11~ • ·:, .. \·.~~ ·. GRAZING I HV:~~!: I .1 ...... = FORESTRY = POTATOES --t:~~ I 6 I

I Ii I - 21 I I There are. several major known coalfields in the Region, . each deposit having different physical and chemical characteristics which affect their recovery and suitability I for various processes. The major deposits are located in the Latrobe Vailey, where thick seams underlie an area from I 10 to 30 kilometres (km) wide extending some 70 km from near Yallourn in the west to just south of Sale in the east I {see Figure 7). Other smaller deposits are lo~ated at Gelliondale and Won Wron in South Gippsland.

I The coal reserves of the Central Gippsland Region have been calculated as about 113,000 megatonnes (Mt.) of wh.ich. I 66,000 Mt have been proven and the remainder inferred. Of these proven reserves, some 36,000 Mt occur iri areas with I less than 30 metres of overburden above the uppermost seam. At present day costs, and subject to other limiting factors such as the loc.ation of townships, essential services a_nd I . . . rivers. the readily reco~erable reserves of the Central Gi~psland Region.were estimated in 1974 at apprqximately I 12 ,000 Mt or around 10 percent of the geological r_eserves. Details of the·coal reserves located in the Region and I also.in othe·r parts of Victoria are shown in Table 3.

I 2.2 Forests Approximately 35% of the total land area of the Ceritral I Gippsland Region is covered by forests. . As indicated in. Figure 6, most of these forests are located in. the north I of the Region and in. the Strzelecki ~anges. I Forestry is the second most important primary· industry. in the Region and m~ny li~ban centres are dependent on activity I associated wit~ it for their livelihood. I I ,1 - 22 - _I I TABLE 3 ~ROWN COAL DEPOSITS IN VICTORIA, 197~· I Proven Readily Recoverable Geological Res~rves (Megatonnes) Reserves Main Marginal I Coalfields · · (Mega tonnes) Areas · Areas Tota 1

1. Latrobe Valley I (a) Yal lourn-Maryvale 12,400 2,500 . 300 2 ,800 (b) Morwell~Narracan 6,800 2,200 1,100 .3,300. I Cc) Loy Yang 21,300 3,400 1,300. 4,700. Sub-Totai, Main Fields 40,500 8,100 2;700 10,800 I (d) Gormandale 4,000 400 . 2.00 . 600 (e) Holey Plains I Coolungoollin 2,500 100. ·100 200 (f) OtherAreas 17,900 30 30 I Total Latrobe Valley 64,900 8,60b. 3 ,000 11,630

2. South Gippsland · I (a) Gell iondale 1,300 200 200 400 (b) Won WrOn 2 I Total Centr~l Gippsl~nd 66;200 8,800 3,200 12,030 .1 3~ -Other Victoria (Bacchus Marsh, . Altona, Anglesea) 500 :loo 100 200 I Total V.ictori~ 66,700 8~9oo ·3,~00 12~230 I

Source: State Electricity tommis~ion. I I I I I ·1 1. I BROWN COAL I

\ ' \ I I . ,. __ .-i\~ 1 I I r'''-' ' ' J I , I I l I w--~ ...... I --~ I ( \. ' " '\ . J • \ I l Warragui \ ... . -l t \ I I -- \ ~, \ I I ~ • ~· Leongatha I 1., ,-- Foster• I

I SCALE 10 0 10' 20 30 40 I kilometres I I I I 7 I -$- .. I 1. - 23 I

Forests in the Region are basically of two typ~s. The I Latrobe River catchment, in the northern part.of the Region, contains some 202,429 hectares (ha) of natural hardwood I forest - the principal species being mountain and stringybark gum, peppermint, and silvertop. Forest areas I with ~imilar characteristics are located in the higher parts · of the Strzeleckis. These forest areas.perform a dual role. I On the o~e hand, they provide the ~uch neede~ 6over to protect the upper reaches of the State's main water catchments, I and on the other hand, the ash timbers found in these forests · are used for floorboards, hardboard, ven~er and paper. I Iri additidn to the hardwood forests, large areas of the lo~er slope~ ~f· the Ea~ter~ Highlands and the Strzelecki~ I have been planted with softwoods for use in Woodpulp and paper production. The Forests Commission is developing a . . I softwood plantation area of some 28,000 ha in the Central Gippslahd Region, of wh~ch some 6,800 ha hav~ already been I planted. To meet this commitment, -690 ha will be pl.anted annually.· •:

I The forests of Central and East Gippsland togethe~ produce one-eighth of all Australia.n timber p~oductibn, and are rapidly becoming even more important as the young ·forests I and recently established softwood plantations approach ...... ·. . . . maturity. ·The Yarram, Mirboo, Erica, Heyfield and Maff~a I Forest Di~tri~ts are turrently ~roducing abo~t 10.percent · of the State~s ·output of eucalypt sawlogs and a large I proportion of the ~ucalypt pulpwood. The regrowth forests of mountain ash and alpirie ash in the Tho~son, I Tanjil and Tyers water catchments and the softwood. plantations will together raise the sawlog and pulpwood output of these forest districts to four times their present I levels. I I I - 24 _I I Timber processing is one of the more important secondary I industries in Central Gippsland. The pulp and paper mill at Maryvale is the largest in the State; there .is a particle-board factory at Rosedaie, one of three in the State, I and there are 22 sawmills which comprise eight percent of the total number in Victoria. I

The largest industry using wood as its primary resource material in the Region is Australian Paper Manufacturers I Pty. Ltd .. A pulp an~ paper mill was establis~ed at Maryvale in 1937, using locally grown eucalypt hardwoods. I The processing mill was established in the Latrobe Valley because of .the proximity to readily available timber I resources,~ constant fuel supply (brown coal) from the Yallourn North open cut, the availability of an adequate I water supply from the Latrobe River, and electric power from the S.E.C. In 1974, A.P.M. employed 1,200 people I at the Maryvale Mill, producing 180,000 tonnes of woodpuip and 135,0bO tonnes of paper and paperboard. In 1973/74, the total pulpwood input to the Maryvale operation and to I the operation of Pyheboard Pty. Ltd. (Rosedale) was 560,000 tonnes'. By 1984, the total wood input is , I expected to oe about 1. 9 mi 11 ion tonnes per annum. · I 2.3 Agriculture·

Within the Ceritral Gippsland Region, as throughout I . . non-metropolitan Victoria, agriculture is of great significance . . - ...... to the regional economy. The farmland of the Region has I . . considerable value for dairying, beef and fat lamb production, and to a lesser extent cash cropping - mainly potato growing I in the Thorpdale area. Fodder crops are grown throughout ,, the Region. I I I 1. - 25 - I I The agricultural productive capacity of any area is derived from the physical characteristics which primarily include its topography, soils and climate. Most of the Region I and the southern coastal areas receive at least 950 mm of rainfall annually, decreasing to about 600 mil as one moves I east through the Region. The river systems and underground water resources provide additional water supplies, for I irrigation of pastures and crops~ as well as for stock and domestic requirements.

I The latrob~ Valley, in particular~ possesses soils with average to good fertility whose productivity can be greatly I increased by fertilization and irrigation. There is a significant irrigation area associated with the lower I reaches of the Thomson R1ver (Macalister Irrigation District), r. but this is largely in East Gippsland. Dairyin~ occupies I a. larg~ portion of the fertile pla~ns associated with the Moe, Morwell, Tanjil and Latrobe Rivers and their.numeroui ., tributaries.. The dairy cattle graze mainly on unirrigated . . . ' ' I pastures, supplemented i.n summer and· winter by pasture hay and/or pasture silage. Fodder crops such as oats, bar.ley,. I turnips, maize, rape and millet also supplement cattle

grazing.,· I. ...

I . . ·, . In South Gi~psland, o~ the other hand, agricultural· productivity is generally.lower than in the Latrobe Valley I because of the shallower, less fertile soils, areas of steep topography arid high water runoff rat~s, characteristic I of the Strzeleckis. Nonetheless South Gippsland remains an important area for dairying and grazing of sheep and I cattle. I I I I - 26 .I I The agricultural activities have given rise to local processing . plants such as the Moe Co-operative Dairying Company, Gippsland I Potato Products, Camembert tndustries, and Murray Goulburh Co~operative Company. These plants add to the diversificaiion I of the Regional economy. I the most recent statistics oh rural -Industry activity in the Region are summarised in Table 4. There are over .6,000 rural holdings (1974-75) with an average size of 115 ha. I In 1974-75 the Region accounted for li. 5% of the State 1 s beef cattle and 25.1.% of the dairy cattle. There has been a I steady increase in the number of dairy cattle in the past few years, espetially in the western part of the Region, where I annual rainfall is higher, th~s providing better pastures. East of Traral·gon, as the rainfall decreases, the non­ I ir~igated a~ricultural landi are used primarily for grazing: of beef cattle, dry dairy cattle and sheep. West of Traralgon, the pastures are used primarily for milking stock. The I milking cows are p~edominantly Jersey although as one approaches Melbourne,. there is quite a high proportion of Friesians. I The numb~r of beef tattle has steadily increased: With only I . slight decreases in drought years such as 1972. Herefrirds are the predqrriinant breed of beef cattle. There are also herds of Aberdeeri - .Ahgus and to a l~sser I . . . ' . . ~xtent, Shorthorn. Bobby calves (veal) and culled dairy cows also contr1but.e to beef production. I

The sheep p6p~lation has never beeri large, currently . representing 2.3 percent of the State total sheep numbers.· I The Crossbred, Merih'o and· Corri deal e are the most popular breeds grazed~ I I I I I 1. - 27 I The only significant cash cropping .area tn· the Region I (Thorpdale) produced 18.1 percent of the State's total ·1 potato crop. Apart from the productivity of the land, the .amenity value of the agricultural .areas is of considerable·si·gnificante. I People living arid working in the Region, together with· visitors, appreciate the variety of farming pursuits because I this rural setting provides a co~trast to the more I industrii.al ized ~-~d urbanized parts of the Region. 2.4 Water Resources

I' Water is a resource of critical significance to the economic and soCial well.,.being of any region, but it is' specially· I significant in Central Gippsland .. Not oniy is ·reguiar rainfall and an adequate Sljpply Of water essential for the I continuing viability and prosperity of the agricultural~. pasto~al ~nd fore~try activ~iies of the Region~··but -~ I guaranteed supply of water is also a fundamental requirement for the continued exploitati6n of the. brown co~,· depos~ts to I gen~rate ~l~ctricity.for the State of Victoria, and fo"r the ongoing operation of several other m~jor industrial I enterprises. In addition, there is continuing pressure to utilise some· I of the Region's surface water resources to meet the increasing demand :from the Melbourne Metropol itah Regi_on .:

I The Central Gippsland R~gi9n is part ~f the Marin~ East­ Coast climate regime .-·a· tempetate rainy:climate wi:th warm I summers. The glObal atmosphe·r;c 'control assoeiated with this is the summer migration of the sub-tropical• 11 High 11 air· I masses southward in th¢ southern hemisphere. .Thi_s I I I - 28 ~ .I I TABLE 4 . SELECTED STATISTICS RELATING TO . AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ACTIVITIES IN THE I CENTR~L GIPPSLAND REGION~ 1974-75 SEASO~. % of State 1. Farm Statistics ha. Total I Number of holdings 6 ,464 . 10.3 Area of holdings 743,219 4.9 I 2. Major Crops· I Crops ·Area. Product.job % of lotal Tiil (tonnes). State · production I Potatoes 2,101 51,225 18;1 Other vegetables (excl. potatoes) 618 N.A. N.A. 'I Maize (for grain} 127 335 17. 5 Hay (various types) 60,252 277,628 13.8 I Green feed/silage 7,059 N.A. . · N.A. Linseed 582 . 358 ·.. .. 9A I Rape Seed 824 393 17 .2. Nurseries/cut flowers 138 N.A. -N.A. . % of State I 3. Livestock Total.. .,Head. Tot~ l . ca:ttie ~76~349. ·15.8 I Dairy Cows (Commercial production of milk & cream) .. 486 ,575 25 .• 1 Cattle·· I (mea:t. proquction oniy) 48~,811 11. 5 . Pigs 23,909 6.2 I _Sheep· 600,363 2.3 I Sources~ Australian Bureau of Statistics Lahd Utilisation and Ctops Season·l974-75; Livestock Season 1974-75. · I I I I I 1. - . 29 - I

'I migration creates added atmospfterfc stabll ity, resulting in less precipitation. The topograpny al s6 strongly influences. I precipi,tation and temperatures<···•.·· Most of the Region .receives between 610 mm and. 1198 ~ of I precipitation per annum (see Figure 8). Table 5 shows the average annual rainfall of selected towns in the Region, for I which at least twenty years of recbrdings are available. · Precipitation gradually increases in a generally concentric I pattern .. westward across the Region from the eastern boundary near Sale which receives an average of 610 mm or less~ I The Eastern Highlands and the Strzeleckis receive 1400 mm : or higher in certain areas •. The lower rainfall receiv;~d· · I in the eastern portion of the Regfrin is mainly caused by ~. the rain ~hadow effect caused by the Sttze1eckis sheltering· the eastern sector from the rain beadng west and south-west•. I winds. I As a result· of ·reliable precipitation throughout the Ceritral Bippsland Region~ especially in.the highland areas, the .mostly Latrobe Valley is well endowed with water resources, ' I ...... from .the sutfate run~off from t~e rivers, whfch tise primarily in the Easte~n Highl~~ds. Groundwater, as a' I potential .water resource is signifita~t although it.has no:t I been utilised to any great ~xtent. The major river of the Region is the Latrobe, with the ' . I Thomson, Tanjil and Tyers rivers also being significant . (see'Figure 9)~ The Strteleck1s provide· the~ource 1 of the southern rivers; the Tarwin, Franklin, Agnes, Albert, Jack I and Tarra which follow short courses to the sea transversing I the South Gippsland Coastal Plains. i3'ecau·'~e .. ~f\he , · .. · .. I I •· I - 30 - .I I TABLE 5 I AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL OF SELECTED TOWNS I Average.· Anriua T StatiOn Rainfall (mm) I Alberton· 680 Drouin 951 I Erica ' 1,162 Foster l,130 I Gormanda 1 e · · 834 Korumburra 1,180 I Mirboo North 1,005 ' . 1,4.39 I Moe 97'2 Morwel 1 795 Rosedale .. .6l54 I Stradbroke · 622 Trafalgar· 996 I ·' ' TraraJgon : '762. Wal ha 11 a l',206 I Warragul l ,OOL · Woods.ide . 967 I Yallou.rh 960 Yarram ·. 752 Yinnar I ~13 I I Source:" Bureau of Meteoro 1ogy. I I I a· - 1. I .RAINFALL 1· ;' I I I I I .,I ·1 I

I SCALE 10 .0 10 20 30 40 I kilometres

I --700i:nm ISOHYETS I I - I 8 I _j_ ___ ------:I' I~ I RIVERS AND. STREAMS I .I I I :I I LaTrobe R I I I I

I SCALE 10 0 10 20 30 40 I,' kilometres I I I I 9 .. , ' i ! -·.~-'' I I~ - 31 I significance of the Latrobe arid Thomson river systems in I providing water resources for the continuing development of the R~gion, a brief description of the characteristic~ of each I is given below. I The Latrobe River carries surface run-off from the· Baw Baw Plateau (Eastern Highlands) and th~ northern slope~ of the Strzeleckis. Its headwaters are separat~d from the Yarra I' water catchment to the west by the local divide. . The headwaters originate in the timbered hill tounfry west of I Noojee at an elevation of 1,500 m. The uppe~ r~aches of the Latrobe River, as we 11 as other Latrobe. Va 11 ey rivers I wit~ headwaters in the Eastern Highlahds discharge from steep well-dissected topography which· quickly gives way t_o, ,- wide flats :running between undulating hill areas and finally· become a flat plain. The Latrobe River catchment ., comprises 5,180 sq. km. The river's flow is more reliable than mahi other -Victorian rivers because of the con~istencf of precipitation in its catchment. From the Rosedale I gauging pciint, the average annual discharge is 941,002 Megalitres (Ml) wjth the peak flood of~3~511 cubic I metres per second (cu. m/sec.). ·.The Latrobe ~iver ~s, from its source to Lake Wellington, approximately 241 km. long I with an average fall of.about L7 metres per kilometre. ,, The Thomson. River and its major tr.i butary, the Aberfel dy River, drain .from the watershed extending from the Baw Baw Plateau to the higher ridges of the Eastern Highlands~ I The Thomsori River rises on the northerh side of the Baw Baw Plateau near Matlock and on the southern slopes of the I Eastern Highlands close to the headwaters of the Yarra River.· Its headwaters are north-east of Ab.erfeldy at ah elevation I of 1,524 m. ·The .topography of· the· Thomson River catchment I I 32 ~I I is similar to that of the Latrobe River. The river .floods on average twice a year on some section.of its flood plain. I Very little long term damage occurs over the grazing areas that are flooded, although there have been sporadic instances I of property damage. In the record flood of June 1952, the Thomson broke a small section of iti alluvial Chanriel and 1. . established a new course below Heyfield. The river. joins the Latrobe River in the vicinity of Sale. The river's 'I average annual discharge as measured at the Cowwarr Weir is 401,770 Ml. with a peak flow of 708 cu. m/sec.· Its length as measured ftbm the headwaters to the junction I below Sale fs 225 km. I As mentionedpreviously, existing industries make.considerable demands on the water available in the Region.· La.rge volumes· -, of water are required for cooling purposes in th_e S.E.C:'s thermal power stations, for dust contro1.·and fir~ prevention 1· at the open cuts and at the A.P.M; 's Maryvale Mill •. -~

Thus in 1974/75, the S.E.C. utilised 27,510 Ml.·of water in its eleciticity generation pl~nts in the Latrobe Valley and it is estimated that this coold rise t6 between 200 I and 300 Ml. per .annum in the next twenty years ...· A. P.M:~ . . . ' . . ·.· currently uses· some 29,000 Ml. per year in its. Maryvale· pl:ant and it is ·estimated that this requirement could treble I by 1990. At the moment the Latrobe River water catchment meets these requirements and those of o~her· water consumers, I including town water supplies and· irrigation works. Moondarra Reservoir (37,000 Ml. capacity) on the _Tyers River I serves the .utban and 1ndustr1al water needs of Traralgon and Morwell. · Yallourn storage on the Latrobe River is· I used for cooling water for S.E.C. power station at·... Ya 11 ourn, and after treatment; for· urban su·pply to the I .I I I r - 33 - ·1·

I townships of Yallourn and Yallourn North. Minor diversions of water are made for local irrigation use.

I In 1974~75 ~he Latrobe Valley Water and Sewera~e Board .supervised the allocatiOn of 61,350·Ml. to consu.mers iri the I Latrobe Valley, 92 percent of which was utilised. by the S.E.C. . arid. A.P.M. . for. industrial purposes.. .

I' In order to evaluate the increasing demands for ·water in the Region, the Parliamentary Public Works Corrunittee is · I . curren"tly.ho/lding an inquiry into th'e future:uti.lization of the waters of· the La.trobe River upstream of the. Thomson ,I River junction. Evidence at this stage indiCates th.at· future .development of Latrobe River water resources will ,- be dictated primarily by the increasing water requirements · of the S.E.C. 's power s:tations. ·It is envisaged as the ne~d arises, dams will be built 6h the Tarij11 and Latrob~ 1 Rivers, both at sites in the -vicinity of Willow Grove, although a possible augmentation of Moortdarra Reservoir is:....

( I also being cons1dered; The ti~ihg of storage crinstruction . ,) will depend on the rate at ·which req~irements increase for I the supp1y.of surface water to the power statioris·end for the dilution .of returns of waste water from the stat ions. I ." 1:

I I I I I I I - 34 - 1 I

CHAPTER .I II I I:- I PLANNING -FOR THE FUTURE - THE MAJOR ISSUES I I This chapt~r butliries the major iSS~~s which app~a~to be involved in planning for the future of Central Gi~psland, I so as to suggest the nature of analyses and investigations which need to be undertaken in order to provide the basis I for the formulation of appropriate policies, plans .and programmes relating to those issues. ,, 3.1 Economic and Demographic Trends -,. Many of the significant changes which have taken.place in· the physical, economic and social character of' the Region and its component parts in the past have been a direct I consequence of ma~or changes in the level and pa~tern of economic activity in the Region. E~9nomic actiVitY in· I Central Gippsland is heavily dependent on the exploitation of nat4ra1·resources, and further important changes, having 1· significant impl icatfons for the future, are currently in prospect. It is clearly relevant therefore to give close I consideration to the possible nature of these changes and to consider their implications for the future plann{ng of the Region. I

The population of the Central Gippsland Region ih~r~ased I from 114,104 persons at 30th June, 1961 to 119,203 persons at 30th Juhe, 1966. It then declined to 117,910 pe~sons I at 30th June~ 1971, and has rem~ined virtually constant since that date, being 118,408 persons at 30th June, 1976- Most I I I I [ - 35

I .. ii

shires outside the Latrobe Valley have.experienced declines I in population since 1961. Increases of population have taken place in Traralgo~ City and in Morwell, Trafal~bn, I Warragul~ Woorayal, and Rosedale Shires.

Much of· the decline in population in the areas ~ut~ide the I Latrobe Valley appears to have been attributable to the decline in rural employment which has taken place.thr~ughout I the Region; which in turn has resulted in the erosion of the· rural· servicing base of many small urban centres. . The I recent drought in South Gippsland and adverse -pr{ce-cost trends affecting rural industries have further intensified I the difficulties confronting communities in those parts of the Region whose livelihood is largely ~ependent on ·l agricultural and pastoral activity, and iri·p~rticular dairying.'

I With respect to future employment and population·. growth within th~ Region, a ~umbe~ of conflicting tren~s'afe.in evidence. On the one hand, the implement~tion by the· I . . . Gove~nment of plans to construct a major new power station ·1 at Loy Yang to meet the required .electricity needs of the· 1980's and 1990's, will iricre~se employment, particularly in the Latrobe Valley. The S. E. C. expects that I construction, in one form .or another, will be practically continuous, although the number of construction workers I employed .will fluctuate .. How.ev_er, the number of personnel t~quire~ to operate the power station will inc~ease as each I additional .generating unit is installed; It has been estimated that in the next 20 Years between 800 and 1,500 I additionai workers will be required by the s.~.c~.' mainly in the construction of the Loy Yan_g· power station .... it is expected that the number of employees working for the S.E.C . I . . I I I - 36 1 I

and its contract6rs will incre~se from. its present level of 7,000 to abo~t 9,000 in the 1980's, creating a situation. of I expansionwhich will be simi.lar to that which occurred .i.n the Latrobe Valley in the mid 1960's. I Similarly, the major extensions .Proposed by A.P.M. for its paper and pulp making activities at Maryvale involying I expenditure of about $100 million over the next 5:- 10 years, is expected to create an additional .500 permanent jobs .. In. I addition, new jobs .would be provided as a resu·it of stimulation in local business. I

In other parts of the Region; however, prbspect~ for continuing development of employment opportunities would I appear to be less favourable. . It would appear for. example, that even in the event of a sustained impr.ovement in. the t economic pro~pects of rural industries, little if any additional ~mployment opportunities will be treated in I those parts of the Region which are largely dependent on rural activity for their livelihood. On the other hand, ., expansion and replanting of the highly productive forest areas is 1i.kely to .Provide continuing employt1Jent. 'oppo.rtunities . . . .· ·, ' ·.in different p,arts of the Region. I

3.2 Major Planhirig IS$ues I

Economic Opportunities and Population Growth: I . . . . . The foregoing discussion provides only the broadest possible synopsis oi·the major fa~tor~ ~hich appear likely to· I i nfl uenc~ the future 1eve1 and ·pattern of resource .usage fo Central Gippsland and thus the nat~re of the economic and I social opportunities which will be availabl~ to r~sidents of the Region. Indeed it is clear that an early requirement· I I I I [ - 37 I

of the process of developing effective regional planning I wil 1 be the.undertaking of ana 1yses designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the economic and d~mographic I factors influenci~g the future of the Central Gippsland I Region and its component parts. In addition, it is possible to suggest from·the above . analysis, a~n~mber of specific. policy issues requiring I significant policy decisions which will have a major bearing on the extent to which plantifog for the future will succeed . . I in contributing to the. ecohomic and social well-b~ing of the residents Of the Region and to the wise and efficient I use and management bf its resources. l Land and Resource Use Conflicts: Much Of the future·will be bound up with.the futther I exploitation and development of the Region's natural resources - particularly brown coal, forests, water and agricuttural land. I Significant conflicts exist in the extent to which:these resources may be developed for different purposes. Thus, I maximum development of the brown co.al resources ,may impose a 1imit. ori .. the extent to which the l~nd above· the brown coal . . . . may be used for purposes of forestry and.agricultural I production: . ~imila~l;~ _there'.wiil be ~6mpeting d~mands for· I the use of the water resources available in the Regibn. The nature of the resourte and land use conflict~ which may I. exist must be carefully· identified and evaluated b~fore decisions are made relating to the specific U$e .to be made of those reso~rces~

I I I - 38 - 1 I Future of the Rural Areas: .I The prospects for continued viability of r~ral prod~ttion in many parts of the Region wciuld appear to ·be uncertain. I This has important implications for the fut~re·of large parts of the Reg1on and in particular South and West Glppsland.· This is a matter warranting early invest~gatib~. One issue I which would appear to require special attention relates to the accessibility of the tesidents of South Gippsland and· I other remote parts of the Region to Government services and facilities .such as schools, hospitals, health centres and I libraries. I Strategic Planning in the Latrobe Valley:

Urban Planning in the Latrobe Valley has a long history. t The township of Ya ll ourn was la id out in the early 1920 Is following.the decision ~i the Victorian Governm~nt to develop .I the brown coal deposits of the Latrobe Valley for purposes of generating electricity for the. State of Victoria. In I 1948 the Town .and Country Planning Board initiate~ preparation of the "Latrobe Valley Sub-Regional .P.lann·i.ng Scheme 1949 11 which was gazetted on 24th: July, 19SL The. I . ' Sub-Regional Planning Scheme has been amended on several . ' . ' occasions since 1951 and, within the framework of that scheme, I planning schemes have been prepared for all .or part of the following m~nicipalities: Moe and Traralgon Citieii and the I Shi res of MorWe 11 , Narracan, Rosedale and Trara l gon. -·.

·A number of developments have taken pla_ce in rece.nt. years. I which have _changed t.he environment and circumstance_s;. in .which the sub-regiohal and municipal plannirig schemes will be. ~equired to. operate in the future. Examples of suih developments include.the adoption by' the State Government of . ,· I I I r - 39 I

the recommendation of the Decentralization Advi~ory I Committee (1967) that the Latrobe Valley be one of the five areas to receive priority attention in--programmes for the I decentralization of population and economic acttvity throughout Victoria; the establishment of the Gippsland I Institute of Ad~anced Education at Churchil1~ and the adoption by the State Government in 1975 Of Statement of I ·Planning Policy No. 9. Current proposals and programmes for the extensio~ of the S.~.C. 6perations at Lby Yang, the relocation of the tbwnship of Y~llourn, the ~onstruct~ori I of the Thomson River Dam, and.the expan~i~n of the A.P.M. 's operatiOns at Maryvale will all have a significant impact on I the future ~conomic, social and physical structure of the l urban settlement system of the Latrobe Valley. In addition, increasing community awareness of th¢ inadequacies of existing arrangements for providing social ' l ... facilities ih the Latrobe Valley (as expressed, for example, in the Central Gippsland Social Survey conducted by the. I Gippsland Institute of Advanced Education in 1974) ·and. changing con'ili1uhit.Y perceptions of t~~ .· imp()rtanc~ of ·1 envi~onment~l a~d ~onservatio~ considerations ~n planning~ have.led~o 'some doubt~ being expres~e~~s to.whether the I provisions of existing planning schemes are adequate in relation to the demand.s which will be placed on them· in the I future. There appears to be a need, therefore, to undertake a major I comprehensive review of the.structure. of urban settlement in the Latrobe Valley with av:iew to identi.fy_irig the·.·. I strategies, policies and programmes which wili need to be adopted to ensure maximum effecti~eness i~ the planning and I programming of urban deve 1opment in the Latrobe .Va.l ley in I I I - 40 - 1 I the future. Particular attention must be paid to the. need ,. to enhance the capacity of the urban .centres of th.e Latrobe Valley to provide a full range of social facilities and services, not only for resid.ents of the Latrobe. Valley itsel_f,· I but also for the residents of bther. parts of the Central Gippsland Region as appropriate. I Role of Local Government: I In conman with other" Loca i Government Authorities. throughout Australia, particularly those whose boundaries encompass I large rural areas, Local Governments in the Central Gippsland Region have been subject to considerable pressure ~ . . I in recent years to increase the range of services and facilities provided. At the same time they have experienced increasing difficulty in funding such services, as a result f of both increase~ ~n the cost=of such serVices and bf decreases in the capacity of Local Government to raise I revenue to meet the costs of such services. I Local Governmehts in a number of areas in the Region would appear to be subject to a number of peculiar pressures arising from their proximity.to the Melbourne Metropolitan.Area .. I . , . . (e~g. the demand to break up rural areas. in many municipalities to provide 'hobby farms', and the need to_ provide facilities I and services for tourists visiting the Reg.ion, many of whom come from Melbourne). In order to provide the background I data required to analyse the financial impact and . impl i.cations _of those .specific trends, and al so to respond to I demands to provide an increasing range of services and facilities to local residents, it.woul_d appear to be. necessary to underta.ke an analysis of.the organisation and I financing of Lota l Gov.ernment. · I .. '· ·1 I I .r· - 41 I ·1 Future of South and :· .In the course of the analysis and investigation undertaken I as part rif the process of preparing Statement of Planning Policy No. 9, a considerable volume of information has been assembled relating to the physical, economic ahd social I characteristics of that part of the Region embraced by that Pol icy~ Only 1 imited information has been assembled, on the I. other hand in te~pect of that part of the Central Gippsland Region lying south of the Latfobe V~1ley (often referred to I as· "South Gi pps 1and") or for those municipalities. lying between the Latrobe Valley and the eastern boundary of the I Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Region (i·.e. duln Buln, Warragul and Korumburra Shires) - an area sometimes known l as· 11 west Gippsland"; An initial and cursory analysis of readily available data I on the physical ,·social and demographiq characteriestics of South and West .. Gi ppsl and suggests, how~ver ,· that these .I sub~regions differ considerably in many respects from other 1 parts of the Centra. ·Gi ppsl and Region, both with respect. to the likely future patterns bf change arid assoc'iated.planning I problems :i~ those areas.

I It ~ouid ~ppear -therefore, that~ in aider to develop a balanced view of .the. problems of 'planning for the future I in the'Centr~l Gippsland Region, ·art ex~rcise sho~ld be undertaken to obtain an understanding of the peculiar characteristic~ of the settlement pattein of South and West - . I · Gippsland respectively, and to identify and analyse tiie . ..:· •'' specific planning problems cbnfronting.residehts of those I areas. II ·1 I I 1 I I I I I I I f I I I oo._ A, overv..te ot ragioual pianB1ng J... S~ ec.: ..L.!1 the I Cen~ral G · s1· nd I I I I I I