Division Barwon West Gippsland Grampians Hume 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 : Kate Greer  (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 : Cocks  (03) 86268765 Barwon South West Andrew Buzacott  (03) 86566701 Marcus Fogarty  (03) 86268788 Gippsland Grampians Central West Nick Bailey  (03) 86268824 Ben Stephenson  (03) 86268807 Goulburn Valley Nicola Thom  (03) 86268726 North East David Cocks  (03) 86268765 Loddon Mallee David Cocks  (03) 86268765 Nick Bailey  (03) 86268824 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 Scott  (03) 86268855 Kel Dummett  (03) 86268729
Gayle Tierney ALP Regional context RDA in partnership with RDV and the federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and 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 priorities The 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 • 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 and upgrade to Princes Highway West (funding secured and under construction) • Social networks and infrastructure trial,
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 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 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, 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 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 barriers affect the region’s employment trial
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 examples Recent 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, 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 WRRG projects including Organics Strategy, and Data Collection ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic (Gippsland Consortia) party sustainability projects 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) Opportunities Reducing 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)
• Infrastructure: improve transport, broadband access and energy supply infrastructure • Education: increase tertiary education 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 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 Energy Zones: Central Victoria Solar City (Community solar parks in Bendigo and Ballarat) Calder Highway Illegal Dumping and Litter Investigation Squad
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 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