March 2014

Contents

Introduction

Regions by RWMG and councils

SV contacts for regions (March 2014)

Acronyms

Map: Strategic Coordinators & Regional Waste Management Groups

Loddon Mallee Regional features Key facts Demography Political context Regional context Regional priorities Economic profile Funded sustainability project examples SWOT analysis

Further reading

Sustainability Victoria

Level 28, Urban Workshop

50 Lonsdale Street Melbourne 3000

T 1300 363 744

E info@sustainability.vic.gov.au

sustainability.vic.gov.au

© Sustainability Victoria 2014

Printed on 100% recycled paper

Disclaimer

Information in this document is current as at February 2014. While all professional care has been

taken in preparing this document, Sustainability Victoria accepts no liability for loss or damages

incurred as a result of reliance placed upon its content.

Introduction

This document provides a snapshot of the Loddon Mallee region. It is not an exhaustive compilation

of regional information, but instead focuses on information that is considered relevant to SV’s priority

outcomes in integrated waste management and resource efficiency.

It has been produced by SV’s Strategic Coordinator based in the region. Information has been drawn

from plans and strategies, including regional strategic plans and growth plans, and other documents,

as well as discussions with key regional personnel.

This document aims to assist SV staff to understand regional conditions so that SV and our

stakeholders (e.g. Regional Waste Management Groups) can

• Work more effectively across the portfolio

• Design and develop relevant programs and projects

• Prepare their business plans.

Regions by RWMG and councils

Region RWMG and Executive Officer LGA/councils

Barwon South

West

*Barwon RWMG

Enzo Bruscella

Colac Otway Shire Council

Greater Geelong City Council

Queenscliffe Borough Council

Surf Coast Shire Council

*South Western RWMG

(Waste Reduction Group)

Cydoni Edwards

Corangamite Shire Council

Glenelg Shire Council

Moyne Shire Council

Southern Grampians Shire Council

Warrnambool City Council

Gippsland *Gippsland RWMG

Mathew Peake

Bass Coast Shire Council

Baw Baw Shire Council

East Gippsland Shire Council

Latrobe City Council

South Gippsland Shire Council

Wellington Shire Council

Grampians *Desert Fringe RWMG

Wayne Lovett

Hindmarsh Shire Council

West Wimmera Shire Council

*Grampians RWMG

Kerrie Tomkins

Ararat Rural City Council

Horsham Rural City Council

Northern Grampians Shire Council

Yarriambiack Shire Council

*Highlands RWMG

Philip Clingin

Ballarat City Council

Central Goldfields Shire Council

Golden Plains Shire Council

Hepburn Shire Council

Moorabool Shire Council

Pyrenees Shire Council

Hume *Goulburn Valley RWMG

(Resource GV)

Nick Nagle

Campaspe Shire Council

Greater Shepparton City Council

Mitchell Shire Council

Moira Shire Council

Murrindindi Shire Council

Strathbogie Shire Council

*North Eastern RWMG

(NevRwaste)

Brooke Hermans

Alpine Shire Council

Benalla Rural City Council

Indigo Shire Council

Mansfield Shire Council

Towong Shire Council

Wangaratta Rural City Council

Wodonga Rural City Council

(and three Alpine resorts)

Loddon Mallee *Calder RWMG

Peter Chudek

Greater Bendigo City Council

Macedon Ranges Shire Council

Mount Alexander Shire Council

*Central Murray RWMG

Karen Fazzani

Buloke Shire Council

Gannawarra Shire Council

Loddon Shire Council

Swan Hill Rural City Council

*Mildura RWMG

Amanda Blakney/Melanie Bell

Mildura Rural City Council

*NB. The ministerial Advisory Committee has recommended amalgamation of RWMG’s. As recommendations are enacted by government, revision to this document will be made.

SV contacts for regions (March 2014)

Division Barwon

South West

Gippsland Grampians Hume Loddon-

Mallee

Engagement

Statewide Engagement Team

Manager : Andrew Straker (03) 8626 8813

Strategic

Coordinators

Amy O’Brien

0418 149068

Luke Wilkinson

0427 850

478

Trish Kevin

0409 060109

Martina

Rienzner

0408 110

431

Kristy Roche

0419 311 765

Education Team

Manager : Jane Liefman (03) 8626 8861

Claire Ruedin

(03)

86268747

Simon Hum

(03) 8626

8793

Candyce

Presland

(03)

86268774

Simon Hum

(03)

86268793

Candyce

Presland

(03)

86268774

Integrated Waste Management

Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy

Manager : David Cocks (03) 86268765

Barwon

Andrew

Buzacott

(03)

86566701

South West

Marcus Fogarty

(03)

86268788

Gippsland

Val McGregor

(03)

86268742

Highlands

Nick Bailey

(03)

86268824

Grampians

Ben Stephenson

(03)

86268807

Desert Fringe

Ben Stephenson

(03)

86268807

Goulburn

Valley

Nicola Thom

(03)

86268726

North Eastern

David Cocks

(03)

86268765

Calder

David Cocks

(03)

86268765

Central Murray

Nick Bailey

(03)

86268824

Mildura

Kelly Wickham

(03)

86268820

Resource Efficiency

Business Productivity Team

Manager: Katrina Woolfe (03) 86268823

Yolanda Sztarr

(03)

86268843

Nick

Katsanevakis

(03)

86268755

Andrew Haus

(03)

86268874

Helen Scott

(03)

86268855

Kel Dummett

(03)

86268729

Acronyms

ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics

ALP Australian Labor Party

CBD Central Business District

CMA Catchment Management Authority

DSDBI Department of State Development, Business and Innovation

DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

DTPLI Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure

DEPI Department of Environment and Primary Industries

EEIG Energy Efficiency Information Grant

EPA Environmental Protection Agency

HACC Home and community care

IWM Integrated waste management

kV Kilovolts (equivalent to 1000 volts)

LGA Local government area

LP Liberal Party of Australia

LPO Litter Prevention Officer

MAC Ministerial Advisory Committee on Waste and Resource Recovery Governance

Reform, 2013

NP National Party of Australia

RDA Regional Development Australia

RDV Regional Development Victoria

ResourceSmart

AuSSI Vic

ResourceSmart Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative Victoria

RMF Regional Management Forum

RWMG Regional Waste Management Group

SME Small to medium sized enterprise

SV Sustainability Victoria

SV2015 SV’s Strategic Plan 2012–15

TAFE Technical and Further Education

VECCI Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Regional Strategic Coordinators and Regional Waste Management Groups

Strategic Regional

Coordinators

Luke Wilkinson

DEPI office, Traralgon

T 1300 363 744

M 0427 850 478

Martina Reinzner

DEPI office, Seymour

T 5735 4330

M 0408 110 431

Kristy Roche

DEPI office,

Epsom

T 5430 4544

M 0419 311 765

Trish Kevin

DEPI office,

Ballarat

T 5336 6856

M 0409 060 109

Amy O’Brien

DEPI office,

Colac

T 5233 5549

M 0418 149 068

Kim Johnson

Ray Liversidge

SV office Melbourne

T 1300 363 744

Region Gippsland Hume Loddon Mallee Grampians Barwon South West Metropolitan

Population 260,766 309,986 278,395 224,636 373,191

Regional Profiles – Loddon Mallee | 10

Loddon Mallee regional features

Features Details

Subregion * Calder RWMG

City of Greater Bendigo Council

Macedon Ranges Shire Council

Mount Alexander Shire Council

*Central Murray RWMG

Buloke Shire Council

Gannawarra Shire Council

Loddon Shire Council

Swan Hill Rural City Council

*Mildura RWMG

Mildura Shire Council

Two sub regions listed by RDV:

• Loddon Mallee North:

Mildura Rural City Council, Swan Hill Rural City Council, Buloke Shire

Council’ Gannawarra Shire Council, Shire of Campaspe (SV’s North

East Region)

• Loddon Mallee South:

Loddon Shire Council, City of Greater Bendigo, Mount Alexander

Shire Council, Macedon Ranges Shire Council, Central Goldfields

Shire Council (SV’s Grampians region)

Geographical features

• The Murray River – spanning a total length of 2520 kilometres and

with its tributaries is the third largest water catchment on earth.

• Key town centres include Gisborne, Woodend, Kyneton,

Castlemaine, Bendigo, Wedderburn, Wycheproof, Charlton, Ouyen,

Kerang, Swan Hill, Red Cliffs and Mildura.

• National Parks situated within the Loddon Mallee region include

Murray Sunset national Park, Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, and

Greater Bendigo National Park. Other Loddon Mallee parks include

the Kooyora State Park, Mount Alexander Regional Park, Macedon

Regional Park, Maldon Historical Reserve, and Hanging Rock

Recreation Reserve.

Transport

• Major train routes include passenger services from Melbourne to

Bendigo to Swan Hill/Echuca. A commercial freight train operates

between Mildura and Bendigo.

• Mildura has the largest rural airport in Victoria, with regular passenger

services. Bendigo also provides commercial and selected passenger

services.

• Due to its central location, the Loddon Mallee links into the Adelaide

to Sydney Road corridor, the South Australian Riverland, the western

and southern Riverina in NSW and Broken Hill.

Regional Profiles – Loddon Mallee | 1 1

Major roads and travel

times

From To Distance (km) Travel time

(hours)

Melbourne Bendigo 152 1:43

Bendigo Mildura 401 4.45

Bendigo Swan Hill 187 2:30

Key infrastructure

• Reticulated gas networks in Mildura (SA Power Networks) and

Bendigo (SP AusNet). Share in a $100 million gas redevelopment

project will include Loddon Mallee infrastructure.

• Bendigo, Kerang and Mildura are connected to 220 kV transmission

lines.

• Powercor provides the electricity network across Western Victoria,

incorporating Loddon Mallee.

• Expansion of the Bendigo airport to support emergency services

within the region.

• Development of the Bendigo rail network to include Eaglehawk and

Epsom station expansion.

• New Bendigo Hospital: the largest regional hospital development in

Victoria’s history and one of the largest hospital projects across

Australia. Redevelopment works are valued at $630 million dollars.

• Mildura Hospital upgrade of $5 million to expand health services in

the region.

• Mildura Riverfront Master plan project to develop an $11 million

marina and conference centre.

• La Trobe University (Bendigo and Mildura)

• Monash University – School of Rural Health (Bendigo)

• Bendigo TAFE (Bendigo)

• SuniTAFE - Sunraysia Institute of TAFE (Mildura)

Key facts

• The Loddon Mallee region encompasses a quarter of Victoria’s land mass.

• The region is famous for the waterways of the Murray River, which is a major producer of fruit,

wine, nuts, and vegetables, dairy products, cereals, meat and wool. The region produces over

30% of Victoria’s grains, over 40% of its fruit, and more than 80% of its wine grapes.

• The region is also acclaimed for its restaurants and wineries, heritage towns and National Parks

and forests.

• The Mildura region enjoys a Mediterranean climate with dry summers and mild winters, and is

part of the warmest regions of Victoria.

• Mildura Rural City Council is geographically the largest council in Victoria.

• The City of Greater Bendigo is the third largest regional centre in Victoria.

• The Bendigo and Adelaide Bank is the only Australian bank to be headquartered in a regional

area.

• Many of the large towns were built on gold mining but are now reliant on manufacturing, tourism

and service provision.

Regional Profiles – Loddon Mallee | 12

Demography

Population: 270,000 (approx.)

• Mildura Rural City Council has a population of approximately 53,122, with the cross-border

community of Wentworth (NSW) consisting of 8,000 people. The township of Mildura itself has

approximately 30,000 residents. The City of Greater Bendigo has a population of approximately

103,722 and is growing by 2% annually.

• Swan Hill Rural City Council region has a population of approximately 20 972, and approximately

10,394 people in neighbouring Gannawarra Shire.

• Buloke Shire Council has a population of 6,364, and 8,600 within Loddon Shire Council.

• Mount Alexander Shire consists of approximately 17,803 people, with neighbouring Macedon

ranges Shire consisting of 41,860 people.

• The population of Macedon Ranges Shire is projected to increase by 2% between 2010 and

2022, while Buloke Shire is projected to decline by 4%.

• The southern region of Loddon Mallee (Bendigo, Mt Alexander and Macedon Ranges) is

expected to continue at a growth rate 50% above other regional areas (centres of Bendigo,

Castlemaine, Kyneton and Maryborough). The sustained growth rate is contributed to geographic

proximity to Melbourne.

Political context

Level Representative

Federal (Note: Bendigo borders Ballarat and McEwan federal regions).

Andrew Broad NP Member for Mallee

Lisa Chesters ALP Member for Bendigo

State - Victorian Legislative Assembly

Jacinta Allan ALP (Bendigo East)

Joanne Duncan ALP (Macedon)

Maree Edwards ALP (Bendigo West)

Peter Crisp NP (Mildura)

Peter Walsh NP (Swan Hill)

State- Victorian Legislative Council

Damian Drum NP Bendigo

Amanda Miller LP Woodend

Regional Profiles – Loddon Mallee | 1 3

Regional context

• Mildura Rural City Council achieved their greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal of a minimum

of 20% below 2005–06 levels by 2011–12 as outlined in the Final Greenhouse Action Plan 2007 -

2012. This plan was replaced by the Energy Management Plan in 2012 which sets a 10%

reduction in energy consumption over the next five years.

• Mildura Rural City Council achieved a successful tender for kerbside recycling, and completed a

successful trial for kerbside organics, which has resulted in a formal tender application for 2014.

• Ongoing support for commercial and industrial energy efficiency projects within the Mildura

region, being led by Mildura Development Corporation.

• The City of Greater Bendigo is committed to reducing their carbon emissions by 50% by 2020.

The council is currently reviewing their Carbon Management Plan 2009 – 2012 and completing

their Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan including a system to monitor and report on the

council’s greenhouse gas emissions.

• The Greater City of Bendigo Waste Management Strategy community consultation period closed

early December 2013 for the regions revised strategy.

• Mount Alexander Shire Council is continuing to track emissions as part of Council Climate

Change Action plan 2011-2014, and deliver on council’s 2011-14 Greenhouse Action Plan.

• A review of the Macedon Ranges Shire Council Waste Management Strategy is expected by June

2014, in conjunction with the shires Macedon Ranges Climate Change Action Plan.

• The Loddon Mallee area is actively facilitating the development of large-scale solar energy

generation facilities within the region, while removing structural barriers to the development of

cost effective renewable energy.

Regional priorities

Region Focus Major projects

Loddon Mallee South • Transport: connect existing cities

and towns

• Employment: stimulate local jobs

• Infrastructure: improve transport,

broadband access and energy

supply infrastructure

• Education: increase tertiary

education

• Sustainable land use in Bendigo

• Sandhurst Theatre

• New Bendigo Hospital

• Bendigo Art Gallery expansion

Loddon Mallee North • Regional development:

residential, industrial and

commercial development

• Renewable energy: Develop

large-scale solar generation

• Infrastructure: continued

investment in transport

• Employment: address skill

shortages

• Mildura Base Hospital

• Murray River bridge crossing

(Swan Hill)

• Mildura airport and riverfront

development

• Australian Tartaric Products

grape waste

to energy project (commercial

project)

Regional Profiles – Loddon Mallee | 14

High

Economic profile

• The total financial value of Loddon Mallee to Victoria’s economy through its varying industry

sectors is valued at approximately $21 billion.

• The Loddon Mallee region gains its main income from tourism, viticulture, horticulture, cropping,

cattle wool markets, equine industries, and manufacturing.

• The region is classed as one of the main food producing areas in Victoria ranging from irrigation

supported horticulture, dry land horticulture, dry land cropping, and dry land grazing.

• Additional key drivers for the region includes healthcare and social assistance programs,

transport and warehousing services, arts and recreation, and professional services.

• The Bendigo Bank is the only Australian bank to be headquartered in a regional area and

provides great economic and social support to the region.

• There is strong support for renewable energy markets and opportunities, including large and small

scale solar.

• The service sector (especially health and education) and related industries are growing. Other

strong

• economies include information technology and professional and business services.

• New economic opportunities include renewable energy, particularly large-scale solar projects;

mineral sands; and nature-based and Indigenous tourism.

Funded sustainability project examples

Recent SV projects

• Regional Victoria Community Solar Hubs program: Bendigo and Mildura

• Central Victoria Solar City - Data Monitoring and Reporting for the

Central Victorian Solar Cities Program. Delivered by Sustainable

Regional Australia

• Smart Energy Zones: Central Victoria Solar City (Community solar parks

in Bendigo and Ballarat)

• Calder Highway Illegal Dumping and Litter Investigation Squad

• Mildura Education Centre (Eco Living project – Learning from a Landfill

project) officially opened in June and Final Report due August.

• RED Group - Recycling Plus Education = the Difference. Delivered by

RED Group Holding, engaging Victorian schools. Working with RWMGs.

Current SV projects

• Transition support to improve rural landfill infrastructure program, Mt

Alexander Shire Council, Castlemaine landfill

• Organics trial, Veolia Environmental Services, Lake Boga -Swan Hill

• Mildura Eco Living Centre, Mildura Rural City Council

• Wycheproof Community Resource Centre, winner of the Keep Australia

Beautiful Victoria, Community Government Partnership Award, Keep

Australia Beautiful Victoria Tidy

Towns -Sustainable Communities Awards 2012.

• Smarter Resources Smarter Business Energy and Materials Grants.

• Wycheproof, Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria Tidy Town of the Year

2012.

• Mildura projects include sharps and medical waste, education kit

upgrades, kerbside organics trial and tenders, polystyrene compactor,

home recycling eco bin, dog pouches, food waste avoidance and

Regional Profiles – Loddon Mallee | 1 5

Kerbside Pride for business, and attendance at the Mildura Sustainability

Living Festival 2013.

• Central Murray RWMG projects include Kerbside Pride organics and

education, increased awareness of recycling and waste diversion (get it

sorted, Kerbside Pride), Reduce Litter Grant, landfill and transfer station

assessment.

• Calder RWMG projects include organics management strategy, green

organics on farm management trial and Get it Right on Bin Night

campaign.

Third party

sustainability projects

• Resilient Community Assets Project, a joint grant project between Mount

Alexander, Macedon Ranges, Buloke, Loddon and Gannawarra Shire

Councils under the Victorian Adaptation and Sustainability Partnership.

The $240, 000 will address climate adaptation policies and programs in

the region and collaboration between the councils.

• Australian Tartaric Products in Colignan (Mildura region) received $1.7

million grant from Clean Tech Investment Program and $1.8 million from

RDV for a $7.5m bioenergy plant

• Grays Bakery in Kerang received $100,000 through the Victorian

Business Flood Recovery Fund to install new energy efficient ovens,

lighting and double-glazed windows.

• Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance received funding from the EEIG

program to offer road show seminars, partly funded business energy

assessments and award programs to SMEs in central Victoria

• The Victorian Government funds natural gas supply with a share of $100

million to extend natural gas across regional Victoria and encourage

greater investment in the regions

• City of Greater Bendigo Council received $380,000 from the

Commonwealth Government through the Community Energy Efficiency

Program to increase energy efficiency in seven of its highest energy

using facilities

Regional Profiles – Loddon Mallee | 16

SWOT analysis

Strengths

• Diverse agricultural region

• Diverse economic drivers

• Employment and training opportunities

• Close proximity to Melbourne (Southern

Loddon Mallee)

• Mildura and Bendigo airports

• Good infrastructure in regional centres

• Sustained growing population in majority of

council regions (especially southern Loddon

Mallee)

• State-of-the-art education facilities throughout

the region

• An abundance of sunshine (north of the

Dividing Range) and historic context for

tourism

Opportunities

• Exploitation of solar resources remains an

opportunity for the region.

• Further development of horticulture and

efficient farming practices.

Weaknesses

• Low population density in North Loddon

Mallee, with high growth in the southern

council regions.

• Travel distances from regions north of

Bendigo are prohibitive.

• Lack of broadband connection restrictive

• Skill shortages and mismatch or trained

workers for jobs available, therefore

excessive commuting from Bendigo, Mount

Alexander and Macedon Ranges regions to

Melbourne for employment.

Threats

• Maintaining infrastructure

• Ageing populations throughout Loddon

Mallee, particularly more isolated rural

farming zones to the north of Bendigo.

• Economy is vulnerable to unfavourable

exchange rates, and current uncertainty in

horticultural based industries.

• Skills and /or job shortages

1 7 | Regional Profiles – Further reading

Further reading

This section provides a list of organisations providing regional development information in Victoria.

All web addresses are correct as at June 2013.

ClimateWorks Australia

ClimateWorks Australia publishes a number of plans related to lowering emissions, including the low

carbon growth plans for Geelong and Gippsland.

www.climateworksaustralia.org/publications.html

Council websites

Most councils publish economic reports and statistics on their websites. A full list of councils with

websites is available on the Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure website.

http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/localgovernment/find-your-local-council

Department of State Development, Business and Innovation (DSDBI)

DSDBI has published an Industry Atlas of Victoria (2011).

www.dsdbi.vic.gov.au/research-reports/industry-atlas-of-victoria

Regional Development Victoria (RDV)

RDV provides regional development summaries on the five regions and publishes regional and

subregional growth plans and strategic plans.

www.rdv.vic.gov.au/victorian-regions.

Fuelled for Growth: The 2012 Ernst and Young report on bioenergy (Fuelled for Growth: Investing in

Victoria’s biofuels and bioenergy industries) is available for download at

www.rdv.vic.gov.au/business-and-industry-programs/biofuels-and-bioenergy.

Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure (DTPLI)

DTPLI publishes regional and subregional growth plans and strategic plans for Victorian regions.

http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/planning/projects-and-programs/regionalgrowthplans/

Profile.id

Profile.id uses the 2011 Census to provide comprehensive, online, socio-demographic profiles

of local government areas.

www.home.id.com.au/id-community/local-govt-products/profileid.

RWMG websites

The RWMGs publish business plans and annual reports on their websites. For a full list of RWMGs

and their websites, see contact details listed on the SV website: www.sustainability.vic.gov.au.