Haining Farm could close and be part of Yellingbo Conservation Reserve
THE future of a state-owned Yarra Valley dairy hangs in the balance with plans that could see it swallowed up by a controversial conservation reserve.
Outer East
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THE future of a state-owned Yarra Valley dairy hangs in the balance with plans that could see it swallowed up by the controversial Yellingbo Conservation Reserve.
More than 200 Don Valley and Yarra Junction residents have signed a petition to lobby the Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio to save Haining Farm from becoming part of the reserve.
The 65ha farm was donated to the community in 1974 by Melbourne businessman Sir John Reid to help educate children about commercial dairy practices.
Lauren and Peter Doyle, who have operated the farm for 25 years, said while they hoped to continue to run the property, it was not financially viable to continue as a commercial dairy.
Yarra Waterways Group member Rick Houlihan said the farm, which is managed by Parks Victoria, should be kept for education and tourism purposes.
Mr Houlihan said the farm, which supplies milk to the Bega cheese company, could have its own brand and produce dairy products for sale.
“There are a huge number of tourists going through the valley on the weekends,” Mr Houlihan said. “A lot of people feel this would make the farm viable but also offer employment.”
But Mrs Doyle said the property was too small to be a commercial dairy, with costs exceeding income.
“We milk 140 dairy cows; the average dairy farm needs between 200 to 250 dairy cows to be viable,” Mrs Doyle said.
The number of school and community group tours had drastically dwindled from about 7000 to 1000 a year, she said.
A decision on the farm’s future won’t be made until the bushfire management plan assessment has been done and the community has had its say.
Ms D’Ambrosio said no decision had been made on the future use of Haining Farm.
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