Utilization activities - chiefly sawmilling and log production. Average annual log cut is 10 million super ft. A notable feature is the small size of log being utilized, average volume being about 200 super ft.- with a minimum of 40 s.ft.  Utilization is very intensive, and in the more accessible areas even mill heads are readily devoured for firewood. Large numbers of poles and piles are cut intermittently. In the past, firewood has been sold in large quantities to Ballarat industries, but this is a diminishing market. Prospects are bright for the establishment in Daylesford of a wall-board factory (Did this become the CSR fibreboard plant in Bacchus Marsh? - editor) which is expected to consume upwards of 5000 tons per annum of firewood-quality material. Departmental emergency firewood operations have been carried on in the past, and accumulated wood stocks are now being sold.

Total revenue for 1953/54 was £46,000.

For at least 20 years selective and controlled felling has been enforced, and for the past eight years or so the District's annual log cut has been related fairly closely to what is believed to be the MAI. The current operations aim at reducing overstocking and removing defective trees as a prelude to intensive sustained yield management.

Regeneration/liberation felling of "cull" trees, both licenced and departmental, has recently been undertaken.

Engineering works include road and dam constrution, and operation of a quarry and crusher for production of road-surfacing material. Approximately 51 miles of B class surfaced road and 9 miles of unsurfaced road are in existence. District earth-moving equipment comprises one Class3 dozer ¹, one medium power grader, one compressor, and one Class4 ² tractor with heavy drawn grader (last two items shared with Trentham District).

Although the forest constitutes an appreciable fire hazard, the fire protection problem is not so acute as in many other districts owing to relatively small size of district, favorable topography and good roading system, and intense forest activity, which gives large reserves of man power for fire-fighting. Four lookout towers are connected by phone and radio to District HQ and three TRP-1 ³ sets are operated. Only receiving radio equipment is installed at HQ. Power pumpers in use are one Coventry Climax ⁴ trailer, two Pacific Marine ^5,6 with 5000 ft of 1½" hose, one Rex ⁷ and one Quench Quick ⁸.

Scout-car ⁹  is fitted as a tanker unit during the fire season, and 4/400 gallon tanks are used to convert other Commission and private trucks to tankers as required.