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March 2014

Contents

Introduction 3

Regions by RWMG and councils 5

SV contacts for regions (March 2014) 7

Acronyms 9

Barwon South West 11Regional features 12Key facts 13Demography 13Political context 14Regional context 14Regional priorities 15Economic profile 16Industry profile by subregion 16Funded sustainability project examples 17SWOT analysis 18

Gippsland 19Regional features 20Key facts 21Demography 21Political context 22Regional context 22Regional priorities 23Economic profile 23Industry profile 24Key Points 25Funded sustainability project examples 26SWOT analysis 27

Grampians 28Regional features 29Key facts 31Demography 31Political context 32Regional context 33Regional priorities 33Economic profile 34Funded sustainability project examples 35SWOT analysis 36

Hume 37Regional features 38Key facts 39Demography 40Political context 40Regional priorities 41Economic profile 42Funded sustainability project examples 43SWOT analysis 44

Loddon Mallee 46

Regional features 47Key facts 48Demography 49Political context 49Regional context 50Regional priorities 50Economic profile 51Funded sustainability project examples 51SWOT analysis 53

Further reading 54

Sustainability VictoriaLevel 28, Urban Workshop50 Lonsdale Street Melbourne 3000

T 1300 363 744E [email protected]

© Sustainability Victoria 2014

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DisclaimerInformation 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

mailto:[email protected]

This document provides a snapshot of the five Sustainability Victoria (SV) regions across the state - Barwon South West, Gippsland, Grampians, Hume and Loddon Mallee. 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 Coordinators based in the regions. 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

BarwonAndrew Buzacott

(03) 86566701

South West Marcus Fogarty

(03) 86268788

GippslandVal McGregor

(03) 86268742

HighlandsNick Bailey

(03) 86268824

GrampiansBen Stephenson

(03) 86268807

Desert Fringe Ben Stephenson

(03) 86268807

Goulburn ValleyNicola Thom

(03) 86268726

North Eastern David Cocks

(03) 86268765

CalderDavid Cocks

(03) 86268765

Central MurrayNick 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 WilkinsonDEPI office, TraralgonT 1300 363 744M 0427 850 478

Martina ReinznerDEPI office, SeymourT 5735 4330M 0408 110 431

Kristy RocheDEPI office, EpsomT 5430 4544M 0419 311 765

Trish KevinDEPI office, BallaratT 5336 6856M 0409 060 109

Amy O’BrienDEPI office,ColacT 5233 5549M 0418 149 068

Kim JohnsonRay LiversidgeSV office MelbourneT 1300 363 744

Region Gippsland Hume Loddon Mallee Grampians Barwon South West MetropolitanPopulation 260,766 309,986 278,395 224,636 373,191

1 1 | Regional Profiles – Barwon South West

Barwon South West

Regional Profiles – Barwon South West | 12

Regional features

Features Details

Subregions *Barwon RWMG Colac Otway Shire Council

Greater Geelong City Council

Queenscliffe Borough Council

Surf Coast Shire Council

*South Western RWMG

(Waste Reduction Group)

Corangamite Shire Council

Glenelg Shire Council

Moyne Shire Council

Southern Grampians Shire Council


Two subregions: The Barwon Region (G21) and the Great South Coast.

Prominent towns: Geelong and Warrnambool

Geographical features Great Ocean Road, Great Otway National Park, surf beaches, Barwon River

Transport Two bulk ports at Geelong and Portland (Corio Bay and Portland Ports)

Avalon Airport and rural airports in Hamilton, Portland and Warrnambool.

Established rail network.

Major roads and travel times

From To Route Distance (km)

Travel (hours)

Geelong South Australia border

Princes Highway

368 4:23

Torquay Warrnambool Great Ocean Road

254 3:54

Geelong Hamilton Hamilton Highway

233 2:50

Portland Hamilton Henty Highway

85 1:02

Key infrastructure Existing 550 kV electricity transmission line

Shell oil refinery

Aluminium smelters in Point Henry (to be closed 2014) and Portland

Coal mine and power station in Anglesea (future unknown)

Renewable energy – wind farms and geothermal

Black Rock Water Reclamation Plant, Barwon Water

Blue Circle Southern Cement kilns


Gas fields in the Otway basin

Ports- Corio and Portland

Mineral sand processing at Hamilton

Meat processing at Warrnambool, Geelong and Colac

Licensed landfills – Naroghid, Portland, Hamilton, Anglesea, Drysdale, and inert landfills at Killarney, Alvie and Fyansford


Key facts • Barwon South West has 800 km of coastline which is 40% of Victoria’s coast.• The region has nine LGAs under two subregions.• The regional centre, Geelong, is Victoria’s largest regional city.• The Gunditjmara people have native title land in the far south west.• The region enjoys booming health, social services and education sectors.• Barwon South West is Australia’s largest milk production area and is home to 20% of the national

plantation timber industry.• Other industries include aluminium production, food processing and automotive manufacturing.

Emerging industries include new energy, food security and biotechnology.• The region has good transport links with two seaports with road and rail freight connections and

Avalon Airport.

DemographyPopulation: 350,000 (approx.)

G21 region Great South Coast region

Municipal centres Population Municipal centres Population

Geelong CBD,

City of Greater Geelong

223,047 Camperdown,

Corangamite Shire

17,469

Queenscliff,

Borough of Queenscliffe

3,306 Port Fairy,

Moyne Shire

16,906

Torquay,

Surf Coast Shire

26,873 Warrnambool CBD,


34,193

Colac,

Colac Otway Shire

22,108 Hamilton,

Southern Grampians Shire

17,411

Bannockburn,

Golden Plains Shire2

19,014 Portland,

Glenelg Shire

21,236

42 Golden Plains Shire is included as part of the G21 group for strategic planning purposes, but is part of the Highlands RWMG for waste management purposes


Political context Level Representative

Federal

Dan Tehan LP Member for Wannon

Sarah Henderson LP Member for Corangamite

Richard Marles ALP Member for Corio

State-Legislative Assembly

Lisa Neville ALP (Bellarine)

Hugh Delahunty NP (Lowan)

John Eren ALP (Lara)

Andrew Katos LP (South Barwon)

Denis Napthine LP (South West Coast)

Ian Trezise ALP (Geelong)

Terry Mulder LP (Polwarth)

State- Legislative Council

David Koch LP

David O’Brien NAT

Simon Ramsay LP

Jaala Pulford ALP

Gayle Tierney ALP

Regional context• RDA in partnership with RDV and the federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional

Development and Local Government completed the Barwon South West Strategic Plan in 2010.• The City of Greater Geelong signed a sustainability covenant with EPA Victoria, the Committee

for Geelong, Barwon Water, the Geelong Chamber of Commerce, Deakin University and the Geelong Manufacturing Council. The group developed the Future Proofing Geelong partnership program, setting up a project delivery team in their economic development unit. In 2011, they completed the Low Carbon Growth Plan for Greater Geelong with ClimateWorks Australia. As a result, the council is targeting commercial buildings, SMEs and community capacity building.

• The Great South West Community Report Card was completed in 2011. The report card ranks 30 sustainability indicators across six LGAs to report on the condition of communities and environment. It includes waste management and household energy as indicators.


Regional prioritiesThe Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan identifies five key objectives for the region:

Objective Purpose Priority activities

1. A resilient and diverse economy

To position Barwon South

West for economic growth

in a global market

• Industry transition

• New energy

• Food and water security

• Tourism

2. An exemplar of environmental sustainability

To protect and enhance

the natural assets of

Barwon South West

• Sustainable land use

• Climate change planning and risk management

• Sustaining natural resources

3. Education and opportunities

To develop a smarter,

more skilled, more resilient

community and workforce

• Higher education attainment rates

• Skills for growing and emerging industries

• Better access to education and training

4. A connected Barwon South West

To improve infrastructure

networks to build

economic competitiveness,

environmental sustainability

and social cohesion

• National Broadband Network opportunities and challenges

• Transport infrastructure, including Geelong Ring Road, Avalon

Airport, harbour improvements, Great Ocean Road upgrades,

upgraded rail and road links, and upgrade to Princes Highway

West (funding secured and under construction)

• Social networks and infrastructure

5. Empowered communities

To develop healthy,

liveable, equitable

communities

• Address entrenched disadvantage through regeneration activities in Corio, Norlane, Whittington, Colac and Portland

• Improve health and wellbeing

• Increase the capacity of health and community care

Other regional priorities include:

• implementing the Green Triangle Region Freight Action Plan• investing in the Geelong Cultural Precinct• setting up a regional research and information centre to meet rural and regional data

management needs• developing network infrastructure for the Geelong Ring Road Employment Precinct• investing in town centre upgrades• reconstructing Yarra St Pier• developing existing and proposed trails in the G21 region as part of the G21 Regional Trails

project


• building National Defence Industrial Association headquarters in Geelong• redeveloping Simonds Stadium (stage 2) – funding secured and under construction• supporting regional growth, particularly in the Armstrong Creek and Warrnambool growth areas• developing a purpose-built convention and exhibition centre• establishing an Australian centre for emerging infectious diseases• investing in structures and processes for the implementation of the Great South Coast Regional

Strategic Plan.

Economic profileAccording to ABS data in 2010, around 199,000 people are employed in the region.

Most people work in healthcare and social assistance; around 15% of the labour force. The manufacturing sector employs a further 13%, retail trade 12%, and agriculture, forestry and fishing employs 6%.

Industry profile by subregion

Subregion Industry Profile

Great Surf Coast region • Agriculture generates around $2 billion gross revenue each year and employs 20%

• of the workforce• Manufacturing generates $4 billion a year, a quarter of which is derived

from dairy projects• Forestry will harvest 180,000 hectares of blue gum plantation over the

next few years• Retail and construction contribute more than $1 billion per year to the

economy• Health, community services and education sectors are significant local

employers• Growing renewable energy industry based on proven wind, oil and

natural gas resources• Strong tourism sector with half of all regional international overnight

visits in the Great Ocean Road region

G21 Region • Manufacturing has been a major contributor to the local economy in the past and continues to play an important role today

• Tourism, health, education and research, retailing and other tertiary sector activities employ a large proportion of the workforce

• Leading centre in industrial research, health technology, biotechnology and agricultural research

• Highly skilled labour force which has diversified its skill base in recent years in response to local business needs

• Premier tourist destination and resort location• Education and training is a key strength


Funded sustainability project examplesRecent SV projects • Energy and Water Taskforce with Western District Employment

Access• Landfill liners in Corangamite• Kerbside green waste trial Southern Grampians.

Current SV projects • Green Light Project (Geelong Manufacturing Council and Barwon RWMG)

• Green Organics Soil Improvement Program, Barwon RWMG• Roadside litter projects (Barwon RWMG and Waste Reduction Group)• ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic schools (Barwon South West Consortia)• RWMG support funding (Barwon RWMG and Waste Reduction

Group)• SRSB Materials and Energy- 5 businesses• SRSB- Energy Efficient Office Buildings- 1 building approved

Third party sustainability projects

• Regional PPR program- Alcoa Foundation funded• Climate Resilient Communities of Barwon South West- VASP funded

(DEPI)• Geelong Cleantech Cluster- market research project- Manufacturing

productivity program (DSDPI) funded• Community Energy Efficiency Program- Department of Industry

funded• Renewable Energy Project, Geelong- RDV Funded• Barwon Sustainability Hub- BRWMG funded feasibility study


SWOT analysisStrengths• Geelong is Victoria’s largest provincial city

and is rapidly growing with a diverse and vibrant economy

• Internationally recognised landscapes (the Great Ocean Road) and other natural assets

• Manufacturing sector including aluminium and food processing

• Diverse agriculture sector – Australia’s largest milk production region (significant value-adding occurs via milk and meat processing) and 20% of the national plantation forestry

• Good sea and air transport links• Natural gas reserves, existing 550kV

electricity transmission currently at 25% capacity, and strong wind, wave and geothermal resources

• Extensive networks, mature governance structures and well developed regional strategic planning processes

• Water resources an important natural asset•

Opportunities• New energy, particularly new wind and gas

fired facilities. Wave energy projects are currently being considered off the far west coast

• As an internationally significant tourism destination, there is scope to improve yield and encourage visitor dispersal

• Leveraging off higher education and research institutions – the region has building capabilities in biotechnology, information and communication technology, carbon fibre

• and clean technology• Timber harvest in the green triangle region

has growth potential

Weaknesses• Regional socio-disadvantage with pockets of

entrenched disadvantage• Lower rates than state average in some

significant health-related indicators• Completion of Year 12 and participation in

further education lower than the state average

• Road infrastructure is inadequate – in poor repair and a serious barrier to regional growth

• Inadequate rail services – quality, reliability and frequency

• Limited broadband capacity in some parts of the Region

Threats• Current workforce demands are not being

met. Regional growth and emerging industries place further demands on labour

• Carbon intensive industries (e.g. oil refining, cement production, aluminium) are likely to be heavily affected by carbon trading

• Impact of climate change on agriculture and risks of rising sea level on coastal communities

• Catastrophic events – the region has many high-risk bushfire areas

• Economy in transition – the rise of emerging markets and reduced trade barriers affect the region’s employment

Regional Profiles – Gippsland | 20

Gippsland


Regional features

Features Details

Subregion *Gippsland RWMG Bass Coast Shire Council

Baw Baw Shire Council

East Gippsland Shire Council

Latrobe City Council

South Gippsland Shire Council

Wellington Shire CouncilRegional centres

Wonthaggi, Leongatha, Warragul, Morwell, Traralgon, Bairnsdale, Sale

Geographical features Latrobe Valley, Gippsland Lakes and Ninety Mile Beach, Wilsons Promontory, Great Dividing Range

Transport Princess Highway and rail corridor through the Latrobe Valley to the NSW border. Bass and South Gippsland Highways.

These routes provide access to national and international freight hubs at the Port of Melbourne and Melbourne Airport.



Travel time (hours)

Melbourne Traralgon Princess Highway

163 1:50

Melbourne Mallacoota Princess Highway

513 5:55

Melbourne Bairnsdale Princess Highway

281 3:12

Wonthaggi Traralgon 111 1:24

Key infrastructure • Latrobe Valley’s electricity generation and network• Longford gas plant• Federation University campus in central Gippsland• Macalister Irrigation District• Wonthaggi Desalination Plant



Key facts Natural Assets• The Latrobe Valley provides over 80% of Victoria’s electricity, with large reserves of brown coal

and over 90% of Victoria’s natural gas.• Nearly half of Australia’s oil comes from the Bass Strait fields.• The 4.6 million Ha of Gippsland’s land mass is made up of 73% forest and 27% other uses,

predominately rural and urban use.• The region is home to one of Australia’s strongest dairy industries due to rich soil and dependable

rainfall. • The region supplies 60% of Melbourne’s water. The Wonthaggi Desalination Plant was completed

in December 2012 and the region includes the Macalister Irrigation District, which provides water security for farmers in irrigated diary and horticulture sectors.

• Public Native Forestry harvestable in the region occupies 9% of the region’s land mass, and makes up to 45% of wood production. Plantation Forestry occupies 2% of the region and delivers 54%of regions wood production. Wellington LGA has 52% of the region’s plantations, Latrobe LGA has 26% and Baw Baw South Gippsland and East Gippsland have fewer than 10% each.

Industry• Associated dairy food processing has a significant presence with clusters associated with West

and South Gippsland.• The Eastern half of the region is home to several Australian food brands (e.g. Patties Foods and

Vegco) and Victoria’s largest fishing port is at Lakes Entrance, where offshore and inshore fishing vessels are protected by a safe harbour.

• There is extensive energy generation and distribution infrastructure in the region’s central corridor, primarily supplying electricity and gas to Melbourne and beyond. There are gas and electricity links from the region to Tasmania and NSW.

• A large proportion of Gippsland is not supplied with domestic reticulated natural gas, and the electricity distribution network has minimal additional capacity available for both lower voltage and high voltage industry.

• A new ExxonMobil Gas Conditioning Plan began construction in December 2013. The facility is expected to be operational in 2016 at Longford which will be the biggest on the eastern sea board.


• Gippsland has one of the highest dispersed populations with over 100,000 residents (40% of the regional population) located in towns of less than 1000 people.

• Gippsland males have the lowest life expectancy when compared with any other region in Victoria; 53% of the population are overweight or obese and 49% are smokers.

Population growth is projected to increase to 306,600 by 2026. Between 2010 and 2022, the population of Bass Coast is expected to grow by 32.5% and the population of Baw Baw by 29.5%. Plan Melbourne’s strategy to 2050 identified Wonthaggi and Drouin/Warragul as new population and employment towns for growth as a strategy for managing growth in Melbourne’s peri-urban regions.


Political context The previous federal and current state government had a cooperative arrangement in place to support the transition of the Latrobe Valley economy to a low carbon future. The status of this is yet to be determined.

Level Representative

Federal

Darren Chester NP Member for Gippsland

Russell Broadbent LP Member for McMillan

State-Victorian Legislative Assembly

Gary Blackwood LIB (Narracan)

Ken Smith LIB (Bass)

Peter Ryan NP (Gippsland South)

Russell Northe NP (Morwell)

Tim Bull NP (Gippsland East)

State-Victorian Legislative Council Eastern Victoria

Peter Hall NP

Phillip Davis LP

Edward O’Donohue LP

Johan Scheffer ALP

Matt Viney ALP

Regional context• Gippsland was due to deliver its Regional Growth Plan in late 2013, incorporating the Integrated

Land Use Plan. This plan is underpinned by four guiding principles with key objectives as follows:o Principle 1: Strengthen economic resilience by growing a more diverse economy which is

supported by new investment, innovation, and value-adding in traditional strengths.o Principle 2: Promote a healthy environment by valuing Gippsland’s environmental and

heritage assets, and by minimising the region’s exposure to natural hazards and risks.o Principle 3: Develop sustainable communities through a settlement framework comprising

major urban centres which ensure residents have convenient access to jobs, services, infrastructure, and community facilities.

o Principle 4: Deliver timely and accessible infrastructure to meet regional needs for transport, utilities and community facilities.

• The Latrobe Valley Industry and Employment Roadmap is an RDV plan due to be completed in 2014 supported by RDA to transition the three Latrobe Valley councils (Baw Baw, Latrobe City and Wellington) to a low carbon economy. The Roadmap was supported by a $20 million Latrobe Valley Infrastructure Fund to help grow jobs in other sectors and diversify the economy.

• The CarbonNet Project investigates the potential for carbon capture and storage in the Gippsland region as part of several possible solutions to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change.


• The new Coastal Settlements of the Future program will focus initially on Lakes Entrance and Port Welshpool; helping these communities mitigate risk, protect vital infrastructure, and adapt to climate change.

• RDV funded ClimateWorks Australia to develop the Low Carbon Growth Plan for Gippsland in 2011. The plan identifies activities to save businesses and households $100 million per year across the region through improved energy efficiency, increased land productivity and cleaner distributed energy.

• Fuelled for Growth: Investing in Victoria’s biofuels and bioenergy industries (2012) stated that Gippsland has potential biomass resources mostly related to forestry and livestock. This has stimulated international interest in future investment and development.

Regional prioritiesThe Gippsland Regional Strategic Plan in 2010 identified ten key focus areas:

• Gippsland Low Carbon Economy Transition Plan: • Post-secondary education• Gippsland’s gateways: build the region’s exports • Centre for Sustainable Industries: develop a local presence with Monash (now Federation)

University to carry out research and development on technology and practices that support sustainable resource use of brown coal and water to strengthen the resilience of the regional economy

• Gippsland Lakes Sustainable Development Framework• Health and wellbeing outcomes• Gippsland Integrated Land Use Plan: direction and priorities to address population growth across

the region including changes to land use and infrastructure development• Gippsland’s water• Broadband connectivity• Tourism infrastructure.

Gippsland is now taking a new approach with four strategy groups established to support the 2010 Gippsland Regional Plan, with members from RMF, RDA, the Committee for Gippsland and the Gippsland Local Government Network. The groups focus on the following themes that incorporate the ten priorities:

• economic development• health and wellbeing• environment and natural resources management• low carbon transition.

These strategic groups are collating priority projects and proposals to approach government and industry for support, as multi-themed projects can attract greater regional support. It resulted in Gippsland’s peak advocacy group, One Gippsland, identifying four priorities for the region in June 2013 that it took to Canberra for Federal support. This included;

• The full duplication of the Princes Highway between Traralgon and Sale; • Funding to complete phase one of the Macalister Irrigation District (MID) modernisation program,• The Latrobe Regional Hospital stage 2a redevelopment; • East Sale as the preferred destination for Defence project 5428;• Construction of the East West Link and North East Link road projects


Economic profileGippsland has a working population of close to 100,000 which is concentrated around the Latrobe Valley and Southern Gippsland areas. The unemployment rate was 5% (Sept 2012), compared with 5.2% across Victoria. Gippsland’s regional economy generates an estimated $26.9 billion (gross revenue generated by businesses/organisations). Total employment in the Gippsland region is 89,386 jobs.

Industry profile

LGA Characteristics Jobs Gross revenue

(estimated)

Pop Municipal

centre

Industries Number % of region

$ billion

% of region

Bass

Coast

29,614 Wonthaggi

(Pop 6,528)

Tourism

Agriculture

11,303 12.65% $3,522 13.07%

Baw Baw 42,864 Warragul

(Pop 11,491)

Agriculture Manufacturing

14,127 15.80% $3,546 13.16%

East

Gippsland

42,196 Bairnsdale

(Pop 11,271)

Tourism

Forestry

Agriculture

14,147 15.83% $3,389 12.58%

Latrobe 73,564 Morwell

(Pop 13,942)

Future energy

Sector

Service and

manufacturing

25,620 28.66% $8,670 32.18%

South

Gippsland

27,208 Leongatha

(Pop 4,505)

Tourism

Agriculture

9,997 11.18% $2,747 10.19%

Wellington 41,440 Sale

(Pop 13,337)

Oil and gas

extraction

Timber

Agriculture

Tourism

14,192 15.88% $5,051 18.74%

Total 256,886 89,386 100% $26,945 100%

The top five employment sectors

1. Health and community services (11,926)

2. Retail trade (10,902)

3. Construction (8,136)

4. Education (8,035)

5. Manufacturing (7,823)


The top five industry sectors

1. Manufacturing

2. Construction

3. Mining

4. Property services

5. Utility services

Key Points• Food related activity in the Gippsland region generates more than $2 billion in exports, more than

14,000 jobs and is responsible for more than $1.3 billion in expenditure on goods and services within the region. The Gippsland Food Plan was to be delivered in 2013 to direct the future development/positioning of the Gippsland food system as a state and national food bowl.

• The 2013/14 State budget allocated $14million to the Macalister Irrigation Districts modernisation project. This is home to significant diary and horticulture assets

• The 2013/14 state budget allocated $110million over 4 years to further investigate the development and expansion of the Hastings Port as a major container port.

• The central western part of Gippsland is strongly linked to the mining and utilities industries.• The largest proportion of land mass in Victoria granted to coal seam gas exploration is located in

Gippsland. The State Government currently has a moratorium on extraction.• East Gippsland has attracted investment around agriculture, timber production, horticulture,

manufacturing, tourism, retail and service, commercial fishing and other marine industries. The region is home to several Australian food brands and Victoria’s largest fishing port at Lakes Entrance.

• Gippsland has a thriving dairy industry with more than 2,500 licensed dairy farms. The main production areas are in the west and south of the region, including 11 processing plants and two research institutes at Maffra and Ellinbank. Dairy dominates Gippsland exports with $762 million. The Gippsland dairy industry is bigger than NSW, South Australia and Tasmania combined. There is a number of dairy processing plants with in increasing focus on export markets, operate in the Gippsland. These include Murray Goulburn Co-operative, Burra Foods, United Dairy Power, Parmalat and National Foods. VIPLUS has recently invested in reopening diary processing at Toora.


Funded sustainability project examplesRecent SV projects • Energy efficiency for schools- 18 schools successful in the Region

• SRSB Energy and Materials- 4 Capital Grant recipients in Round 1 and 2

• Landfill Liners – Latrobe, East Gippsland, South Gippsland, Bass Coast, Wellington

• Roadside Litter Grants-South Gippsland and Bass Coast• Regional organics (Mallacoota)• Public Place Recycling (South Gippsland, Baw Baw, Bass Coast)

Current SV projects • Gippsland RWMG projects including Organics Strategy, and Data Collection

• ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic (Gippsland Consortia)


• Energy efficiency assessments at 190 dairy farms in Gippsland (EEIG)• Upgrading of street lighting for Bass Coast, South Gippsland, East

Gippsland, Wellington and Baw Baw Councils• Pilot targeting HACC clients in retrofit, education and ongoing support

for energy efficiency (South East Councils Climate Change Alliance).• Exploring sustainable agriculture approaches, including use of recycled

organics to improve productivity (West Gippsland CMA)• Two LPOs funded across Bass Coast/South Gippsland and

Wellington/East Gippsland until• 2012–13• Delivering state-wide energy efficiency information to Victorian SMEs

(VECCI funded by EEIG)• Developing a Renewable Energy Demonstration Trailer and providing

real life demonstration of energy efficiency and renewables at regional events (GippsTAFE)


SWOT analysis

Strengths• Proximity and access to Melbourne• Established transport infrastructure (road

and rail, energy)• Diverse economic drivers• Number of regional networks and bodies

already exist (waste, economic, tourism, agriculture, local government)

• Abundance of natural resource assets• Employment and training opportunities• Significant organic waste processing

infrastructure• Energy generation and distribution

infrastructure

Opportunities• Reducing costs and increasing inward

investment through the Low Carbon Growth Plan for Gippsland

• Identifying additional regional projects and starting discussions between stakeholders for the Gippsland Regional Growth Plan (GRP)

• Looking for support and funding from other levels of government for GRP projects, for example, developing the Gippsland logistics precinct and upgrading priority tourism roads

• Strong interest from government and industry in using cost effective moisture removal technologies from brown coal and exporting this internationally

• Potentially large local markets for recovered and processed organic waste in land use

• Significant external commercial interest in food processing and biomass

• Improving the function, capacity and amenity of the region’s commercial centres

Weaknesses• Uncertainty as to what the focus of state and

federal governments relating to Latrobe Valley transition to low carbon economy will be.

• Significant areas socio-economic disadvantage limits participation in the local economy.

• Perception that the region only reliance is on fossil fuel sector limits acknowledging the diversity of the regional economy

Threats• Ageing population and net migration of young

people• Large geography and dispersed population• Impacts of climate change and associated

policies on key industries (farming, forestry and mining). Buildings and infrastructure may be at risk from flooding and storm surges along the coast and from bushfires inland

• Energy sector facing significant challenges due to global shift to a low carbon economy

• Transition to low carbon economy stagnates due to policy uncertainty

Regional Profiles – Grampians |29

Grampians

Regional Profiles – Grampians | 30

Regional features

Features Details

Subregion *Highlands RWMG City of Ballarat Council

Central Goldfields Shire Council

Golden Plains Shire Council

Hepburn Shire Council

Moorabool Shire Council

Pyrenees Shire Council

*Grampians RWMG Ararat Rural City Council

Horsham Rural City Council

Northern Grampians Shire Council

Yarriambiack Shire Council

*Desert Fringe RWMG Hindmarsh Shire Council

West Wimmera Shire Council

Regional centres

Provincial city of Ballarat and major regional towns of Ararat and Horsham

Geographical features Grampians National Park, Little Desert National Park, northern edge of the western volcanic plains (mostly grazing), flat to gently undulating Wimmera plains (mostly cropping)

Transport • Rail network between Melbourne and Adelaide runs through the middle of the region

• Rail network from Melbourne to Mildura runs through the east of the region

• Ballarat airport• Dooen Intermodal Freight Terminal, north of Horsham connects road

to rail• Well serviced by road networks.• The Western Highway connecting Melbourne to Adelaide runs

through the centre of the region.




Travel time (hours)

Melbourne Ballarat Western Highway

115 1:21

Melbourne Horsham Western Highway

300 3:22

Ballarat Geelong Midland Highway

89 1:12

Horsham Portland Henty Highway

224 2:47

Horsham Bendigo Wimmera Highway

215 2:49

Key infrastructure • Wimmera Mallee Pipeline (continuous water supply to townships, farms and potential new industry development)

• Natural gas distribution to Ballarat and surrounding towns as well as Horsham, Ararat and Stawell

• Tertiary education facilities including Federation University in Ballarat and Horsham, Australian Catholic University Ballarat Campus, Melbourne University Creswick Campus, Longerenong College (south of Horsham)

• Bayer CropScience wheat and oilseeds breeding centre located at Longerenong College

• Ballarat airport ($5.57M funding secured for upgrade)• Stawell airport recently upgraded• Doen Intermodal Freight Terminal – road/rail terminal with bulk

container and grain handling facilities• Ballarat West Employment Zone – industry and employment growth

area with access to road, rail and airport• Ballarat West Growth Area planning for 18,000 new houses• Large hospitals including Ballarat Base Hospital, St John of God

Health Care in Ballarat and Wimmera Base Hospital in Horsham and Stawell Regional Health

• Hopkins Correctional Centre (known as Ararat prison) and Langi Kal Kal low security prison

• Large abattoirs in Ararat and Stawell with possible expansion plans• Grain Innovation Centre, DEPI Horsham• Wind farms – Waubra, Challicum Hills and Daylesford community-

owned wind farm• Upgrades to Ballarat and Stawell airports


Key facts The Grampians region for planning purposes is divided into two sub regions – Central Highlands Region in the south east and Wimmera Southern Mallee Region in the north west.

• Ballarat is the fastest growing regional centre and third largest urban area in the state.• Horsham is twice the size of any other centre in the north west of the region and has grown at the

expense of smaller towns.• The Grampians region has a recognised higher education and training system network.• It has the strongest concentration of IT and computing services and capacity in regional Victoria.• The region has the major concentration of Australia’s gold mining heritage.• Registered Aboriginal parties in the region include Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal

Corporation, Dja Dja Wurung Clans Aboriginal Corporation, Matang Pty Ltd and Wathaurung Aboriginal Cooperative.

DemographyPopulation growth will be concentrated in Melbourne’s peri-urban fringe, principally the shires of Moorabool, Golden Plains and Hepburn as well as in Ballarat West Growth Area of Ballarat City Council.

The median weekly income and the number of people participating in higher education is lower than the state average.

Relatively high levels of disadvantage, particularly in towns in Ballarat, Pyrenees, Hindmarsh and Yarriambiack shires.

Low rents in smaller towns can create pockets of disadvantage.

Wimmera Southern Mallee has the oldest population in Victoria. Projected population growth is low due to young people leaving for education and employment, leaving a large proportion of retirees (and school aged children).

Includes very small pockets of new arrivals to Australia e.g. the Karen people in Nhill, many of whom work at Luvaduck - duck producer and manufacturer.

Projected change in total population for municipalities in Central Highlands region Source: Victoria in Future 2012

Central Highlands sub region 2011 2021 2031

Ararat (RD) 12,000 13,000 14,000

Ballarat (C) 97,800 113,500 130,000

Golden Plains (north-west section) (S) 8200 9000 10,000

Hepburn (S) 15,000 17,000 18,500

Moorabool (S) 29,400 36,000 43,000

Pyrenees (S) 6900 7500 8000

Total Central Highlands 169,300 196,000 223,500


Wimmera Southern Mallee sub region

2011 2021 2031

Hindmarsh (S) 6,100 5,800 5,500

Horsham (RC) 20,400 21,600 22,600

Northern Grampians (S) 12,200 12,300 12,100

West Wimmera (S) 4,500 4,400 4,200

Yarriambiack (S) 7,500 7,300 6,900

Total Wimmera Southern Mallee 50,700 51,400 51,300

Political context


Federal

Catherine King ALP Member for Ballarat (includes Ballarat, Hepburn, Golden Plains, Moorabool councils)

John Forrest NP Member for Mallee (includes Horsham Rural City Council, West Wimmera, Hindmarsh, Yarriambiack, Northern Grampians councils)

Dan Tehan LP Member for Wannon (includes Ararat Rural City, Pyrenees, and Central Goldfields councils)

State - Victorian Legislative Assembly

Geoff Howard ALP Ballarat East - (Ballarat City, Hepburn, Moorabool councils)

Sharon Knight ALP Ballarat West – (includes Ballarat City Council)

Joe Helper ALP Rippon - (Includes Ararat Rural City, Northern Grampians (southern part), Golden Plains, Pyrenees, Central Goldfields councils)

Hugh Delahunty NP Lowan - (includes Horsham, West Wimmera, Hindmarsh councils)

Peter Crisp NP Mildura – (includes Yarriambiack (northern part e.g. Hopetoun)

Peter Walsh NP Swan Hill – (includes Yarriambiack (southern part e.g. Warracknabeal), Northern Grampians (northern part e.g. St Arnaud)

State - Victorian Legislative Council

David Koch LP National Western Victoria

Wendy Lovell LP Northern Victoria region


Regional context• DTPLI has completed regional strategic plans and draft regional growth plans for both subregions.• The City of Ballarat has recently released the Ballarat Regional Capital Plan which outlines key

challenges and opportunities for Ballarat and identifies specific projects for public and private investment.

• $28.5M has been identified for the first stage of the development of the Ballarat West Employment Zone (BWEZ). BWEZ is a 632-hectare site on council owned and adjacent public land. It could create as much as 9000 jobs and $5 billion in economic output per year.

• The site includes general industry, freight industry, transport and logistics precinct, food processing precinct, research and development, convenience retail and business support services. $21.7M has been identified to build a new waste to energy plan at the site.

Regional priorities

Subregions Priorities

Central Highlands • Population growth should be planned in sustainable locations throughout the region.

• The region’s economy should be strengthened so that it is more diversified and resilient.

• The region should capitalise on its close links with other regions and cities.• The development of sustainable and vibrant communities should be

supported by enhancing the level of access to key services.• Land use patterns, developments and infrastructure should make the region

more self-reliant and sustainable.• Planning for growth should be integrated with the provision of infrastructure.• The region’s land, soil, water and biodiversity should be managed, protected

and enhanced.• Long-term agricultural productivity should be supported.• The importance of cultural heritage and landscapes as economic and

community assets should be recognised

Wimmera Southern Mallee

• Growth should be encouraged throughout the region to create a network of integrated and prosperous settlements.

• Key centres should be a focus to manage population change and access to services.

• Ecological health and rural landscapes should be enhanced.• Key agricultural resources should be protected, productivity maintained, and

the development of industry supported.• The region’s assets should be used to facilitate the diversification of the

economy and ensure a resilient community.• Planning should support adaptation to changes in climate• The development of distinct settlements should be supported to create

healthy, attractive and liveable communities.• Opportunities for growth should be identified to facilitate appropriate local

development.• Infrastructure required to support growth should be identified.

Central High


Economic profileCentral HighlandsEconomic activities include agriculture, manufacturing, government administration, education and health services, tourism, gold mining, viticulture and forestry. Ballarat City also has strong retail trade, construction, property and business services. Government services are the major employer in major regional centres.

Traditional economic strengths such as agriculture/agribusiness, mining and manufacturing will remain important. However high growth sectors in the future include healthcare and social assistance, professional, scientific and technical services, accommodation, food services and tourism. Potential future growth industries include ICT and business process services and research and development, high value added food processing and gold, copper and mineral sands mining.

Wimmera Southern MalleeAgriculture is the dominant economic driver and employer in the region. This is predominantly broad acre cropping of cereals (produces 70% of Victoria’s grain), pulses and oil seeds, with livestock grazing towards the south of the sub region.

Other key economic activities include healthcare, manufacturing (dominated by food processing, including meat), retail and construction. Nature based tourism, freight transport and mineral sands mining are also important.


Funded sustainability project examplesRecent SV projects • Smart Living Centre, Ballarat

• Upgrading waste sorting facilities at KKC Property Pty Ltd, Ballarat

Current SV projects • In vessel composting trial FABCOM at Maryborough - Highlands RWMG

• Upgrade of transfer stations and education resources - Desert Fringe RWMG area

• Infrastructure upgrade at transfer stations, trial of small in vessel composting units, trial of food scraps collection and educational resources – Grampians RWMG

• ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic schools – Grampians regional implementation.

• Detox your Home – existing site in Ballarat and new sites at Ararat and Horsham

• Smarter Resources, Smarter Businesses program – In 2013, capital funding to Haymes Paint and Blue Pyrenees Winery, resource assessment to Creswick Supermarket and Taltarni Winery. A further 5 businesses are recommended for capital funding in 2014


• Building resilience in farming communities and agribusiness – West Wimmera, Yariambiack and Horsham Rural City Council

• Resilient community assets – Central Goldfields shire, partnering with 5 neighbouring shires in the Loddon Mallee region

• Supporting change and adaptation in the Northern Grampians Shire

• Adapting to climate change – Hepburn, Golden Plains, Moorabool and Pyrenees Shires

• Bioenergy pilot project at Beaufort Hospital

AusIndustry grants • Ballarat Concrete Products replacing their boiler with generators• McCain Foods, Ballarat boiler upgrades• Mars Australia, Ballarat equipment upgrade and insulation• Sonac Australia Maryborough plant capital upgrades

Other • Lighting the Region – replacement of street lights in Hindmarsh, West Wimmera, Ararat and Horsham councils (along with 12 other councils across Victoria)

• Solar cooling demonstration at Stockland Wendouree Shopping Centre (funded by Australian renewable Energy Agency)

• Northern Grampians Shire beverage recycling (Coca cola and KABV grant)


SWOT analysisStrengths• City of Ballarat Council provides leadership in

strategic planning and actively encourages innovation in future economic development in the city, which benefits the surrounding region

• Well-developed agriculture and manufacturing industries and growing new industries of viticulture and tourism

• Straddles major road and rail networks.

Opportunities• Wimmera Mallee pipeline provides

opportunity for new intensive agricultural activities

• Generating energy locally from renewable sources, including bioenergy

• Low population densities in the north west provide opportunity for industries with offsite impacts

• Some parts of the region have reputation and commitment to sustainability e.g. Hepburn Shire

Weaknesses• Two-speed economy with growth in the

Central Highlands sub region and potential decline in the Wimmera Southern Mallee

• Wimmera Southern Mallee sub region has an ageing population, low population densities and large travel distances between settlements.

• Varied access to broadband and internet services

• Agriculture e.g. cropping and grazing reliant on fuel transport to southern port

• Not enough people willing to work in the jobs available in the more remoter parts of the region

• Reliant on road transport for moving high value products from north to port in the south

• Pockets of disadvantage throughout the region

• Pressures include adapting to predicted climate change which is likely to include rising temperatures, declining rainfall and the potential for greater incidents of drought, flood and fire

Threats• Dispersed settlements and poor public

transport in north west means populations are vulnerable to rising fuel prices

• Climate change is predicted to adversely impact the region, particularly in the north west where economy relies on agriculture

• Ageing infrastructure• Lack of cooperation across industry sectors

Regional Profiles – Hume | 38

Hume

39 | Regional Profiles – Hume

Regional features

Features Details

Subregion * Goulburn Valley RWMG - ResourceGV

Campaspe Shire Council

Greater Shepparton City Council

Mitchell Shire Council

Moira Shire Council

Murrindindi Shire Council

Strathbogie Shire Council

*+ North Eastern RWMG - NevRwaste

Alpine Shire Council

Benalla Rural City Council

Indigo Shire Council

Mansfield Shire Council

Towong Shire Council

Wangaratta Rural City Council

Wodonga City Council

Alpine Resorts (Falls Creek, Mt Hotham and Mt Buller Mt Sterling)*+Resorts are included as they have waste management responsibilities and are members of NevRwaste)

These can be further subdivided to create the following four regions:

• Central Hume: Wangaratta, Benalla, Alpine, Mansfield• Goulburn Valley: Greater Shepparton, Moira, Strathbogie and

Campaspe**• Upper Hume: Wodonga, Indigo and Towong• Lower Hume: Mitchell (including Seymour) and Murrindindi (including

Beveridge and Wallan)

** Under some planning frameworks Campaspe is part of the Loddon Mallee rather than the Hume region

Geographical features • Goulburn, Broken, Murray, Ovens, King and Kiewa river systems• Large areas of environmental value including National Parks• Alpine National Park and resorts including Falls Creek, Mt Hotham,

Mt Buller Mt Sterling and Lake Mountain

Transport The region is linked to the rest of Victoria, and Australia, through the Hume and Goulburn Valley transport corridors (rail and road). Most prominent example is the road to/from Sydney across the NSW border.

Significant freight and logistics hubs in Barnawartha (Upper Hume) and Mooroopna (Goulburn Valley)

Rail service and infrastructure requires investment.



From To Distance (km) Travel time (hours)

Melbourne Seymour 110 1:18

Melbourne Shepparton 189 2:07

Melbourne Benalla 211 2:14

Melbourne Echuca 225 2:34

Melbourne Wangaratta 251 2.38

Melbourne Wodonga 323 3:11

Key infrastructure • Puckapunyal (near Seymour) and Bandiana (near Wodonga) Military Areas

• Mangalore Airport (near Seymour)• Western Composting Technology regional facility, Shepparton• Wallan and Wodonga best practice Resource Recovery Centres• Food and fruit processing facilities in Goulburn Valley• Biodiesel Producers biofuels plant, Barnawartha• Goulburn Valley Water + Diamond Energy biogas plants (Tatura and

Shepparton)• Albury Waste Management Centre (in NSW)• Freight and logistics precincts, existing and emerging, at Beveridge,

Seymour/Mangalore, Mooroopna, Barnawartha, Wodonga, Ettamogah (NSW) and Tocumwal (NSW)

Key facts Structure

• Hume has no single dominant regional city.• The region has four distinct subregions, each of which has access to a city and/or as per details in

table • Councils/shires range from well-resourced and quickly expanding (e.g. Mitchell) to severely under

resourced (e.g. Murrindindi). This is directly reflected in local waste infrastructure and services which range from best practice (Wallan and Wodonga) to requiring investment (Kinglake).

Land

• Goulburn Valley is the food bowl of the Murray-Darling Basin, producing about 25% of the value of Victoria’s agricultural production.

• More than a quarter (28%) of Goulburn Valley and over half (54%) of the North East is public land.• Hume was severely affected by the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009, particularly throughout

Murrindindi Shire.• Many of the region’s urban centres are located within the floodplains of major rivers including

Benalla on the Broken river, Shepparton on the Broken and Goulburn rivers, Seymour on the Goulburn river, Wangaratta on the Ovens and King rivers and Echuca and Wodonga on the Murray river.

DemographyPopulation: 310,000 (two-thirds in Goulburn Valley).


• Population growth is a slightly lower than the Victorian average. • High amenity areas experience a significant influx of Melburnians seeking a rural lifestyle

(weekenders and commuters).• High proportion of part time residents in areas of natural beauty (e.g. 50% of rate payers in

Mansfield Shire are part time residents, similar in Alpine Shire)• Structural ageing as farmers get older, young people migrate to cities and retirees migrate to the

region. Most significant in Strathbogie followed by Towong, Alpine and Benalla shires. • Shepparton-Mooroopna has the largest Indigenous population in provincial Victoria • Further cultural diversity resulting from past and recent settlement of migrants, including large

Arabic speaking communities in Shepparton and Moira• Relatively low levels of social disadvantage. Of 270 relatively disadvantaged towns in regional

Victoria only 40 are in the Hume region (and none in the top 24). However, disadvantaged towns include al l of the region’s centres – Shepparton and nearby Mooroopna, Wodonga, Wangaratta, Benalla and Seymour.

Political context


Federal

Cathy McGowan Ind Member for Indi

Rob Mitchell ALP Member for McEwen

Sharman Stone LP Member for Murray


Tim McCurdy NP (Murray Valley)

Cindy McLeish LP (Seymour)

Jeanette Powell NP (Shepparton) Minister for Local Government, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs

Dr Bill Sykes NP (Benalla) Parliamentary Secretary for Primary Industries

Bill Tilley LP (Benambra)

Paul Weller NP (Rodney)

State - Victorian Legislative Council for Northern Victoria

Candy Broad ALP

Kaye Darveniza ALP

Damian Drum ALP

Kaye Darveniza LP

Wendy Lovell LP

Amanda Millar LP


Regional prioritiesThe June 2013 Draft Hume Regional Growth Plan provides a regional approach to land use planning and identifies opportunities for growth and change over the next 30 years.

Principles under the plan include:

• Ensure land use planning decisions adopt a triple bottom line approach and are based on the best available land capability data

• Support rural towns by providing access to key community infrastructure that can respond to changing needs over time

• Ensure future development makes a positive contribution to sustainability and embraces good urban design

• Support innovative and flexible service delivery models and improve access to facilities and services

• Support the expansion and diversification of the region’s economy• Capitalise on national transport links and tourist routes• Support industrial growth through value adding• Provide for efficient and effective transport movements within the region and to Melbourne and

other key urban centres outside of the region.

The growth plan is guided by The Hume Strategy for Sustainable Communities 2010-2020. Directions under the strategy include

• harnessing renewable energy sources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pursuing innovative waste management approaches

• adapting and diversifying agriculture in an environment of change• facilitating research and innovation in tourism, manufacturing and industry to encourage new and

evolving business• developing energy infrastructure that builds on existing competitive advantages• developing a proficient land transportation system• maximising use of existing infrastructure and services and facilitating strategic investment in

future infrastructure and services• ensuring efficient use of land use planning resources in the region.

NB: These documents have been guided by 12 local councils excluding Shire of Campaspe which is reflected in the Loddon Mallee Regional Growth Plan.

High


Economic profileThe economy is based on access to water and productive land, the national freight corridor and significant areas of natural beauty. Related key industries are agriculture/primary production, manufacturing (primarily food and beverage) and tourism (including ski resorts).

Manufacturing and agriculture are the most significant economic sectors, contributing over 30% ($3.1b) to the region’s gross value added and providing 75% of the region’s exports.

Significant and growing employment sectors include retail, construction, health care, education and accommodation/food services.

Significant and declining employment sectors include manufacturing and agriculture.

Transition/emerging opportunities include intensive agriculture (broiler farms, piggeries, feedlots, horticulture) and agricultural clusters, greenhouses, forestry, renewable energy generation including bioenergy and conservation activities.

Opportunities also exist in the waste sector for localised waste management solutions (including composting, recycling and reuse), specifically around towns with industries processing food and fibre and near clusters of intensive animal raising industries.

Sub region Industry and service base Local industries

Central Hume Wangaratta, supported by Benalla. Softwood plantation

High-value agriculture

Viticulture

Goulburn Valley Shepparton. Food and vegetable processing

Agriculture

Grazing

Viticulture

Forestry

Upper Hume Wodonga.

Albury-Wodonga is one of Australia’s 18 major cities.

Freight transport and logistics

Passenger transport

Manufacturing

Agriculture (mostly grazing)

Viticulture

Defence force

Lower Hume Seymour (nominally).

Melbourne based manufacturing is a key employer for commuters living along Hume Freeway.

Melbourne’s Urban Growth Boundary now encompasses Beveridge and Wallan in the Lower Hume.

Viticulture

Aquaculture

Agriculture

Timber

Defence force


Funded sustainability project examplesRecent SV projects • Alpine Living Bin project

• Fluoro Collect – Driving Investment for New Recycling fund• Sustainable organics management in Goulburn Valley• Inaugural SV@ your doorstep (Alpine Shire)

Current SV projects 25 projects at a total contract value of $2.7m funded by SV since July 2012, including:

• Green and food waste collection in the Goulburn Valley• Tallangatta Eco Education and Integrated Services Hub (co-

funded by DEECD and Living Libraries)• Education and engagement campaign for Wodonga and Indigo• Away from Home behaviour study, North East.


Seven Hume projects under Victorian Adaption and Sustainability Partnership Program, including:

• Virtual Renewable Power Stations, feasibility study into decentralised electricity generation and distribution infrastructure (Moira Shire partnering with Swan Hill Rural City)

• Climate smart agricultural development, long term data to inform agricultural industry transformation (partnership of six Goulburn Broken councils)

• Climate change resilience and adaptation.

Over 15 Hume projects under Australian Government’s Clean Technology Fund, including:

• Energy efficient evaporator technology for Kagome Foods, Australia’s largest tomato processor, based in Echuca

• Tri-gen plant for Wodonga Rendering (abattoir)• Consolidation from Port Melbourne to Shepparton for chemical

manufacturer Pental Ltd• Energy efficient cooling technology for Victorian Alps Wine

Company, based in Myrtleford.

Four Hume projects under Australian Government’s Local Government Energy Efficiency Program, for solar and/or heat pump hot water systems at Alpine, Indigo, Mitchell and Strathbogie Shires.

$2.9m from Australian Government for ‘Watts Working Better’ street lighting project (total value $4.6m). Lead by Shepparton Council with Campaspe, Benalla, Moira, Strathbogie, Mansfield, Mitchell, Murrindindi and Wangaratta as partners. Managed by Goulburn Broken Greenhouse Alliance.


SWOT analysisStrengths• Multi-centred and somewhat diversified

economy with strong interregional linkages• Opportunities for business development due

to geographical location of Hume between Melbourne and Sydney

• Strong agricultural base and established role in food production

• Good collaboration between most councils/shires

• History of shared resource use and collaborative procurement for waste services

• Towns/regions with good transport links and existing infrastructure can accommodate growth e.g. Seymour

• Consortium approach to ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic taps into a strong local network in the Hume region.

Opportunities• Multi-centred structure and strong transport

links are a good fit for a ‘hub and spokes’ waste management model

• Hume can be an early adopter of Getting Full Value, based on functional regional waste groups and active local support for MAC recommendations

• Significant changes earmarked to transport networks (e.g. the GV Link project)

• Towns/regions with slowing economies can provide infrastructure and population for emerging industries

• Waste industry can provide training and employment opportunities for displaced, semi-skilled or unskilled workers

• Integrating resource awareness into planning and new infrastructure where councils are actively reinventing and restructuring the local economic mix

• Albury/Wodonga and other border towns provide opportunities for interstate knowledge and resource share as well as joint infrastructure projects

• Some areas are willing to invest in emerging waste management technologies and may find it easier to maintain buffer distances.

Weaknesses• No sizable regional city and no ‘natural

centre’ for the region. This affects funding support which is often based on population size and city-based models and makes it difficult to invest in centralised infrastructure

• Distorted ‘waste market’ from lower landfill fees in NSW-Albury and two councils (Wodonga and Indigo) that do not pay landfill levy

• Community education difficult in high tourism areas with transient populations and areas with part-time populations

• Slowing economies and employment opportunities in previous ‘agricultural centre’ towns

• Limited access to technologies that city-based agencies may take for granted e.g. internet access

• Limited access to commuter rail services

Threats• Changing weather patterns and increases in

droughts, floods, bushfires and other extreme weather events can be a higher priority than resource efficiency for local organisations, businesses and householders

• Income from agriculture is volatile, subject to climate change impacts (see above, plus reduction in water, seasonal changes, and increase in frost), direction of the Murray-Darling Basin plan and global and local economic conditions.

• Downturn in manufacturing has lead and will lead to successive rationalisation

• Ongoing and significant regional issues include water security, ageing infrastructure, information and communication technology demand and supply, and barriers to establishing renewable energy supplies

• Pressure for urban and rural residential


restricts population growth and has caused high dependence on private cars

• Small councils with relatively limited resources, e.g. they don’t employ waste education officers.

development can present a threat to environmental assets but also provides opportunities for tourism and other economic diversification. Balancing these pressures, along with natural hazards and potentially prohibitive infrastructure cost, is a key challenge for regional and local planning.

Regional Profiles – Loddon Mallee | 4 7

Loddon Mallee

Regional Profiles – Loddon Mallee | 48

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.



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.



• 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


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 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)


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 examplesRecent 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


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.


• 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


SWOT analysisStrengths• 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

5 5 | 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 AustraliaClimateWorks 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 websitesMost 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.idProfile.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 websitesThe 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.

http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/

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

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