LOCAL PROVISION ALPINE PLANNING SCHEME 21.01 ALPINE SHIRE PROFILE The Alpine Shire is one of Australia’s most outstanding areas. Located in the north east region of Victoria the Shire is rich in natural resources and spectacular scenery, is a leader in regional tourism and provides exceptional lifestyle opportunities and exceptional recreational facilities. The Alpine Shire covers an area of approximately 4800 square kilometres, is home to 12,200 people and is the destination of more than 1 million visitors annually. Around 90% of the municipality is public land comprising two National Parks, the Mount Buffalo National Park and the Alpine National Park, State forests and Crown land. The two Alpine Resorts of Falls Creek and Mount Hotham, while not forming part of the municipal district, are also located within the Shire boundaries. The Shire is well placed three hours from Melbourne and thirty minutes south from the regional centre of Albury-Wodonga. The following municipalities bound the Shire: Indigo Shire to the north; Towong Shire to the north east; Rural City of Wangaratta to the west; Wellington Shire to the south; East Gippsland to the south east; and Falls Creek and Mount Hotham Alpine Resorts. 21.01-1 Settlement and Infrastructure Context The Alpine Shire’s main towns are Bright, Mount Beauty/Tawonga South and Myrtleford. Smaller centres include Dederang, Harrietville, Ovens, Tawonga and Wandiligong. Due to the expanse of public land, a high proportion of the Shires population is concentrated in these urban settlements. The main towns are well connected by high standard roads including the Great Alpine Road and the Kiewa Valley Highway, and most residents are within 20 minutes of township services despite the terrain of the Shire. The three main towns have a distinctly different focus; Bright is centred on tourism, Mount Beauty/Tawonga South around utility services with an emerging trend towards tourism and Myrtleford commerce and industry. The Shire’s estimated resident population in 1996 was 12,180. The estimated resident population forecast for the year 2001 is 13,046. This is a slight increase from 1996 and is expected to increase further to 15,500 by 2021. This is an expected growth rate of 1% per annum. The average household size in 1996 was 2.44 persons, a decrease from 2.59 in 1991 and 3.09 in 1981. In line with national trends in household size, the Shire will experience a continued decline to 2.39 in 2001 and 2.22 by 2021. Due to the continued decline in household size, the number of households in the Shire is expected to grow stronger than the population – from 5113 households in 1991 to an estimated 7023 in 2021. The 1991 census reveals that over half of all households consisted of one (1) and two (2) parent families. The age structure in 1991 reflects a region of young and maturing families. By 2001 evidence of the aging of the population will begin to show and by 2021 the Shire’s resident population will be dominated by those aged 55 years and over. MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT - CLAUSE 21.01 PAGE 1 OF 3 9 SEPTEMBER 1999 LOCAL PROVISION ALPINE PLANNING SCHEME AGE STRUCTURE OF THE ALPINE SHIRE – 1996 AND 2021 The Alpine Shire has a high proportion of residents born overseas, approximately 15%. A strong Italian community exists in the Ovens Valley, who have been influential in the tobacco and hops industry. The Kiewa Valley through the hydroelectric scheme has a high percentage of European immigrants who have also had an influence on the development of the alpine resorts and the hospitality industry. Major infrastructure within the Shire that benefits the North East Region includes: The Great Alpine Road – from Wangaratta to Omeo via Mount Hotham. The Kiewa Valley Highway and Bogong High Plains Road – from Wodonga to Gippsland via Falls Creek. Dargo High Plains Road – from Mount Hotham to Gippsland. Lake Buffalo – water supply for irrigation and domestic supply. Hydro electricity generation – Mount McKay, Clover and West Kiewa power stations. 21.01-2 Natural Resources and Environment Context The natural resources and environment of the Alpine Shire are its key assets and are significant to the region. The headwaters of many of Victoria’s major rivers are located in the Alpine Shire and this stresses the importance of catchments and their management. Most of the municipality is located in the North East Catchment, this includes the Buckland, Buffalo, Kiewa and Ovens rivers, with the southern part of the Shire located in the East Gippsland Catchment (Dargo, Humffrey, Victoria, Wongungarra and Wonnangatta rivers). A large percentage (approximately 90%) of the Shire is public land and accordingly has high conservation significance. The Bogong Unit of the Alpine National Park for example supports a wide variety of flora and fauna with about “one third of Victoria’s native flora species and over half the States land bird species and 40% of the mammal species" (Alpine National Park – Bogong Unit Management Plan, 1992). There are a number of rare, vulnerable and endangered species identified in the Shire the most notable being the Mountain Pygmy Possum. The Alpine National Park is Victoria’s largest and forms a link with Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales and Namadgi National Park in the Australian Capital Territory. The Kiewa Valley is at the foot of the State’s highest peak, Mount Bogong, at 1986 metres above sea level, with many more peaks above 1800 metres. The Bogong and Dargo High Plains are a significant feature of the Shire and the State. MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT - CLAUSE 21.01 PAGE 2 OF 3 9 SEPTEMBER 1999 LOCAL PROVISION ALPINE PLANNING SCHEME The Shire is rich in natural and built heritage assets. The landscapes within the Shire have been recognised as having unique appeal and have been recorded by the National Trust. The township of Wandiligong is unique in that much of its heritage has been left undisturbed since its establishment. There are other significant heritage assets in Bright, Mount Beauty and Myrtleford. These heritage assets are important to the Shire not only because of their historical cultural value but also as a generator of visitors to the region. Mining has been historically significant economic force within the Ovens Valley in particular. Dredging practices along the Ovens River have had adverse environmental effects. It is recognised that the sensitive development of mining could play an important role in the future growth and prosperity of the Shire. Due to the high percentage of public land in the Shire the future development of these mineral and stone resources is afforded a high level of protection. The freehold land that comprises the Buckland, Buffalo, Kiewa and Ovens river valleys is generally comprised of rich fertile soils suitable for agricultural purposes. These valleys are predominantly cleared of native vegetation although the steeper hills are still vegetated. Intensive dairying is carried out in the Kiewa Valley with tobacco growing on the lower slopes around Mount Beauty. In the Ovens Valley the land pattern is more intense with tobacco, livestock, and softwood timber production evident and an increasing trend towards vineyards. 21.01-3 Economic Context The Shire has had a diverse economic background based around its natural resources and environment. In the 1850’s gold mining was concentrated in the Buckland and Ovens River valleys. By the turn of the century agricultural diversity based on tobacco, dairying and hops was well established. The move from an agricultural based economy occurred in Mount Beauty through the former State Electricity Commission investment in power generation in the 1940’s, in Bright through timber and tourism and Myrtleford has developed a strong horticultural and timber base. The Shire is an integral part of a “regional economy based upon a diversified economic base including agriculture, timber, tourism, retirement industry, real estate, community services and manufacturing” (Economic Development Strategy 1996-99). The Shire is accessible to the regions heritage towns, Rutherglen vineyards, Murray River tourism and the Milawa gourmet area. The major economic activities in the Alpine Shire today are tourism, timber production, tobacco and hops, dairying, apples, vineyards, beef cattle, deer and emu, and chestnuts. The major employment categories are tourism (12.5%), manufacturing (11%), agriculture/horticulture (8.5%), and community services (9%). In the past, job growth has primarily been in wholesale and retail trade, finance, and property and business services. The Shire attracts around one million visitors per annum who contribute more than $200 million to the local economy. The Shire’s general environment and character contribute to the success of the area as a tourist destination, together with the alpine resort areas of Falls Creek, Mount Hotham and Dinner Plain. These resorts will continue to play an important role in the future economy of the Shire. There has also been a shift to more on-mountain accommodation for skiers at the alpine resort areas, rather than off-mountain. This shift in emphasis is resulting in a change in approach to promoting the year round attractions of the Shire. Commercial forestry is also a significant contributor generating in excess of $100 million annually to the local economy. Both hardwood and softwood plantations exist, located on private and public land. MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT - CLAUSE 21.01 PAGE 3 OF 3 9 SEPTEMBER 1999.