Greater Green Triangle Region
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Description of the Region | Population | Landform and Soils | Climate | Land use | Land Values | Types of species grown | Plantation Committee | Forestry Industry Centres | References
Description of the Region
The Green Triangle Plantation Region is comprised of seventeen local government areas throughout south-west Victoria and south-east South Australia. It encompasses the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority (external link) and Wimmera regions. The Green Triangle covers an area of approximately 6 million hectares and represents diverse climatic zones and land systems. It is also the largest wood fibre producing region in Australia (GTRPC) (b).
Population
Population throughout the Victorian section of the Green Triangle region is approximately 146 000. The highest population for local government areas is in Warrnambool (27 300 people), which is also the smallest shire, hence it has a substantially higher density of population than any other shire in the region (120 people per square kilometre). Population densities for all but the City of Warrnambool are very low, ranging from one to four people per square kilometre (ABS, 1996).
Populations for most other local government areas do not vary substantially, ranging from approximately 16 500 in Moyne to about 20 900 in Glenelg. Local government areas with substantially smaller populations include the West Wimmera, Hindmarsh (external link) and Yarriambiack (external link).
Landform and Soils
Landform in the Greater Green Triangle region is generally quite flat or gently undulating, except for the Grampians Ranges, which rises to 1 167 m above sea level (at Mt William). Some geological features include Quaternary (up to 1.8 million years old) non-marine sand and limestone in the north, and a mix of Pliocene (1.8 - 5.5 million years ago) marine sand, sandstone and silt with Quaternary sand in the south.
Major soil types to be found in the Green Triangle include:
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Climate
Climatic variation is such that when considering afforestation, the region is best divided into two parts – a southern portion with over 600 mm rainfall per annum and a northern portion with 450-600 mm per year (GTRPC(a)). Mean annual rainfall is the same in Nhill as in Warracknabeal (419 mm), while Horsham records 451 mm. In the north, Lameroo’s mean annual rainfall is also low at 390 mm while the highest rainfall is recorded in the southern parts of the region in places such as Mt Gambier (775 mm) and Hamilton (688 mm).
Mean annual maximum temperatures are generally uniform in the north, ranging from 21.5°C in Warracknabeal to 22.7°C in Lameroo. Temperature highs in the north are usually around 30°C throughout the summer months. During winter, temperature highs average 14°C in the Wimmera and 15.6°C in Lameroo.
Average temperature lows in the north are 8.0°C (Nhill), 8.7°C (Warracknabeal), and 8.6°C (Lameroo). During summer, temperatures will generally fall to approximately 12-13°C and winter low temperatures are usually in the range of 3.5-4.7°C.
In the south, mean annual maximum temperatures are lower than the north, generally about 19°C. In summer, temperature highs average 23.9°C in Mt Gambier and 24.9°C in Hamilton, while in winter the average is 12.6°C in Hamilton and 14.2°C in Mt Gambier.
Mean annual minimum temperatures in the south generally range from 8.0°C to 8.7°C. During summer, these temperatures are 11.2°C and 11.6°C in Hamilton and Mt Gambier respectively and throughout winter, temperature lows are 5.9°C for Mt Gambier and 4.9°C in Hamilton.
(Bureau of Meteorology, 1999)
 Greater Green Triangle Mean Annual Rainfall | This map of Greater Green Triangle Mean Annual Rainfall provides an overview of past average rainfall figures throughout the plantation region. It is intended to be used for the purpose of identifying the areas throughout the region where various commercial tree species are likely to grow productively. The data was sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology and derived from the statewide Mean Annual Rainfall map, which has then been further classified into rainfall ranges. |
Land use
General land uses throughout the Green Triangle region are dominated by dryland pasture. There is some non-farm land (excluding remnant vegetation) and unclassified land, while small pockets of both public and private softwood plantations exist, particularly in the Glenelg, Grant, Mount Gambier and Wattle Range local government areas (former DNRE, et. al., 1997).
Exploration for mineral gypsum in parts of the region has taken place in the past, while minor amounts of salt have been extracted as well as gold, stone and gravel in significant quantities. Brown coal exploration has also taken place but without significant economic yield. Such activities have altered landscape morphology significantly.
There are approximately 150 000 hectares of plantation in the region. Most plantations are softwood, and the majority of these are Radiata Pine (about 145 000 hectares) but over the past ten years, more than 5 000 hectares of Blue Gum has been established on cleared agricultural land (GTRPC) (a) (b).
Land Values
Mean median dryland property values vary significantly in the Greater Green Triangle region. Some, around Warrnambool, are priced lower than $500 per hectare while others in the north-east and north-west average $1 000 per hectare. However, the majority of the region which falls within Victoria have mean median property values ranging between $1 000 and $1 499 per hectare.
 Greater Green Triangle Mean Median Land Values for Dryland Properties (1995-97) | This map of Greater Green Triangle Mean Median Land Values for Dryland Properties provides a general guideline of property values (per hectare) for each local government area throughout the region. It provides existing and potential agricultural land holders with an average median value for this type of property. Median property values are provided by Land Victoria (Department of Sustainability and Environment). Means, or averages, were then calculated for sales of properties throughout the calendar years 1995-1997 for each local government area for properties classified by Land Victoria as cattle, cereal or sheep when sold. |
Types of Species Grown
Species producing good financial returns in the 600+ mm mean annual rainfall zone include
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The Green Triangle RPC was established in July, 1996 under the Commonwealth Department of Primary Industries and Energy Farm Forestry Program. This program aims to significantly increase the production of timber from plantations in Australia.
Vision Statement
The Green Triangle RPC’s vision is "to encourage and sustain a timber resource for the long-term economic and environmental benefit of the Green Triangle Region" in accordance with the National Wood and Paper Industry Strategy.
Objectives
Key GTRPC objectives to the year 2020 include:
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Forestry Industry Centres
There is a well-developed plantation industry in the southern part of the region. Small scale woodlots have also been established by farmers in lower rainfall areas but the area occupied by these is insignificant compared to that in the south.
There is a well established processing infrastructure and small to large sized logs from pine plantations are sold to a number of markets, including pulp chip, preservation sawlog and veneer log. Key Blue Gum markets are pulp log for the local pulp mill near Millicent and for export in the form of woodchip shipped to Portland (GTRPC) (a). Sealed road infrastructures are also extensive throughout the region, providing cost effective transport for farm forestry enterprises.
Softwood sawmills are located in and around Hamilton, in Portland, and are dispersed along the southern part of the Green Triangle region. A softwood chip plant is located at Portland while treated and preserved timber facilities are also located nearby.
 Greater Green Triangle Softwood Processing Plants | The map of Greater Green Triangle Softwood Processing Plants is intended to a general guideline with regards to the location and type of processing facilities available to growers and plantation investors throughout the region. The types of plants at a particular location will change over time as will the number of facilities. The map is relevant as at July, 1999. Data used to generate this map was derived from the following sources: Department of Sustainability and Environment and Hancock Plantations P/L. |
Hardwood sawmills are located in the Portland area, in Hamilton and a number exist around the Mt Gambier area.
 Greater Green Triangle Hardwood Processing Plants | This map of Greater Green Triangle Hardwood Processing Plants should be used as a general guideline with regards to the location and type of processing facilities available to growers and plantation investors throughout the state. The types of plants at a particular location will change over time as will the number of facilities. The map is relevant as at July, 1999. Data used to generate this map was derived from the Department of Sustainability and Environment Commercial Forestry Division. |
References
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (1996), Population Distribution, AGPS, ACT.
Bureau of Meteorology, (BOM) (1999) Climate Averages Webpage.
Department of Infrastructure (1996) Victoria in Future: The Victorian Government’s population projections for the State’s Local Government Areas, 1996-2021.
The former Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE), Victorian Catchment and Land Protection Council, and Environment Protection Authority (1997) Know Your Catchments Victoria 1997: An assessment of catchment condition using interim indicators, DNRE, Bendigo.
Duncan, J.S., (ed) (1982) Atlas of Victoria, Government of Victoria, Melbourne.
Green Triangle Regional Plantation Committee (GTRPC) (a), Forests for the Future Landholder Booklet: Towards the 2020 Vision, date unspecified.
Green Triangle Regional Plantation Committee (GTRPC) (b), Forests for the Future Strategy Plan: Towards the 2020 Vision, date unspecified.
Land Conservation Council (LCC) Victoria, (1985), Report on the Wimmera Area, LCC, Melbourne.
© The State of Victoria, 1996 - 2009.
This document was last reviewed on 29/09/2008