1952-53 VICTORIA SOIL CONSERVATION AUTHORITY THIRD ANNUAL REPORT FOR YEAR ENDED 30TH JUNE, 1952 PRESENTED TO BOTH HOuSES OF l'ARLIAMENT PURSUANT TO AC'f No. fi226. [A.!>proximate Cost of Report:-Preparat.ion······Not Given. J'rinting (700 copies), ~130 j ~)l J\utl.ontp W. M. HOUSTO!II. GOVER!IIME!IIT PRINTER, MELBOURNE, No. 2-[ls. 6o.]-9890/52. • SOIL CONSERVATION AUTHORITY THIRD ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30th JUNE, 1952 The Soil Conservation Authority has the hononr to present to Parliament its Annual Report for the year ended !30th June, 1952. INTRODUCTION. The trend of events during this year has amply justified the view expressed by the Authority in its last report, that increased primary production should be adopted as an urgent national policy. Although this view is now generally accepted, it is not yet widely recognized that, soil conservation can play a most important part in the implementation of that policy. Substantial increases in primary production will be obtained if all farmers can be given and will apply available technical knowledgP. To reach this desirable objective, it is essential that farmers be given advice and assistance in solving their particular problems on their farms. The Authmity, within its limited resources, is providing such a service in many parts of the State, not only with respect to erosion control, but also with respect to correct land-use, farm planning aml management, which are basic elements of soil couserva tion. It is indeed unfortunate, however, that there are at present, factors operating to retard the development of this service at a time 'vhen it is obviously most needed. Soil Conservation-Correct land use, good management, stability and productivity. POLICY AND ADl\IINISTRAT,IOX. The Authority is aware of a widespread opinion among landholders, that to achieve soil conservation it should provide pools of machinery and equipment which could be hired for soil conservation works. The establishment of such pools would require a large capital expenditure and increase of staff, both of which are not possible at present, even if such a policy were fully justified. 4 The Authority has adopted the policy that while the provision of plant and machinery may be justified for some types of soil conservation works in certain districts, most work can and should be done by the landholder with ordinary farm machinery. At present, the Authority intends to operate sufficient plant and machinery to undertake essential demonstration, experimental and reclamation works, but if the machinery is not required for these purposes, it may be hired by landholders for recommended works, more particularly those works which are beyond the capacity of the farmer or his equipment. Keen interest is being taken in a scheme being organized within the Shire of Ararat, whereby Shire equipment is being rna(1e available for hire by landholders for soil conservation works. Such a local scheme, which it is hoped will be the first of many more, has numerous advantages over that which could be organized by the Authority. First, the equipment may be used for normal Shire work at times of the year when soil conservation work cannot be carried out. Second, the maintenance of the equipment can be handled by the already established Shire organization. A further implied advantage is the recognition by the Shire that encouragement of soil conservation by landholders will result in reduced expenditure on the maintenance of public utilities. Shire Councils throughout the State are showing increasing interest in soil conservation. Their support for soil conservation competitions and the increased number of applications for financial assistance with erosion remedial works provide ample evidence of this. District Advisory Committees constituted under the provisions of the Soil Conservation and Land Utilization Acts have continued to function satisfactorily, and during the latter part of the year a Conference of representatives of all District Advisory Committees will be held. Elections for the constitution of a Distriet Advisory Committee for the Northern Mallee Soil Conservation Distriet were held in June, and it is expeeted that this Committee will be functioning by September or October. The Authority reeords with regret the death of Cr. L. E. ·weaver, who was a member of the Avoca River District Advisory Committee and who so very ably assisted in promoting interest in soil conservation in the District. Material for soil conservation works, partieularly fencing materials, both for the Authority's projects and for landholders carrying out recommended works, are still difficult to obtain. Representations for an increased allocation of these materials have been made to appropriate State and Commonwealth authorities. In the previous report, reference was made to the inadequacy of accommodation for the Authority's Head Offiee Staff. This situation has now been remedied, as on 31st August, the premises purchased by the Government at Kew were oecupied by the Authority. Insofar as living and office aceommodation at district centres are concerned, the Authority, during the year, arranged for the purchase of a residence at Tallangatta, and for offices on a rental basis at this Centre and also at Charlton. It is proposed, on completion of a dwelling now being erected at Ararat for the District Conservation Officer, to move the Authority's Pyrenees District Centre from Stawell to Ararat, where office space has also been secured. Appointments made to the staff during the twelve months ending 30th .Tune, 1952, were one Senior Research Officer, two Conservation Ecologists, five Assistant Conservation Officers, one Draughtswoman, three Typistes and a :b,emale Assistant. It is expected that the Principal Hesearch Officer will commence duty with the Authority on his return from overseas, during the next few months. FIELD DIVISION. The past year has seen a steady development of field activities. It is indicative of the constantly growing interest of farmers in soil conservation, that numerous requests for inspection continue to be received, and that these come from practically all parts of the State. The Authority regrets that some farmers still have to wait considerable periods before their properties can be inspected. This is despite some increase in staff, and indicates the need for considerable expansion of the present staff if farmers' requirements, and the needs of the State, are to reeeive due attention. 5 District centres continued to expand their activities in the six established Soil Conservation Districts. District Advisory Committees have functioned in four districts throughout the year and Committees were appointed for the Bogong High Plains and Nmthern Mallee districts. In addition, an officer has been stationed in the Hume Catchment, with headquarters at Tallangatta. District Officers have been designated for the 'J'Ioorabool and Glenelg districts, and will reside in those districts as soon as practicable. Proclaimed districts and District Centres are shown on the map included with this Report. Members of District Committees and the names and addresses of District Officers are given in the Appendices " A " and " B " respectively. Three officers who had passed the final examination in soil conservation were appointed as District Conservation Officers on a permanent basis ; other District Officers are temporary pending qualifying by examination for permanent appointment. The supervision of District Officers from head office has been by two Senior Conservation Officers, one being responsible for the Pyrenees, Upper and Lower Goulburn districts, and the Hume Catchment, and the other for the 'J'Iallee, Avoca River, and Wimmera districts. Drift sand arrested by deep furrows ploughed across the direction of prevailing winds, Woomelang. NoRTHERN AND SouTHERN lVIALLEE DISTRICTS. (District Office-Ouyen.) . Because of lack of trained officers, the work of the Authority in the whole of the Mallee areas has been handled bv one officer. The work of soil conservation in the Mallee has to date been mostly focussed on the stabilization and reclamation of wind-eroded areas. This continued to receive attention, and must continue to do so until the scars are healed, but there is now a fairly general realization by farmers that soil conservation covers a wider field--the proper use of land so that production can be maintained without causing erosion. The Authmity is endeavouring to assist in both necessary aetivities and much of the time of the district and visiting officers in the Mallee is spent discussing with farmers, the unspectacular but necessary objective of permanent production. Because the more spectacular erosion control works. such as structures and contour funows, have little part in conservation in these areas, the activities of the Authority are not obvious. However, it is evident that farmers are taking greater interest in soil conservation, and that agronomic practices suited to the particular requirements are gradually being evolved and practised. General educational activities have included inspections on a number of farms, attendance at school excursions, and at meetings of Young Farmers' Clubs and other organizations.. The District Officer has assisted Shire Council, Country Roads Board; and State Rivers and 'Vater Supply Commission Officers, by interesting landholders in the stabilization of land from which d.rift has affected roads and water channels. 6 The annual Soil Conservation Competition also plays a noteworthy part