Discussion Paper - Part A - Victorian Environmental Assessment ...

ulk milk collection, further increased production. Morerecently, dairy deregulation has led to rationalised andlarger farming units. Dairying remains an importantindustry within the study area, particularly around theKerang, Echuca and Shepparton districts see chapter 13.HorticultureViticulture enterprises centred on the areas of Mildura,divided into irrigation blocks by the Chaffey brothers in1886, and Mulwala from the 1890s. Irrigation todaycontinues to support vineyards, as well as the cultivationof fruit, olives, nut groves and vegetables in Victoria.Major production areas are the Goulburn Valley,Robinvale–Mildura, Swan Hill and Cobram areas.Tobacco and hops are grown in the King, Kiewa andOvens valleys. Each region has its own characteristicsand produces a range of different products (seechapter 13).ForestryTimber ProductionThe river red gum forests of the study area have beenutilised for timber production over the years of Europeansettlement, and before that time, were extensively usedby Indigenous people. The first white settlers harvestedtimber for fence posts, housing and fuel. The cypresspine of the Riverine Plain and the Mallee, for instance,was sought for constructing outbuildings and fenceposts. Similarly, swamp woodlands in the study areawere felled for construction materials and fuel. Theexploitation of red gum forests was most evident duringthe paddle-steamer and gold eras, especially with theoperation of quartz reef mining during the 1860s and1870s. Estimates suggest that on average, a steamerburnt half a tonne of fuel an hour in its boilers (LCC1987). The massive demand for timber for boat building,underground timbering and fuel for boilers had taken asignificant toll on forests by the early 1870s.Early sawmills were established at sites where timbergrew. Commercial sawmills were established alongcreeks, rivers and on swamps. With the opening of therailway from Melbourne to Echuca in 1864, several millsset up in the area to provide red gum to the exportmarkets of the British colonies which were heavilyengaged in railway and wharf building (Priestley 1984).In some parts of the study area timber tramwaystransported logs to mills. The remains of a timbertramway are in evidence east of Echuca.Foresters experimented in planting non-endemic speciesespecially from the 1930s. Softwood plantations wereestablished near Myrtleford between about 1930 and1980. Commercial forestry is conducted today in bothhardwood and softwood plantations on private andpublic land using modern machinery, in contrast to thehard physical labour of hand felling. Forestry on publicland in the study area is discussed in more detail inchapter 14.Charcoal BurningCharcoal burning occurred during the gold rush to meetdemand for blacksmiths. By the early 1900s, goldminingcompanies were attempting to reduce firewoodconsumption by introducing steam boilers and gasproducerplants to power crushing batteries. Theseplants were fuelled by charcoal. The industry receivedFigure 7.5 Alf (left) and Frank Corry, near MoiraLakes, early 1900s River Murray.Source: Reproduced with permission National Library ofAustralia Image: an24548312-v.another boost during World War II when charcoalbecame a vital alternative to liquid fuel used in themilitary, such as kerosene. Today charcoal burning is stillconducted in red gum forests, but is a small industrylargely used for specialised purposes.Forest ManagementThe Land Act 1865 enabled reserves to be declared for‘the protection and growth of timber.’ Timber reserveswere put aside, and from 1866 state forests wereestablished. Timber reserves were to be used by settlersuntil the supply was exhausted, while state forests couldonly be used by approved licensed timber millers andfellers. Under this legislation, the Moira, Barmah andYielima state forests were proclaimed in 1870. Furtherreserves were created at Gunbower, Nyah and Walpolla.An export duty was placed on red gum in 1877 causingsome mills to close, however red gum forests on theMurray continued to be heavily exploited for saw logs.Such was the ongoing denuding of the forests that aseries of bills to actively conserve forests, repair damageand encourage growth were presented to Parliament in1879, 1881, 1887 and 1892 (DSE 2003h). None ofthese bills were enacted by successive governmentsbecause of their commitment to land settlement andpressure from interested parties (Dingle 1984).The 1901 Royal Commission on State Forests and TimberReserves noted that the Barmah Forest had been cutover several times, and that at the current rate of cuttingwould yield no more than five years supply (Fahey 1987).In 1908 the first effective forests legislation in Victoria,the Forests Act 1907, came into operation. ADepartment of Forests was formed to more effectivelymanage forest resources. The Forests Commission wasestablished in 1919. Initiatives such as fire protection,thinning and coppicing and reafforestation of forestswere put into place in the 1920s and 1930s (Fahey 1987).Discussion Paper105