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East Gippsland is the eastern region ofGippsland,Victoria, Australia covering 31,740 km2 (12,250 sq mi) (14%) ofVictoria. It has a population of 80,114.[1]
TheShire of East Gippsland, also called Far East Gippsland, covers two-thirds (66%) of East Gippsland's area and holds half (50%) of its population.[2] The Shire of East Gippsland is confusingly also referred to simply as East Gippsland. It excludes theShire of Wellington (Central Gippsland). This article (currently) refers mainly to "Far East Gippsland".
East Gippsland's major towns include, from west to east,Bairnsdale (the largest town and administrative centre),Paynesville,Lakes Entrance,Orbost andMallacoota. Smaller, but significant, towns in the more mountainous northern areas includeEnsay,Swifts Creek,Omeo, andBuchan.
East Gippsland extends from the western watershed of theMitchell andThomson River catchments east and north to theNew South Wales border. Rugged terrain makes farming difficult, even with fertilisers. The major river basins of the Mitchell, Tambo and Nicholson drain into theGippsland Lakes, which in turn empty into the sea through an artificially maintained opening atLakes Entrance.
More than 17,000 km2 (6,600 sq mi) of East Gippsland is public land with 2,680 km2 (1,030 sq mi) in national parks, two of the largest beingSnowy River National Park andErrinundra National Park. Both are remote and inaccessible, but they are otherwise entirely different. Snowy River National Park features dramatic gorges and powerful rapids formed by the descent of theSnowy River. Apart from gorges and southern slopes, this park is in a rain-shadow area forming the southern border of theMonaro Tableland. Consequently, many species more typical of inland New South Wales and Victoria are found here. Errinundra National Park is much wetter - inaccessible from June to October in most years - and features some of the most ancient forests in Australia, a matter of controversy as employment in the remote areas east of the Snowy is mainly dependent upon timber milling.[citation needed]Croajingolong National Park betweenMarlo and Mallacoota features extensive coastal heathlands andtea tree scrub, as well as the only major area of warm temperate rainforest in Victoria. The 4,193 km2 of privately owned land is mainly red gum plains, coastal plains, mountain plateaux and fertile river valleys.
The area is a major tourist destination, especially for watersports, and is noted for its mild climate. TheGreat Alpine Road leads north from Bairnsdale into theAustralian Alps via Swifts Creek and Omeo, and onto the major ski resorts ofDinner Plain andMount Hotham. This area is also very popular for bushwalking in the summer. TheBuchan district is popular with tourists for itslimestone caves. Further east, the Snowy River and several smaller stream catchments, including the Thurra, Wingan, Genoa,Bemm River andCann River, enter theTasman Sea.
The major industry is often considered to be forestry, which provides less than 1 percent of employment for the region.[3] The East GippslandRegional Forest Agreement (RFA) was signed byCommonwealth andVictorian governments on 3 February 1997, and is Australia's first RFA.[4] It covers a region similar, but not identical to the East Gippsland Shire. It sets aside 5,811 km2 (2,244 sq mi) from logging, an increase of 1.3% over pre-RFA reserves.[5] Central Gippsland is covered by the Gippsland RFA (signed 31 March 2000), which covers an area similar to the Shire of Wellington, and places 7,805 km2 (3,014 sq mi) in reserves.[5]
Logging of native forests has caused sustained controversy in East Gippsland, particularly due to the unique species found in areas east of the Snowy River, and the contentious public debate surrounding native forest, particularly old-growth, harvesting. This is despite managed forest having a mitigation effect inclimate change.[6]
In April and November 2022,East Gippsland Water got fined $9,246 for discharging over 30 million litres of wastewater intoMacleod Morass wetland which made the facility exceed its licence given byEPA Victoria and failing to comply with their regulatory notice obligation.[7][8]
Avoiding deforestation in Australia is a large, immediate and perishable opportunity to reduce GHG emissions.
37°18′36″S148°08′12″E / 37.3101°S 148.1366°E /-37.3101; 148.1366
