environmental scan report - files.emv.vic.gov.au

Environmental Scan Report

Loddon Mallee Region

Environmental Scan Report: Loddon Mallee Region

of 123 Date: 14 September 2020 FINAL 2.0 Public Version

Table of contents

1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................... 5

2. Purpose ............................................................................................................................................................. 5

3. Structure of document ..................................................................................................................................... 5

4. Environmental scan process .......................................................................................................................... 6

5. Regional Context .............................................................................................................................................. 6

6. Natural Environment ........................................................................................................................................ 9

6.1 Climate .............................................................................................................................................................. 10

6.1.1 Average Temperatures ..................................................................................................................................... 10

6.1.2 Rainfall .............................................................................................................................................................. 11

6.1.3 Climate Change ................................................................................................................................................ 15

6.2 Land Use .......................................................................................................................................................... 17

6.3 Bushfire Risk .................................................................................................................................................... 19

6.3.1 Bushfire prone areas ........................................................................................................................................ 20

6.4 Waterways ........................................................................................................................................................ 21

6.4.1 Floods ............................................................................................................................................................... 25

6.5 Geology ............................................................................................................................................................ 28

7. Built Environment ........................................................................................................................................... 33

7.1 Information and telecommunications ................................................................................................................ 33

7.2 Energy .............................................................................................................................................................. 35

7.2.1 Energy distribution ............................................................................................................................................ 35

7.2.2 Electricity .......................................................................................................................................................... 36

7.2.3 Solar and Wind ................................................................................................................................................. 39

7.2.4 Gas ................................................................................................................................................................... 40

7.2.5 Liquid fuels ....................................................................................................................................................... 41

7.3 Food, grocery and manufacturing .................................................................................................................... 41

7.3.1 Food supply chain ............................................................................................................................................ 42

7.4 Transport .......................................................................................................................................................... 43

7.4.1 Transport infrastructure .................................................................................................................................... 44

7.4.2 Roads ............................................................................................................................................................... 44

7.4.3 Rail .................................................................................................................................................................... 53

7.4.4 Air ..................................................................................................................................................................... 55

7.5 Water and wastewater ...................................................................................................................................... 55

7.5.1 Water ................................................................................................................................................................ 55

7.5.2 Emergency water supply points ....................................................................................................................... 60

7.5.3 Wastewater ....................................................................................................................................................... 60

7.6 Waste and recycling ......................................................................................................................................... 62

7.6.1 Landfill .............................................................................................................................................................. 62

7.6.2 Recycling .......................................................................................................................................................... 64



7.7 Government services ........................................................................................................................................ 64

7.7.1 Prisons and community correctional facilities................................................................................................... 64

7.7.2 Law courts ........................................................................................................................................................ 65

7.8 Emergency services ......................................................................................................................................... 66

7.8.1 Ambulance stations .......................................................................................................................................... 66

7.8.2 Police stations .................................................................................................................................................. 67

7.8.3 Fire stations, lookouts and refuges .................................................................................................................. 67

7.8.4 SES ................................................................................................................................................................... 74

7.8.5 Volunteer Coast Guard Flotillas ....................................................................................................................... 75

7.8.6 Emergency Coordination Facilities ................................................................................................................... 75

7.9 Other infrastructure assets and industries ........................................................................................................ 77

7.9.1 Infrastructure and industries ............................................................................................................................. 77

7.9.2 Dependencies ................................................................................................................................................... 78

7.9.3 Tourism infrastructure ....................................................................................................................................... 79

7.9.4 Cladding fire safety risk .................................................................................................................................... 79

8. Social Environment ........................................................................................................................................ 81

8.1 Population ......................................................................................................................................................... 81

8.1.1 Current population ............................................................................................................................................ 81

8.1.2 Population forecast ........................................................................................................................................... 83

8.2 Vulnerability indicators ...................................................................................................................................... 86

8.2.1 The young and the elderly ................................................................................................................................ 88

8.2.2 Those needing assistance ................................................................................................................................ 89

8.3 Diversity ............................................................................................................................................................ 90

8.3.1 Birthplaces and languages spoken .................................................................................................................. 90

8.3.2 Income and housing ......................................................................................................................................... 94

8.4 Education .......................................................................................................................................................... 95

8.4.1 Educational institutions ..................................................................................................................................... 95

8.4.2 Educational Level ............................................................................................................................................. 97

8.5 Health ............................................................................................................................................................... 98

8.5.1 Hospitals and health centres ............................................................................................................................ 98

8.5.2 Aged Care....................................................................................................................................................... 101

8.6 Cultural values and assets ............................................................................................................................. 102

8.6.1 Aboriginal cultural heritage assets ................................................................................................................. 102

8.7 Volunteerism ................................................................................................................................................... 105

9. Economic Environment ............................................................................................................................... 106

9.1 Economic situation ......................................................................................................................................... 106

9.1.1 Key economic indicators ................................................................................................................................. 107

9.1.2 Industry and employment ............................................................................................................................... 109



9.2 Banking and finance ....................................................................................................................................... 110

9.3 Political and legal factors ................................................................................................................................ 111

10. Operational Learnings ................................................................................................................................. 112

11. Data sources ................................................................................................................................................. 115

12. List of Abbreviations .................................................................................................................................... 122

13. Document information ................................................................................................................................. 123



1. Introduction

Planning by agencies has traditionally focused on each hazard type e.g. fire, flood or storm, using risk-

based decision-making processes to inform preparedness, response, relief and recovery (PPRR) activities.

Victorian emergency management arrangements also support agencies and relevant stakeholders to work

together across all hazard types. This includes creating opportunities to identify and manage priorities to

effectively manage risks, together with communities and organisations from within and outside the

emergency management sector.

In 2020, the Emergency Management Act 2013 was amended by the Emergency Management Legislation

Amendment Act 2018. In response to this, new State, Regional and Municipal plans are required to comply

with the new legislation. Some of the key inclusions are information on regional context, and mitigation,

response and recovery strategies, along with supporting roles and responsibilities for regional collaboration.

The new arrangements also require the establishment of regional emergency management planning

committees (REMPCs) and the preparation of regional emergency management plans (REMPs).

Emergency Management Victoria (EMV) is providing guidance to the REMPCs for each of the eight

emergency management regions in Victoria to assist with the development of updated regional plans.

2. Purpose

The aim of this is to produce a document containing consistent, accurate contextual data and information

for Loddon Mallee Region (LMR) to use as a resource when preparing the context section of the regional

emergency management plans.

The outputs from this analysis will link directly to the context section of the REMPs. The standard headings

from the State plan reference natural, built, economic and social environments for consideration. While the

relative importance of each of these will vary between regions, they will still provide a good overview of the

key regional context.

3. Structure of document

The structure of this document first summarises the process used to investigate the environment under

which each region operates. This environmental scanning process was undertaken using a PESTEL

analysis (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal). The content of the document

then explores the data and information found, grouped under the standard headings from the State

Emergency Management Plan, Natural, Built, Social and Economic environments. Each of these has sub-

headings relevant to the region. Finally, a data source section shows the data and information attribution

and summarises the metadata for each source used in the document. This gives context to the data and

information as well as an assessment of reliability, credibility and currency of the data.



4. Environmental scan process

The categories of a PESTEL analysis are often used for business analysis to cover all aspects of context

for a project or business proposal to expand the thinking outside of the standard considerations. This will

broaden the scope of the emergency management sector to cover all emergencies and all communities.

Further detail for each key area is in the image below.

Figure 1. PESTEL analysis1

The broad environmental scanning process ensured that all impacts on the region were considered,

including those influences outside of the regional boundaries.

5. Regional Context

The LMR is the traditional home of the First Peoples of the Millewa-Mallee being Latji Latji, Ngintait and

Nyeri Nyeri Traditional Owners, the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jajawadjali, Wergaia, Jupagulk, Dja Dja Wurrung,

Taungurung and Yorta Yorta peoples2, and is one of eight regions for emergency management in Victoria,

declared under Section 63 of the Emergency Management Act 2013.

1 B2U (2020): https://www.business-to-you.com/scanning-the-environment-pestel-analysis/

2 ACHRIS (2020): https://achris.vic.gov.au/weave/wca.html

https://www.business-to-you.com/scanning-the-environment-pestel-analysis/

https://achris.vic.gov.au/weave/wca.html

https://i0.wp.com/www.business-to-you.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/PESTEL.jpg



Figure 2. Victorian Emergency Management Regions

The LMR shares boundaries with the Grampians, Hume and North West Metropolitan Regions. It covers

58,960 square kilometres (26% of Victoria) and includes 10 local government areas (LGAs).

Figure 3. LMR including LGA boundaries3

The LGAs located within the LMR, and their corresponding populations (2019), are:

3 DJPR (2020): https://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/victorias-regions/loddon-mallee

https://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/victorias-regions/loddon-mallee



Figure 4. Population of LMR by LGA4

The LMR is the largest of Victoria’s regions, stretching north-west from the outskirts of Melbourne to the

Murray River and South Australian border. The region can be split into two sub-regions – Mallee and Loddon

Campaspe.

It is one of the five regions which borders metropolitan Melbourne, with some areas in the south (parts of

the Loddon Campaspe sub-region) falling within Melbourne’s peri-urban fringe. As a result, these areas

experience elevated population and development pressures on landscapes, agricultural, waterway and

environmental assets. For the areas falling in the south-western part of the region (the Mallee sub-region)

there are fewer development pressures, with more rural landscapes and smaller towns.

Mallee sub-region

The Mallee sub-region includes the LGAs of Buloke Shire, Gannawarra Shire, Mildura Rural City and Swan

Hill Rural City. With direct borders to both New South Wales and South Australia, the area has direct

functional, economic and social links to these adjoining states.5 The main regional centre is Mildura, with

other regional centres and towns including Swan Hill and Kerang.

The sub-region is dominated by agriculture (irrigated and dryland farming) and agriculture-related

manufacturing, with three of the four LGAs bordering the Murray River.6

4 DJPR (2020): https://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/information-portal/table-and-chart

5 DJPR (2014): https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0024/94650/Loddon-Mallee-North-Regional-Growth-Plan-May-2014.pdf


339,412

6,124

37,622

118,093

13,186

10,472

7,504

50,231

55,777

19,754

20,649

Total Loddon Mallee Region

Buloke Shire

Campaspe Shire

City of Greater Bendigo

Central Goldfields Shire

Gannawarra Shire

Loddon Shire

Macedon Ranges Shire

Mildura Rural City

Mount Alexander Shire

Swan Hill Rural City

https://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/information-portal/table-and-chart

https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0024/94650/Loddon-Mallee-North-Regional-Growth-Plan-May-2014.pdf




Loddon Campaspe sub-region

The Loddon Campaspe sub-region includes the LGAs of Greater Bendigo, Campaspe Shire, Central

Goldfields Shire, Loddon Shire, Macedon Ranges Shire and Mount Alexander Shire. It is located in the

geographic centre of Victoria, making it accessible to and from Melbourne and surrounding regional areas.7

The main regional hub is Bendigo, while other regional centres include Echuca, Castlemaine, Gisborne,

Maryborough and Kyneton.

Rural areas of the sub-region support a variety of farming operations, while the urban centre of Bendigo

provides education and healthcare facilities.

Figure 4. Mallee and Loddon Campaspe sub-regions including LGA boundaries8

6. Natural Environment

The LMR is home to a diversity of natural landscapes, ranging from Mallee wilderness, to the native

grasslands of riverine plains and forested slopes of the Great Dividing Range. These landscapes represent

significant tourism drawcards, as well as habitats for a wide variety of plant and animal species.

The Murray River system, including its tributaries, wetlands and lakes, is the environmental, cultural and

economic lifeblood of much of the north of the region, with important riverine and wetland ecosystems along

the major rivers and their floodplains.9 A number of these wetlands are included on international migratory

bird and wetland conservation agreements.

7 DJPR (2014): https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0033/94668/Loddon-Mallee-South-Regional-Growth-Plan-May-2014.pdf



https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0033/94668/Loddon-Mallee-South-Regional-Growth-Plan-May-2014.pdf





The Mallee sub-region possesses a number of high value environmental assets, including the Hattah-

Kulkyne, Murray Sunset and Gunbower National Parks, the Big Desert Wilderness Park, and the Gunbower

Forest and Kerang Ramsar wetland sites.10

The Loddon Campaspe sub-region is home to the Greater Bendigo National Park, the Ramsar-listed

Gunbower Forest National and State Parks and Boort Lakes.11

6.1 Climate

6.1.1 Average Temperatures

Temperatures vary between the north and south of the region, with the north experiencing hot summers

with average maximum temperatures of 30° and mild winters with average temperatures around 10°.12 The

southern part of the region experiences cool and wet winters and warm, dry summers, with average

maximum temperatures of less than 25° in the elevated southern regions.13 Frosts are common throughout

the region.

Average maximum (max) and minimum (min) temperatures from a 30-year climate period from (1961-1990)

are outlined below:

Table 1. Seasonal average temperatures for LMR by LGA14

LGA Summer (°C) Winter (°C)

Max Min Max Min

Buloke Shire 30.0 14.0 14.6 4.4

Campaspe Shire 29.3 14.1 13.9 3.9

Central Goldfields Shire 27.8 12.2 12.9 3.5

City of Greater Bendigo 28.2 13.4 13.1 3.9

Gannawarra Shire 30.5 14.7 14.8 4.5

Loddon Shire 29.4 13.9 13.9 4.2

Macedon Ranges Shire 24.1 11.2 10.3 3.2

Mildura Rural City 31.0 14.8 15.9 5.2

Mount Alexander Shire 27.0 12.0 12.0 3.1

Swan Hill Rural City 31.2 15.0 15.6 4.6

LMR Average 28.9 13.5 13.7 4.1

10 DJPR (2014):https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0033/94668/Loddon-Mallee-South-Regional-Growth-Plan-May-2014.pdf

11 DJPR (2014):https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0033/94668/Loddon-Mallee-South-Regional-Growth-Plan-May-2014.pdf

12 DELWP (2015): https://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0023/60746/Loddon-Mallee.pdf


14 BOM (2020): http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/maps.shtml



https://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0023/60746/Loddon-Mallee.pdf


http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/maps.shtml



6.1.2 Rainfall

The north of the region is dry, with average annual rainfall of 330mm, while rainfall is considerably higher in

the south, with Macedon Ranges experiencing between 750mm and 800mm annually.15 Since the 1960s,

average rainfall has declined, especially in autumn.

Table 2. Annual and seasonal average rainfalls for LMR by LGA16

LGA Mean Rainfall (mm) 17

Annual Summer Autumn Winter Spring

Buloke Shire 370.0 72.2 89.7 106.6 101.5

Campaspe Shire 461.0 94.2 114.2 136.4 116.2

Central Goldfields Shire 540.4 102.8 127.9 166.7 143.0

City of Greater Bendigo 540.7 104.0 129.7 167.9 139.1

Gannawarra Shire 371.9 77.9 91.5 107.3 95.1

Loddon Shire 437.7 83.6 108.9 129.2 115.9

Macedon Ranges Shire 793.0 146.5 187.6 245.8 213.0

Mildura Rural City 306.3 58.6 71.0 90.4 86.3

Mount Alexander Shire 634.4 119.0 149.4 200.9 165.1

Swan Hill Rural City 336.7 70.7 83.5 91.8 90.8

Average 479.2 93.0 115.3 144.3 126.6



17 http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/maps.shtml



http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/maps.shtml



Figure 5. Annual rainfall Victoria (1900-2019)18

Intensity–Frequency–Duration (IFD) design rainfall intensities (mm/h) or design rainfall depths (mm)

corresponding to selected standard probabilities, are based on the statistical analysis of historical

rainfall. Design rainfall are used in the design of infrastructure including gutters, roofs, culverts, stormwater

drains, flood mitigation levees, retarding basins and dams. They can also be used to assess the severity of

observed rainfall events.

The following tables summarise the design rainfalls that could be of interest for critical infrastructure

planning. They give an indication of heavy rainfall probability across the region and can be used as potential

triggers for response based on observed or forecast rainfall.19 The standard probabilities shown here for

reference are 10% annual exceedance probability (AEP) equivalent to 1 in 10 year average recurrence

interval (ARI) and 1% AEP, equivalent to 1 in 100 year ARI.

18

http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/change/index.shtml#tabs=Trackerandtracker=timeseriesandtQ=graph%3Drain%26area%3Dvic%26season%3D01

12%26ave_yr%3D0

19 Further values can be obtained from: http://www.bom.gov.au/water/designRainfalls/revised-ifd/

http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/change/index.shtml#tabs=Tracker&tracker=timeseries&tQ=graph%3Drain%26area%3Dvic%26season%3D0112%26ave_yr%3D0

http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/change/index.shtml#tabs=Tracker&tracker=timeseries&tQ=graph%3Drain%26area%3Dvic%26season%3D0112%26ave_yr%3D0

http://www.bom.gov.au/water/designRainfalls/revised-ifd/



Table 3. Design rainfalls for LMR by LGA – 5 Min20 21

LGA 5 min 10% AEP (mm) 5 min 1% AEP (mm)

Mean Min Max Range Mean Min Max Range

Buloke Shire 9.9 8.9 10.7 1.7 18.2 15.7 19.9 4.2

Campaspe Shire 9.6 8.9 10.9 2.0 16.6 15.1 18.9 3.9

Central Goldfields Shire 8.7 8.3 9.4 1.1 15.2 14.2 16.8 2.6

City of Greater Bendigo 9.8 9.2 10.4 1.2 17.4 16.5 18.2 1.7

Gannawarra Shire 9.6 9.2 10.4 1.2 17.6 16.5 19.4 2.9

Loddon Shire 9.7 8.9 10.2 1.4 17.7 16.0 19.0 3.1

Macedon Ranges Shire 9.1 8.3 9.7 1.4 15.1 13.5 16.9 3.3

Mildura Rural City 8.9 8.3 9.6 1.4 16.3 14.4 18.4 4.0

Mount Alexander Shire 9.4 8.8 10.0 1.2 16.4 15.2 17.5 2.3

Swan Hill Rural City 9.7 9.2 10.3 1.0 18.2 17.0 19.5 2.4

Table 4. Design rainfalls for LMR by LGA – 1hr22 23

LGA 1hr 10% AEP (mm) 1hr 1% AEP (mm)


Buloke Shire 29.9 26.6 32.3 5.7 55.0 46.7 60.5 13.8

Campaspe Shire 29.4 27.1 33.3 6.2 50.7 46.5 58.2 11.7




Loddon Shire 29.5 26.9 31.1 4.2 53.7 48.2 57.9 9.7





20 BOM (2016): http://www.bom.gov.au/water/designRainfalls/revised-ifd/

21 The standard probabilities shown here for reference are 10% annual exceedance probability (AEP) equivalent to 1 in 10 year average

recurrence interval (ARI) and 1% AEP, equivalent to 1 in 100 year ARI








Table 5. Design rainfalls for LMR by LGA – 1 Day24 25

LGA 1 day 10% AEP (mm) 1 day 1% AEP (mm)


Buloke Shire 68.6 64.8 74.0 9.2 107.2 95.8 123.8 28.0

Campaspe Shire 69.7 65.5 79.5 14.0 107.2 100.6 126.2 25.6




Loddon Shire 69.2 63.9 80.1 16.2 104.5 99.4 117.3 17.9





For the LMR, there is little variation in the shorter duration events which are generally driven by convective

activity. Statistical analysis shows that that patterns of heavy rainfall from these storm events are similar

across the region. This is shown by similar mean design rainfall values across all LGAs and low ranges

between maximums and minimums for the selected probabilities.

The largest difference is observed in the longer duration events, where regions with variable topography

experience higher rainfall.

It is expected that the impact of climate change will be to have less days with rain, but higher intensity rain

events when these do happen. This is because a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture. Australia’s

heavy rainfall patterns have a high natural variability and some sites are witnessing a larger increase in

heavy rainfall for shorter durations that may increase the risk of flash flooding.26

For the LMR, despite an overall trend of declining rainfall, it is expected that more of the rain which does fall

will be in increasingly extreme downpours, increasing the incidence of flood events.27

Rain Days >5mm by LGA

This calculation is based on the standard 30-year reference climate period (1961–1990). This threshold was

chosen as 5mm is the threshold to exceed canopy and interception losses in the Keetch-Byram Drought

Index, which is used to estimate soil moisture as a surrogate for heavy fuel availability in fires.




26 BOM (2020): http://www.bom.gov.au/state-of-the-climate/australias-changing-climate.shtml






Table 6. LMR Rain Days >5mm by LGA28

LGA Rain Days >5mm (days)

Mean Min Max Range

Buloke Shire 23 22 24 2

Campaspe Shire 28 24 34 10

Central Goldfields Shire 18 14 25 11

City of Greater Bendigo 32 27 44 17

Gannawarra Shire 38 30 57 27

Loddon Shire 20 18 22 4

Macedon Ranges Shire 23 20 31 11

Mildura Rural City 52 44 62 18

Mount Alexander Shire 27 23 35 12

Swan Hill Rural City 33 30 42 12

LMR Average 29.4 25.2 37.6 12.4

6.1.3 Climate Change

The LMR has been getting warmer and dryer, with the rate of warming increasing since 1960 and rainfall

declining. In the future, the region can expect:29

• Temperatures to continue to increase year-round;

• More frequent and intense downpours;

• Less rainfall in autumn, winter and spring;

• Fewer frosts;

• More hot days and warm spells; and

• Harsher fire weather and longer fire seasons.

By 2050, as a result of these changes, the climate of Bendigo is expected to be more like the climate of

Shepparton currently, while the climate of Echuca will be more like the current climate of Swan Hill, Swan

Hill will be more like Hay and Mildura more like Menindee.30

28 BOM (2016): http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/climate_averages/raindays/index.jsp?period=anandproduct=5mm#maps



http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/climate_averages/raindays/index.jsp?period=an&product=5mm#maps





Figure 6. Loddon Mallee climate in 205031

The potential impacts of these changes in climate affect all aspects of the natural, built, social and economic

environments of the region, including primary production, infrastructure, tourism, health and community and

the natural environment, as outlined below:32

Primary production

The impacts on primary production are likely to be acutely felt in the LMR, with agriculture being the largest

employer across dryland farming, irrigated horticulture, fruit processing, irrigated agriculture including dairy

processing, and viticulture. Horticulture and vegetables are highly sensitive to reduced water availability and

increased salinity, while changes in temperature will also affect planting and harvesting times. Intensive

animal industries will also need to provide increased protection for stock from extreme temperatures.

Infrastructure

Critical services such as power, water, sewerage and telecommunications will be susceptible to the more

extreme weather events caused by the changing climate. Transport infrastructure, which underpins the

region’s economy, will also be increasingly exposed to flooding and increased heat loading, with long hot

spells weakening road surfaces and exposure to heat events resulting in road rutting and cracking.

Health and community







A population with higher rates of obesity, chronic disease, disability and high-risk health behaviours, means

an increase in the number of people who may need assistance to manage extreme heat, bushfires and

flooding, which will subsequently increase pressure on health and community services.

Tourism

Harsher fire weather and flooding risk will threaten growth in the tourism industry, while significant reductions

in river flows will adversely affect recreational use.

Environment

The region’s environment is under threat from warmer and drier conditions, with reduced stream flows, more

severe droughts, extreme weather events and harsher fire weather all contributing to reduced ecosystem

health. Increasing water demand for irrigation will add to pressure on wetlands and their surrounding

environment.

6.2 Land Use

Land use in the LMR is dominated by primary production, with over 70% of total land used for agriculture

and horticulture.

In the Mallee sub-region, the economy is driven by irrigated and dry land farming and is recognised as being

part of the Murray Darling food bowl.33 This sub-region also has large portions of public land with strong ties

to the Murray River, as well as extensive River Red Gum forests, native grasslands and wetland complexes.

In the Loddon Campaspe sub-region, a large portion of the population resides in the urban centre of

Bendigo, while the remainder of the region is made up of non-urban land, of which a significant portion is

used for agricultural production, including dairying, cropping, grazing, dry land and mixed farming.34 There

are also wineries, orchards and olive groves located throughout the sub-region.

Victoria’s forestry and wood products industry is one of Australia’s largest. In Victoria, it accounts for 9

million cubic metres or 27.5% of Australia’s log harvest volume. It accounts for approximately $7.3 billion or

31% of Australia’s forest product manufacturing sales and service income. LMR is home to over 7000

businesses in the agriculture, forestry and fishing industries, creating an approximate total of 10755 jobs for

the region.35

Table 7. Land usage by type across the LMR (2017)36

Land Use Type Area (Sq. Km) % Area

Primary Production 41,862 71.0%











Parkland 14,280 24.2%

Other 1,391 2.4%

Residential 672 1.1%

Water 690 1.2%

Industrial 29 0.1%

Commercial 12 0.0%

Transport 12 0.0%

Education 6 0.0%

Hospital/Medical 0 0.0%

Total 58,960 100.0%

Figure 7. Land use for LMR



The significant State and National parks located in the region are outlined below:

Table 8. State and National Parks in LMR by LGA37

LGA State and National Parks

Buloke Shire Nil

Campaspe Shire Nil

Central Goldfields Shire Paddys Ranges State Park

Maryborough Regional Park

Mt Hooghly State Forest

Bealiba-Barp State Forest

City of Greater Bendigo Greater Bendigo National Park

Heathcote-Graytown National Park

Bendigo Regional Park

Gannawarra Shire Gunbower National Park

Leaghur State Park

Loddon Shire Terrick Terrick National Park

Leaghur State Park

Kooyoora State Park

Macedon Ranges Shire Lerderberg State Park

Macedon Regional Park

Hanging Rock

Mildura Rural City Hattah-Kulkyne National Park

Murray-Sunset National Park

Big Desert Wilderness Park

Big Desert State Forest

Wyperfeld National Park

Mount Alexander Shire Fryers Range State Forest

Castlemaine Diggings National Park

Mount Alexander Regional Park

Swan Hill Rural City Nil

6.3 Bushfire Risk

Like the rest of Victoria, a large portion of the LMR is prone to bushfires, particularly whenever grassland

vegetation and forest litter become very dry.

The Mallee sub-region has extensive areas which are designated as bushfire prone, many of which are high

tourism locations.

37 https://profile.id.com.au/

https://profile.id.com.au/



In the Loddon Campaspe sub-region, there are many high bushfire hazard areas which intersect with

settlements and areas that are experiencing rural residential and tourism expansion.38 Some of the

settlements identified for focused growth are also located in areas with bushfire hazards, including Bendigo,

Castlemaine, Kyneton and Gisborne.39

The Fire Danger Period (FDP) in Victoria has become longer over time, indicating a trend towards extended

fire seasons. Seasonal fire restriction dates are set by municipality and depend on amounts of rain,

grassland curing and other local conditions. In 2019-2020, fire restriction dates for Victoria extended from

as early as 23 September 2019 to 23 March 2020.40

Smoke from fires, including from planned burns, can also be a hazard within the LMR. Those most at risk

from smoke exposure include young children, adults over 65 years of age, people with asthma or existing

heart or lung conditions, pregnant women, outdoor workers and smokers.41

In January 2020, smoke from bushfires across Victoria (and from New South Wales) rendered Melbourne’s

air quality the worst in the world42 with the smoke haze estimated to cost the cities of Melbourne, Sydney

and Canberra over $500 million.43

6.3.1 Bushfire prone areas

Bushfire prone areas are subject to or likely to be subject to bushfires, and to which specific bushfire

construction standards apply.44 Nearly all of the land in the LMR is a designated bushfire area.



40 FFMV (2020): https://www.ffm.vic.gov.au/permits-and-regulations/fire-restriction-dates

41 DHHS (2020): https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/environmental-health/climate-weather-and-public-health/bushfires-and-public-

health/smoke-from-fires-and-public-health

42 The Guardian (2020): https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/14/melbourne-choked-by-hazardous-smoke-as-bushfires-

continue-to-burn-across-victoria

43 City of Melbourne (2020): https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/about-council/vision-goals/eco-city/Pages/adapting-to-climate-change.aspx

44 DELWP (2020): https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/policy-and-strategy/bushfire-protection/building-in-bushfire-prone-areas



https://www.ffm.vic.gov.au/permits-and-regulations/fire-restriction-dates

https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/environmental-health/climate-weather-and-public-health/bushfires-and-public-health/smoke-from-fires-and-public-health

https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/environmental-health/climate-weather-and-public-health/bushfires-and-public-health/smoke-from-fires-and-public-health

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/14/melbourne-choked-by-hazardous-smoke-as-bushfires-continue-to-burn-across-victoria

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/14/melbourne-choked-by-hazardous-smoke-as-bushfires-continue-to-burn-across-victoria

https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/about-council/vision-goals/eco-city/Pages/adapting-to-climate-change.aspx

https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/policy-and-strategy/bushfire-protection/building-in-bushfire-prone-areas



Table 9. Bushfire Risk in LMR by LGA45

LGA Bushfire Prone

Area (km2) 46 Total Area

(km2)47 % Area Bushfire

Prone Plan Number

Buloke Shire 7,807 8,000 97.6% LEGL./13-191

Campaspe Shire 4,415 4,519 97.7% LEGL./18-236

Central Goldfields Shire 1,529 1,533 99.7% LEGL./13-179

City of Greater Bendigo 2,930 3,000 97.6% LEGL./20-104

Gannawarra Shire 3,701 3,750 98.7% LEGL./18-240

Loddon Shire 6,694 6,696 100.0% LEGL./13-194

Macedon Ranges Shire 1,723 1,748 98.6% LEGL./20-109

Mildura Rural City 21,710 22,083 98.3% LEGL./13-195

Mount Alexander Shire 1,527 1,530 99.8% LEGL./13-186

Swan Hill Rural City 5,625 6,115 92.0% LEGL./13-398

LMR Total or Average 57,662 58,960 97.8%

6.4 Waterways

The Mallee sub-region is located entirely within the Murray Darling Basin, and contains parts of the

Goulburn, Campaspe, Loddon, Avoca, Wimmera-Avon, Mallee and Millicent Coast river basins. There are

numerous internationally and nationally important wetlands through the region, including the Ramsar listed

Hattah-Kulkyne Lakes, Kerang Lakes and Gunbower Forest. A significant part of the northern region is

natural floodplain, with shallow wetlands on public and private land.

The Loddon Campaspe sub-region covers parts of the Avoca, Loddon, Campaspe, Goulburn, Maribyrnong

and Werribee river catchments. Many rivers and wetlands, such as Little Lake Boort and the Loddon River

at Bridgewater, are key tourism assets. Many water storages exist with vast distances between each. Inland

lakes attract significant vessel traffic in peak periods, and lower volumes in off peak. The Murray River can

be fast flowing snag laden waterway, and generally has high summer populations. The riverine flood events

tend to be long and slow to recede.

45 DELWP (2020): https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/designated-bushfire-prone-area-bpa

46 DELWP (2020): https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/designated-bushfire-prone-area-bpa





Red lines – catchment boundaries Dark Blue lines – main rivers

Light blue lines – main tributaries

Figure 8. Natural waterways in the LMR48 49

Natural waterways across the LMR have been heavily impacted by historical land use, including clearing

and agriculture, which have resulted in poor conditions relative to waterways in the east of Victoria, as

shown in the figure below.50

48 Data Vic (2020): https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/vicmap-lite

49 https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/awrc-major-river-basins-of-victoria

50 DELWP (2016): https://www.water.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0030/58827/Water-Plan-strategy2.pdf

https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/awrc-major-river-basins-of-victoria

https://www.water.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0030/58827/Water-Plan-strategy2.pdf



Figure 9. River length condition in Victoria51

Many of these waterways are managed by appointed waterway managers who are responsible for

managing vessel activities on waters under their control. One of the key roles of waterway managers is to

provide and maintain navigational aids, appropriate signage of water levels and hazards, and rules applying

to their waters.52

51 DELWP (2016): https://www.water.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0030/58827/Water-Plan-strategy2.pdf

52 DOT (2020): https://transportsafety.vic.gov.au/maritime-safety/ports-and-waterways

https://www.water.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0030/58827/Water-Plan-strategy2.pdf

https://transportsafety.vic.gov.au/maritime-safety/ports-and-waterways



Table 10. Managed waterways across the LMR53

LGA Waterway Name Appointed Waterway Manager

Buloke Shire Council Browns Lake (Lake Cope Cope) Buloke Shire Council

Green Lake (within Green Lake Regional Park) Buloke Shire Council

Wooroonook Lakes Buloke Shire Council

Tchum Lake South Tchum Lake Aquatic Club Inc.

Campaspe Shire Port of Echuca Campaspe Shire

Lake Cooper DELWP

Greens Lake (near Corop) Goulburn-Murray Water

Waranga Basin

Central Goldfields Shire Goldfields Reservoir Central Goldfields Shire

Lake Victoria (in Maryborough)

City of Greater Bendigo Lake Weeroona City of Greater Bendigo

Lake Eppalock Goulburn-Murray Water

Gannawarra Shire Gunbower Creek Gannawarra Shire

Kangaroo Lake

Lake Charm

Lake Meering (also known as Meran)

Middle and Reedy Lakes Goulburn-Murray Water

Loddon Shire Loddon River within the Shire of Loddon Loddon Shire

Loddon River at Bridgewater

Little Lake Boort

Laanecoorie Reservoir Goulburn-Murray Water

Mildura Rural City Lake Cullulleraine Mildura Rural City

Ouyen Lake Unmanaged

Waters within Hattah-Kulkyne National Park DELWP

Waters within Kings Billabong Wildlife Reserve

Walpeup Lake Walpeup Lake Committee of Management Inc.

Mount Alexander Shire Cairn Curran Reservoir (also in Central Goldfields Shire)

Goulburn-Murray Water

Swan Hill Rural City Lake Boga Swan Hill Rural City

Lake Powell DELWP

Lake Carpul

Heywood Lake

Water supplies and catchments are discussed further in Section 7 – Built Environment.

53 DOT (2020): https://transportsafety.vic.gov.au/maritime-safety/ports-and-waterways/waterway-managers

https://transportsafety.vic.gov.au/maritime-safety/ports-and-waterways/waterway-managers



6.4.1 Floods

Floods cause more damage – including loss of life and livelihoods and damage to property and infrastructure

– than any other type of natural disaster in Australia.54 Victoria is prone to riverine flooding, which occurs in

low-lying areas near rivers and streams, and flash flooding, which can happen anywhere in the event of

intense rainfall. Flash flooding can be unpredictable, overwhelming drainage systems and causing localised

threats.

In the Mallee sub-region, there are a significant number of urban settlements which are exposed to flood

risk, with floods also having caused significant damage to farms through inundation, isolation and flash

floods following heavy rainfall.55 Flooding in the sub-region provides important inflows to wetlands and lake

systems, however may also impact towns and infrastructure.

The Loddon Campaspe sub-region is particularly pre-disposed to floods, with many settlements within the

region that have been identified for growth, also having high flood risks, including Bendigo, Castlemaine,

Kyneton and Gisborne.56

Flood management guidelines, including prevention, response and recovery activities, are provided in the

State Emergency Response Plan Flood Sub-Plan, published in 2016. 57 This strategy relies on the combined

efforts of various agencies including local government, SES, Catchment Management Authorities and

community partnerships.58

The Bureau of Meteorology is responsible for providing a flood warning service for riverine flooding resulting

from heavy rainfall in Victoria in cooperation with other government, water and emergency management

agencies59. The coverage of this flood warning service is shown in Figure 10 with both the Flood Watch and

Flood Warning catchment shown. The products from the Service Level Specification that cover the

catchments in LMR are listed in Table 1160. The river observations sites when flood levels are defined are

shown as blue triangles and are listed in Table 11.

54 Flood Victoria (2020): https://www.floodvictoria.vic.gov.au/



57 EMV (2016): https://www.ses.vic.gov.au/documents/112015/2504320/State+Emergency+Response+Plan+-+Flood+Sub-Plan+-

+Edition+1.pdf/e4d997fa-080b-39fd-366b-42b5cb23443f

58 DELWP (2016): https://www.water.vic.gov.au/managing-floodplains/new-victorian-floodplain-management-strategy

59 http://www.bom.gov.au/water/floods/document/National_Arrangements_V4.pdf

60 http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/flood/brochures/VIC_SLS_current.pdf

https://www.floodvictoria.vic.gov.au/



https://www.ses.vic.gov.au/documents/112015/2504320/State+Emergency+Response+Plan+-+Flood+Sub-Plan+-+Edition+1.pdf/e4d997fa-080b-39fd-366b-42b5cb23443f

https://www.ses.vic.gov.au/documents/112015/2504320/State+Emergency+Response+Plan+-+Flood+Sub-Plan+-+Edition+1.pdf/e4d997fa-080b-39fd-366b-42b5cb23443f

https://www.water.vic.gov.au/managing-floodplains/new-victorian-floodplain-management-strategy

http://www.bom.gov.au/water/floods/document/National_Arrangements_V4.pdf

http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/flood/brochures/VIC_SLS_current.pdf



Table 11. Flood Warning products and Flood Warning Locations61

Product Warning Area Site Minor Moderate Major

IDN36629 Flood Warning for the Murray River D/S of Lake Hume

Murray River at Echuca 93.5 93.9 94.4

Murray River at Torrumbarry Weir

7.3 7.6 7.8

Murray River at Swan Hill 4.5 4.6 4.7

Murray River at Mildura Weir

36.0 37.5 38.5

Murray River at Wentworth 7.3 7.9 9.1

Murray River at Wakool Junction 8.8 10.5 11.5

IDV36710 Flood Warning for the Goulburn River

Flood Warning for the Yea River

Flood Warning for the Sunday Creek

Flood Warning for the Hughes Creek

Goulburn River at McCoys Bridge 9.0 10.0 10.2

IDV36750 Flood Warning for the Campaspe River

Campaspe River at Barnadown 3.8 4.4 5.0

Campaspe River at Rochester Town

113.0 114.0 114.5

Campaspe River D/S Lake Eppalock

158.4 160.4 162.4

IDV36810 Flood Warning for the Loddon River Loddon River at Appin South 2.8 3.1 3.3

Loddon River at MV Hwy Bridge (Kerang)

77.0 77.5 77.8

Loddon River D/S Cairn Curran 2.0 3.5 4.0

Loddon River D/S Laanecoorie 1.5 3.0 5.5

IDV36820 Flood Warning for the Avoca River Avoca River at Charlton Township 4.-0 5.9 7.5

Avoca River at Quambatook 2.0 2.2 2.4

IDV36830 Flood Warning for the Wimmera River

61 http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/flood/brochures/VIC_SLS_current.pdf

http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/flood/brochures/VIC_SLS_current.pdf



Red Boundaries – Bureau of Meteorology Flood

Watch areas Red Shading – Bureau of Meteorology Flood Warning

Catchments Dark Blue areas – Lakes and dams Blue lines – rivers and streams

Green areas – 1:100 year ARI modelled inundation area

Triangles – River observations sites

Figure 10. Flood warning and 1:100-year ARI inundation62 63 64 65 66 67

The flood risk and area impacted by flooding varies around the region. Table 12 shows the percentage of

each LGA which is impacted by flooding at the 1:100-year average recurrence interval (ARI). This is shown

in Green in Figure 10. There is a one percent chance (1% annual exceedance probability (AEP)) of these

areas experiencing flooding of this level in any given year68 based on flood modelling results from flood

studies. The localities listed have some defined built up area in or near the flood impact area defined by the

1:100-year ARI. This list may not be exhaustive, and some areas may experience impacts from flash

flooding due to heavy rainfall that are not shown here.

62 http://www.bom.gov.au/metadata/catalogue/19115/ANZCW0503900441?template=full




66 https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/1-in-100-year-flood-extent

67 Data Vic (2020): https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/vicmap-lite

68 http://arr.ga.gov.au/arr-guideline

http://www.bom.gov.au/metadata/catalogue/19115/ANZCW0503900561?template=full



http://arr.ga.gov.au/arr-guideline



Table 12. Areas potentially impacted by flooding inundation69

LGA % Included in 1:100 Ari Area

Main Localities with Affected Built Up Areas

Buloke 11.2% Charlton, Donald

Campaspe 31.7% Echuca, Kyabram, Moama (NSW), Rochester, Tongala, Wharparilla

Central Goldfields 20.1% Carisbrook, Dunolly, Maryborough

Gannawarra 40.4% Barham (NSW), Cohuna, Kerang, Koondrook, Quambatook

Greater Bendigo 5.9% Ascot (Bendigo), Bendigo, Eaglehawk, East, Bendigo, Elmore, Epsom, Flora Hill, Golden Square, Heathcote, Huntly, Kangaroo Flat, Kennington, Long Gully, Maiden Gully, North Bendigo, Quarry Hill, Spring Gully, Strathdale, Strathfieldsaye, White Hills

Loddon 29.1% Boort, Pyramid Hill

Macedon Ranges 2.0% Gisborne, Kyneton, Riddells Creek, Romsey, Woodend

Mildura 6.7% Mildura, Nichols Point

Mount Alexander 2.4% Campbells Creek, Castlemaine, Moonlight Flat

Swan Hill 10.2% Murray Downs (NSW), Nyah, Pental Island, Robinvale, Swan Hill

6.5 Geology

There are significant aspects of the Victorian environment that rely on natural workings underground.

Victoria’s geology contributes to a large cluster of volcanic plains, the frequency of weak to medium

magnitude earthquakes and the versatility of groundwater.

There is an extensive area of volcanism in Victoria. Large basaltic formations (formed after the rapid cooling

of lava) are present along the western coast of Victoria. The time of the last volcanic eruption in Victoria is

contested by volcanologists, however common consensus is that it occurred approximately 7000 years ago

at Mount Napier. In volcanology terms, this classifies the Western Victorian Volcanic Plains as an active

volcanic region, with many volcanologists considering the area dormant rather than extinct.70 The plains

span approximately 2.3 million hectares or 10% of the state’s land mass. The eastern side of Victoria

experienced volcanic activity significantly earlier than in the west. 71 Older Volcanic Plains are scattered

throughout eastern Victoria and experienced an estimated 400 eruptions that were sporadic, relatively low

volume and widespread.72

69 https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/1-in-100-year-flood-extent

70 http://vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/vrosite.nsf/pages/landform_geomorphological_framework_6.1

71 New 40Ar/39Ar ages for selected young (<1 Ma) basalt flows of the Newer Volcanic Province, Southeastern Australia (2011)

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1871101411000112



http://vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/vrosite.nsf/pages/landform_geomorphological_framework_6.1





Figure 11. Map of Victoria with Volcanic overlay73

There is no reported threat of volcanic eruption to the LMR. However, in the event of an eruption in the

Western Victorian Volcanic Plains, there is a chance of volcanic gases to be present in the air in Loddon

Mallee.

On average, there are approximately 100 earthquakes in Australia per year that register above 3

magnitude.74 As a nation, Australia experiences significantly less earthquakes than other parts of the world

near tectonic boundaries, where large earthquakes occur more often. 75 However, the country experiences

earthquakes due to a series of interlocking, interspersed fault lines that spread throughout the nation. In

Victoria, several vault lines have been identified including the Strzelecki Ranges, The Mornington Peninsula

and the Otway Ranges. However, the frequency of earthquakes in the state indicates that there are multiple

minor fault lines that have not been formally identified. 76 Included below is a table that lists earthquakes in

Victoria with a magnitude over 4.5 since records began with damage reported:



74 Geology Australia (2020) https://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/community-safety/earthquake




https://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/community-safety/earthquake





Table 13. List of earthquakes above 4.5 magnitude in Victoria since records began77 78

Location Date Magnitude Damage Reported

Cape Liptrap 02 July 1885 5.7 Tied Victoria’s largest earthquake – minor damage reported around epicentre

Warrnambool 14 July 1903 5.3 Minor damage over wide geographical area near epicentre

Alpine National Park

10 April 1904 5.0 No damage reported – epicentre in national park

Ocean Grove (offshore)

10 April 1922 5.7 Reports of minor item damage in Cranbourne, East Malvern, Pakenham and Portalington – aftershock 4.7 magnitude

Mornington 03 September 1932 4.5 Minor damage

Bass Strait (offshore)

15 September 1946 6.2 Minor damage reported in Gippsland region and Tasmanian northern coast

Cape Otway 25 December 1950 5.3 No Damage Reported

Mt Hotham 5 May 1966 5.5 Windows broken in ski village

Boolarra 20 June 1969 5.3 5.0 magnitude aftershock, cracked walls and windows near epicentre

Western Port 7 July 1971 5.0 Damage reported in Cowes

Balliang 2 December 1979 4.7 Felt across south eastern suburbs, minor damage caused in Anakie area

Wonnangatta 21 November 1982 5.4 Felt across state, no damage reported

Mount Baw Baw 25 September 5.0 No damage reported

Boolarra 29 August 2000 5.0 Minor damage

Swan Hill 27 October 2001 4.8 Minor damage, power disruption

Wonthaggi 6 March 2011 4.5 No damage reported

Gippsland 19 June 2012 5.4 Minor damage

Loddon Mallee has some history with significant earthquakes. Since records began, Loddon Mallee has

reported 11 earthquakes above 3 magnitude with the most recent being the largest recorded. In Swan Hill

on 27 October 2000, a 4.8 magnitude earthquake caused minor damage and some power disruption to rural

communities.79 In 2017, the SES identified the following dams in Loddon Mallee had credible earthquake

risk:

77 Seismology Research Centre (2020) https://www.src.com.au/earthquakes/older-quakes/

78 Earthquake Tracker (2020) https://earthquaketrack.com/p/australia/victoria/recent?mag_filter=4

79

https://www.src.com.au/earthquakes/older-quakes/

https://earthquaketrack.com/p/australia/victoria/recent?mag_filter=4



Table 14 SES identified dams with credible earthquake risk80

Dam Name Location Capacity (Megalitres)

Laanecoorie Reservoir Located on the Loddon River, 40km south-west of Bendigo.

8,000Ml

Cairn Curran Reservoir Located on the Loddon River, about 10km west of Maldon.

147,130Ml

Lake Eppalock Located on the Campaspe River, near Bendigo in central Victoria.

276,751Ml

(304651Ml on Goulbourn Murray Water website)

Barkers Creek Reservoir 25km south of Bendigo, north of Harcourt. 1,690Ml

Caledonia Reservoir 6km south of Heathcote \on Dairy Flat Rd. 214Ml

Upper Coliban Reservoir Located 9km west of Kyneton on the Coliban River. 37,770Ml (from Coliban Water website)

Lauriston Reservoir Located 8km south west of Kyneton on the Coliban River.

19,790Ml (from Coliban Water website)

Malmsbury Reservoir Located 1km south Malmsbury on the Coliban River.

12,034Ml (from Coliban Water website)

McCay Reservoir Located off the Pyrenees Highway, halfway between Chewton and Elphinstone townships.

1,400Ml

Sandhurst Reservoir Located at Big Hill, 3km south of Kangaroo Flat. 2,600Ml

Spring Gully Reservoir Located in Spring Gully, 3km south of Bendigo. 1,680Ml

Expedition Pass Reservoir (Golden Point Reservoir)

Located on Golden Point Road, around 3km from Chewton.

264Ml

Torrumbarry Weir Located 30km north of Echuca. 36,810Ml

Crusoe Reservoir Located upstream of Kangaroo Flat off Crusoe Road.

890Ml

Tullaroop Reservoir Located 6km upstream of Carisbrook off Rodborough Road.

72,950Ml (from the Goulbourn Murray Water website)

Mildura Weir North east corner of the Mildura township, on Murray River

36,600Ml (from GMW website)

Waranga Basin East of Rushworth township. 432,360Ml (from the Goulbourn Murray Water website)

Campaspe Weir South West of Rochester township on the Northern Highway.

252,000Ml (from Goulbourn Murray Water website)

Groundwater is water found under the ground that flows through layers known as aquifers. Surface water

from rainfall seeps into cracks or pores in the ground (aquifers), however aquifers can also be recharged

from streams or indirectly from other aquifers.81 Groundwater resources eventually flow into rivers, lakes or

the ocean. Many surface environments known as ‘groundwater dependent ecosystems’ rely on groundwater

including wetlands and river baseflows. Groundwater is also important as a water resource in semi-arid

80 State Emergency Services – Earthquake Emergency Plan (2018)

81 Southern Rural Water – Groundwater Atlas (2012) http://www.srw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/GGA_SmallSize-1.pdf

http://www.srw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/GGA_SmallSize-1.pdf



parts of Victoria where rainfall is infrequent or inadequate to reliably meet water needs.82 In areas where

groundwater may be replenished on a regular basis (through rainfall), extraction can be managed on a

renewable basis. However, in many areas in Australia the extraction greatly exceeds the rate at which

groundwater is replenished - Australian Water Resources 2005 concluded that 30% of groundwater

extraction sites were approaching or beyond sustainable extraction limits.83

The area around the Murray-Darling Basin is a primary source for groundwater in the LMR.84 Major issues

arising in LMR around groundwater is the unsustainable demand and declining groundwater levels in current

aquifers. 85 Most of the recent discussion around the utilisation of groundwater in Loddon Mallee has focused

on the water and land salinity problems that occur through the unsustainable harvesting of the resource.86

Peat consists of decayed vegetation or organic matter. Peat can pose a major fire hazard and a smouldering

peat fire cannot be extinguished by light rain.87 Peat fuelled fires can burn for extended periods of time and

have also been observed as smouldering underground resulting in reignition if an oxygen source is

present.88 The minimum rainfall intensity required to extinguish a peat fire is roughly 4mm/h.89 LMR’s main

deposit of peat is near Lake Wahpool and Lake Tiboram. Another cluster of deposits can be found in Hattah-

Kulkne National Park. Apart from these centralised locations, peat is spread around Loddon Mallee in

relatively small clusters. A full map of peat deposits can be found on EM-COP, below is a screenshot of the

BSW region with the peat hazard layer shown in yellow.

82 Geology Australia (2020) https://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/water/groundwater/basics/what-is-groundwater

83 Geology Australia (2020) https://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/water/groundwater/basics/what-is-groundwater

84 Murray Darling Basin – Groundwater Report - https://www.mdba.gov.au/sites/default/files/archived/mdbc-GW-

reports/2173_GW_a_resource_for_the_future.pdf





87 Lin and Huang (2020) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969720319811



https://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/water/groundwater/basics/what-is-groundwater

https://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/water/groundwater/basics/what-is-groundwater

https://www.mdba.gov.au/sites/default/files/archived/mdbc-GW-reports/2173_GW_a_resource_for_the_future.pdf











Figure 12. EM-COP layer depicting peat deposits in Loddon Mallee90

7. Built Environment

Key infrastructure includes major roads and rail lines, water, power, sewerage, telecommunications, airports

and seaports, all of which support ongoing growth in the LMR.

Extreme weather events however threaten this critical infrastructure and increase maintenance costs, with

the critical services outlined above particularly susceptible to extreme weather.

7.1 Information and telecommunications

The communications sector – incorporating internet, phone, radio, television, online transactions and

business operations – is a foundation for economic and social development and stability within Victoria.

These interconnected networks are owned by both national and international providers and are regulated

by the Commonwealth.91

Key assets and infrastructure include:

• Networks – copper, hybrid fibre-coaxial, fibre-optic cable

• Towers – mobile telephone, wireless internet (e.g., 3G, 4G)

• Satellites

• Base stations

90 EM-COP – Peat Overlay Layer

91 EMV (2018): https://files-em.em.vic.gov.au/public/EMV-web/2018_All_Sectors_Resilience_Report.pdf

https://files-em.em.vic.gov.au/public/EMV-web/2018_All_Sectors_Resilience_Report.pdf



• Exchanges or points of interconnect

• Data centres

• Backhaul infrastructure (which transfers high data volumes to and from the core network)

• Cables – between onshore nodes and other countries

Key risks to the sector include:

• Natural disasters – fire, flood, storm, extreme weather

• Pandemic

• Security breaches

• Technical issues (e.g., electricity disruption, asset failure)

In the LMR the quality of digital infrastructure, including fixed broadband and mobile access, is highly

variable. While for cities and large towns such as Bendigo and Mildura, access is generally comparable to

metropolitan Melbourne, smaller towns and localities such as Rushworth and Charlton generally have less

capacity and reliability.92

For the LMR, key assets and infrastructure are summarised below:

Table 15. Communications infrastructure in LMR by LGA93

LGA Radio

Broadcast Television Broadcast

Radio Communication

Telephone Exchanges

Buloke Shire 0 0 3 23

Campaspe Shire 2 0 4 29

Central Goldfields Shire 1 0 3 8

City of Greater Bendigo 3 0 2 17

Gannawarra Shire 1 1 1 21

Loddon Shire 0 0 4 28

Macedon Ranges Shire 1 5 3 14

Mildura Rural City 14 17 16 15

Mount Alexander Shire 7 11 3 10

Swan Hill Rural City 9 10 4 16

LMR Total 38 44 43 181

92 Infrastructure Victoria (2019): https://www.infrastructurevictoria.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Aither-Loddon-Campaspe-Regional-

Profile-March-2019.pdf

93 Data Vic (2020): https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/foi-point-vicmap-features-of-interest

https://www.infrastructurevictoria.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Aither-Loddon-Campaspe-Regional-Profile-March-2019.pdf

https://www.infrastructurevictoria.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Aither-Loddon-Campaspe-Regional-Profile-March-2019.pdf

https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/foi-point-vicmap-features-of-interest



7.2 Energy

Energy – including electricity, gas and liquid fuels – is one of eight critical infrastructure sectors identified

for Victoria. All three of these sub-sectors are privately owned and operated, and form part of extensive

national networks to import and export energy between Victoria and other States.94

Victoria’s primary energy sources are electricity generated from brown coal in the La Trobe Valley, and

natural gas sourced from the Gippsland Basin.95

7.2.1 Energy distribution

Energy distribution in the LMR is summarised by LGA in the below table and discussed further by form in

the following sections.

Table 16. Energy distribution across LMR by LGA (km)96

LGA Major Electricity

Transmission Lines Oil Pipelines Gas Pipelines

Buloke Shire 12.8 0.0 0.0

Campaspe Shire 168.7 0.0 30.6

Central Goldfields Shire 37.3 0.0 45.4

City of Greater Bendigo 146.9 0.0 29.4

Gannawarra Shire 177.8 0.0 0.0

Loddon Shire 147.8 0.0 0.0

Macedon Ranges Shire 65.3 0.0 50.2

Mildura Rural City 420.1 0.0 117.3

Mount Alexander Shire 96.7 0.0 72.4

Swan Hill Rural City 252.8 0.0 0.0

Total 1,526.2 0.0 345.3

For the energy sector overall, key risks include:

• Fire

• Severe weather

• Extreme temperatures

• Cyber-attack

• Earthquake


95 DELWP (2020): https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/

96 EMV (2020): Potential Impact Reports (by LGA)


https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/



• Earthworks damaging underground infrastructure

• Loss of communication

• Workforce issues (which could arise for any number of reasons but include industrial issues, heat

stress, pandemic, an ageing workforce and lack of experience or specialist staff).97

Key dependencies for the energy sector include:

• Production infrastructure

• Supporting infrastructure (e.g., energy supplies for operations)

• Water and wastewater

• Transport infrastructure

• Human resources and management systems

• Information technology and communications98

7.2.2 Electricity

The key assets and infrastructure for the electricity sector include generators, high and low voltage

transmission and distribution systems.99

Most of Victoria’s electricity is generated by brown coal generators in the La Trobe Valley.100

Terminal stations are key centres for receiving high voltage electricity from transmission lines and converting

it to lower voltages for distribution to zone substations.101 Zone Substations receive electricity from bulk

supply substations and transform the voltage to 11,000 volts for distribution to customers’ homes and

businesses along powerlines or cables.102

In the LMR, the distribution network is owned by Powercor 103. Electricity is transported to a terminal station,

where it then moves via a sub-transmission network at 66 kilovolts. Most of this network is configured in

loops to maximise reliability, however some areas are supplied by radial 66 kilovolt lines. Electricity is

converted at zone substations, to 22 or 11 kilovolts, and transported across high voltage distribution lines

to substations.




100 DELWP (2020): https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/electricity/about-the-electricity-sector

101 AusNet Services (2018): https://www.ausnetservices.com.au/-/media/Files/AusNet/About-Us/Determining-Revenues/Distribution-

Network/Customer-Forum/Week-1/Networks-101-Customer-Forum.ashx?la=en

102 AusNet Services (2018): https://www.ausnetservices.com.au/-/media/Files/AusNet/About-Us/Determining-Revenues/Distribution-

Network/Customer-Forum/Week-1/Networks-101-Customer-Forum.ashx?la=en

103 https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/electricity/electricity-distributors




https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/electricity/about-the-electricity-sector

https://www.ausnetservices.com.au/-/media/Files/AusNet/About-Us/Determining-Revenues/Distribution-Network/Customer-Forum/Week-1/Networks-101-Customer-Forum.ashx?la=en






The distribution network experiences losses as it transports electricity. One of the causes is Single Wire

Earth Return (SWER), usually in remote and sparsely settled rural areas. SWER lines operate at a nominal

voltage of 12.7 kilovolts, unlike the rest of the high voltage distribution network, which operates at 22

kilovolts. Some parts of the network are stronger than others. The Charlton substation zone is subject to

outages, because of its remote location. This area services a large portion of the Buloke Shire, as well as

small parts of Swan Hill, Gannawarra and Loddon Shires. The zone substation is supplied by one very long

radial sub-transmission line from Bendigo. Other vulnerable areas include towns and communities serviced

by single radial lines, either three-phase 22 kilovolt, single-phase 22 kilovolt, or SWER lines. Powercor has

also identified a number of zone substation constraints, including Eaglehawk, Bendigo and Merbein.

More generation is being connected to the periphery of the network, where it has to travel further and the

grid is weaker and more easily overloaded. The transmission network in the region is becoming increasingly

constrained, limiting the capacity of new generators to export energy into the grid. As a result, generators

are seeking to move further south in the region, to areas with more grid capacity.104

Within the LMR, there are 7 terminal stations and no zone substations, as outlined below:

Figure 13. Terminal stations and zone substations in LMR105

104 https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0028/464725/Roadmap-LoddonMalleeFinal.pdf


0

0

0

2

1

0

0

3

0

1

Buloke Shire

Campaspe Shire



Gannawarra Shire

Loddon Shire


Mildura Rural City



Terminal Stations Zone Substations

https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0028/464725/Roadmap-LoddonMalleeFinal.pdf



A map of electrical infrastructure is provided in the figure below:

Green star – renewable power generation Blue star – non-renewable power generation Red triangle – Electrical substation Green triangle – Electrical switchyard

Yellow triangle – Electrical transmission Blue triangle – Electrical zone Black dot – Electrical terminal Thick red line – Power transmission

Thin red line – Power sub-transmission

Figure 14. Transmission lines within LMR106 107 108

106 https://data.gov.au/dataset/ds-aurin-aurin%3Adatasource-AU_Govt_GA-

UoM_AURIN_DB_national_major_power_stations_2016/details?q=Major%20Power%20Stations

107 https://data.gov.au/dataset/ds-aurin-aurin%3Adatasource-AU_Govt_GA-

UoM_AURIN_DB_national_electricity_transmission_substations_2017/details?q=electricity%20transmission%20substations

108 https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/foi-line-vicmap-features-of-interest



7.2.3 Solar and Wind

In the LMR, the focus of renewable energy has been on solar energy, with the Kiamal Solar Farm north of

Ouyen to be Victoria’s largest.

There are 21 solar farms and two wind farms operating in the Loddon Mallee, including:

Figure 15. Wind and solar farms in LMR by LGA109,110


110 https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0028/464725/Roadmap-LoddonMalleeFinal.pdf

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

4

2

11

3

Buloke Shire

Campaspe Shire



Gannawarra Shire

Loddon Shire


Mildura Rural City



Wind Farms Solar Farms

https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0028/464725/Roadmap-LoddonMalleeFinal.pdf



7.2.4 Gas

The key assets and infrastructure for the gas sector include production, receiving, processing and storage

facilities, and transmission and distribution systems.111

Victoria’s natural gas supply is sourced predominantly in the Gippsland Basin and processed in Longford.

The Principal Transmission System, which covers Melbourne and central Victoria, is owned by GasNet and

operated by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).112

Approximately 345km of gas pipelines traverse the LMR, including:

Table 17. Gas pipelines in LMR by LGA113

LGA Gas Pipelines (km) Location/Route

Buloke Shire 0.0 N/A

Campaspe Shire 30.6 Kyabram to Echuca

Central Goldfields Shire 45.4 Carisbrook to Horsham

Guildford to Maryborough

City of Greater Bendigo 29.4 Ballan to Bendigo

Bendigo City Gate to Able Street

Mt Franklin to Bendigo

Gannawarra Shire 0.0 N/A

Loddon Shire 0.0 N/A

Macedon Ranges Shire 50.2 Mt Franklin to Kyneton

Wandong to Kyneton City Gate

Mildura Rural City 117.3 Berri to Mildura

Mount Alexander Shire 72.4 Ballan to Bendigo

Guildford to Maryborough

Mt Franklin to Bendigo

Swan Hill Rural City 0.0 N/A

Total 345.3


112 DELWP (2017): https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/gas/about-the-gas-sector



https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/gas/about-the-gas-sector



Gas Pipeline

Figure 16. Natural gas pipelines within the LMR114

7.2.5 Liquid fuels

The key assets and infrastructure for the liquid fuels sector include production and import facilities, fuel

refineries, storage, distribution systems (including pipelines and transport) and retail outlets.115

There are no oil refineries located in the LMR, with only two refineries situated in Victoria – at Altona (Mobil)

and Geelong (Viva Energy).116

7.3 Food, grocery and manufacturing

Victoria is the epicentre of manufacturing in Australia, home to more than 13,000 manufacturing firms

employing over 280,000 people and generating $30 billion for the Victorian economy.117

A number of large businesses operate home bases or sites in the LMR including:118

• Lactalis Australia (formerly Parmalat) factory in North Bendigo

• George Weston Foods factory at Castlemaine

114 EM-COP – Gas Pipelines Overlay Layer


116 https://aip.com.au/sites/default/files/download-files/2017-09/At%20a%20Glance%20Australian%20Oil%20Refineries.pdf

117 DJPR (2020): https://djpr.vic.gov.au/about-us/overview/strategies-and-initiatives/advancing-victorian-manufacturing



https://aip.com.au/sites/default/files/download-files/2017-09/At%20a%20Glance%20Australian%20Oil%20Refineries.pdf

https://djpr.vic.gov.au/about-us/overview/strategies-and-initiatives/advancing-victorian-manufacturing




• Hazeldene’s Chicken Farm at Lockwood

• Loddon Valley Eggs at Bridgewater

• Laucke Flour Mills at Bridgewater

• Hy-Line Australia at Bagshot

• Southern Stock Feeds at Bridgewater

• True Foods at Maryborough

• Thales Australia at Bendigo

• Keech Australia at Bendigo

Key assets and infrastructure may include:

• Warehousing and distribution centres

• Complex logistics networks

• Multiple modes of transport

7.3.1 Food supply chain

The safety, security and continuity of Australia’s food supply is complicated. It is a nationally distributed

system, generally owned and operated by the private sector, with oversight from the Department of

Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) and other industry and government agencies. However,

“States and territories have the lead responsibility for planning for and responding to emergency events

within their jurisdictions.”119 Emergency situations that could give rise to supply chain disruptions, with

downstream effects on consumers, include:

• Pandemic

• Biosecurity concern (e.g., foot and mouth disease)

• Drought

• Industrial action

• Natural disaster

• Severe weather event

• Terrorist attack

119 DAWR (2020): https://www.agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/food/food-chain-resilience

https://www.agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/food/food-chain-resilience



• Food or water contamination

• Power, water or communications outage

Figure 17 provides an overview of the food supply chain and its dependencies.

Figure 17. Overview of food supply chain and dependencies120

7.4 Transport

The LMR is located along strategically important intrastate and interstate transport routes. Roads connect

the northern Loddon Mallee to major markets and population centres of southern Victoria, Adelaide, Sydney

and regional southern NSW, and in the south provide for the increased flow of traffic between Bendigo and

Melbourne.121

The vast majority of trips by people within and from the LMR are made by car, which presents particular

challenges for ageing and disadvantaged groups in more rural areas. Public transport options decrease the

further the distance travelled from Melbourne, with only the Bendigo-Swan Hill, Bendigo-Echuca and

Ballarat-Maryborough train lines offering passenger services, while a mix of private and community bus

services provide links between larger centres and smaller towns.122

120 DAFF (2012): https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/sitecollectiondocuments/ag-food/food/national-food-plan/submissions-

received/resilience-food-supply.pdf

121 DJPR (2014): https://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/1663618/Loddon_Mallee_RSP-1-Web.pdf

122 DJPR (2014): https://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/1663618/Loddon_Mallee_RSP-1-Web.pdf

https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/sitecollectiondocuments/ag-food/food/national-food-plan/submissions-received/resilience-food-supply.pdf

https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/sitecollectiondocuments/ag-food/food/national-food-plan/submissions-received/resilience-food-supply.pdf

https://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/1663618/Loddon_Mallee_RSP-1-Web.pdf

https://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/1663618/Loddon_Mallee_RSP-1-Web.pdf



7.4.1 Transport infrastructure

Major transport infrastructure in the LMR is outlined below, and discussed further by mode in the following

sections:

Table 18. Transport infrastructure (km) by LGA (2015)123

LGA Major Roads

Major Rail

Distance to Melbourne

CBD124

% Population close to Public Transport125

Buloke Shire 756.9 262.5 278 7.1%

Campaspe Shire 550.0 195.3 208 23.2%

Central Goldfields Shire 183.9 115.8 169 45.4%

City of Greater Bendigo 474.9 195.4 279 9.3%

Gannawarra Shire 443.4 157.9 145 57.8%

Loddon Shire 640.8 241.7 248 8.0%

Macedon Ranges Shire 227.2 97.9 55 14.3%

Mildura Rural City 663.2 366.5 541 52.7%

Mount Alexander Shire 259.8 108.2 121 24.8%

Swan Hill Rural City 463.1 237.6 338 38.4%

LMR Total 4,663.2 1,978.8

7.4.2 Roads

More than 4,600 km of major roads traverse the LMR, including major highways, freeways, arterial roads,

bridges and tunnels.

The road network is shown in the figure below, with darker red representing arterial roads, and lighter red

municipal roads and tracks. This network includes:

• Calder Freeway/Highway – Melbourne-Gisborne-Kyneton-Bendigo-Inglewood-Mildura link

• Sturt Highway – Adelaide-Mildura-Hay-Wagga Wagga link

• Murray Valley Highway – Robinvale-Swan Hill-Echuca-Wodonga-Towong link

• Sunraysia Highway – Ouyen-Donald-Ballarat link

• Henty Highway – Portland-Horsham-Hopetoun-Lascelles link

• Mallee Highway – Tailem Bend-Ouyen-Balranald link

• Midland Highway – Geelong-Ballarat-Bendigo-Shepparton-Wangaratta-Mansfield link








• Loddon Valley Highway – Bendigo-Kerang link

• Northern Highway – Echuca-Heathcote-Wallan link

• McIvor Highway – Bendigo-Heathcote link

• Pyrenees Highway – Elphinstone-Maryborough-Avoca-Ararat link

• Wimmera Highway – Bendigo-St Arnaud-Horsham link

• Northern Highway – Melbourne-Heathcote-Elmore-Rochester-Echuca

Figure 18. Main roads within the LMR126

126 Data Vic (2020): https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/road-network-vicmap-transport



Figure 19. Density of road network within the LMR127

The calculated road lengths (km) for each LGA in the LMR below are based on the Department of

Transport’s standard categories:




Table 19. Road Lengths in LMR by LGA128

LGA F

reew

ay

Hig

hw

ay

Art

eri

al

Su

b-A

rteri

al

Co

llecto

r

Lo

cal

2W

D

4W

D

Walk

ing

Tra

ck

Bik

e P

ath

Buloke Shire - 323 428 625 232 2,725 2,893 342 2 -

Campaspe Shire - 186 352 583 25 2,808 2,592 421 52 2

Central Goldfields Shire - 40 126 294 10 561 1,424 148 2 2

City of Greater Bendigo - 107 340 177 19 1,629 2,030 339 2 -

Gannawarra Shire - 231 242 480 20 2,516 2,061 186 188 5

Loddon Shire - 205 430 661 199 2,789 3,770 267 21 4

Macedon Ranges Shire 127 6 95 242 149 891 1,701 214 27 5

Mildura Rural City - 357 131 125 77 2,784 6,732 3,141 121 -

Mount Alexander Shire 60 90 95 433 - 519 1,186 160 37 12

Swan Hill Rural City - 224 238 446 2 3,310 1,908 256 7 -

LMR Total 187 1,769 2,477 4,065 732 20,530 26,297 5,473 459 30

A listing of the major roads is also provided below:

Table 20. Major roads in LMR by LGA129

LGA Major Roads

Buloke Shire – 756.9km

Aitken Av

Armstrong St

Berriwillock -Springfield Rd

Best St

Birchip -Corack Rd

Birchip - Rainbow Rd

Birchip -Sea Lake Rd

Birchip -Wycheproof Rd

Boort -Charlton Rd

Boort -Wycheproof Rd

Borung Hwy

Calder Hwy

Camp St

Campbell St

Main St

Mccracken Av

Mildura Way

Mount St

Oconnor St

Park St

Robinvale-Sea Lake Rd

Sea Lake - Swan Hill Rd

St Arnaud - Wycheproof Rd

Sunraysia Hwy

Ultimo Rd

Warracknabeal -Birchip Rd

Watchem Rd

Woods St





LGA Major Roads

Charlton - St Arnaud Rd

Corack Rd

Culgoa -Lalbert Rd

Culgoa -Ultimo Rd

Cumming Av

Donald -Murtoa Rd

Donald -Stowell Rd

Donald -Swan Hill Rd

Donald Rd

Hammill St

High St

Hooper Ct

Hopetoun -Sea Lake Rd

Horace St

Main St

Mccracken Av

Mildura Way

Mount St

Oconnor St

Park St

Robinvale-Sea Lake Rd


St Arnaud - Wycheproof Rd

Sunraysia Hwy

Ultimo Rd

Warracknabeal -Birchip Rd

Watchem Rd

Woods St

Campaspe Shire – 550.0km

Albion St

Allan St

Bendigo - Murchison Rd

Bendigo - Tennyson Rd

Bridge Rd

Brudenell St

Byrneside - Kyabram Rd

Cobb Hwy

Cornelia Creek Rd

Curr Rd

Dingee Rd

Echuca - Mitiarno Rd

Echuca Rd

Edis St

Elizabeth St

Girgarre - Rushworth Rd

Graham Rd

Hawdon Rd

Heathcote - Rochester Rd

Henderson Rd

Heygarth St

High St

John Allan Rd

Lancaster - Mooroopna Rd

Lancaster Rd

Leitchville - Pyramid Rd

Lowry St

Mccormick Rd

Mcewen Rd

Mckenzie Rd

Midland Hwy

Mitchell St

Moora Rd

Moore St

Murchison Rd

Murray Valley Hwy

Northern Hwy

Ogilvie Av

Prairie - Rochester Rd

Rushworth - Tatura Rd

Stanhope Rd

Station St

Warren St

Webb Rd

Central Goldfields Shire – 183.9km

Avoca Rd

Ballarat -Maryborough Rd

Bendigo -Maryborough Rd

Bridgewater - Dunolly Rd

Broadway

Inkerman St

Landrigan Rd

Lexton-Talbot Rd

Maryborough -Dunolly Rd

Maryborough -St Arnaud Rd



LGA Major Roads

Bucknall St

Carisbrook -Eddington Rd

Derby Rd

Dunach -Eddington Rd

Dunolly -Eddington Rd

Dunolly -Moliagul Rd

Elgin Rd

Elgin St

Gladstone St

High St

Napier St

Park Rd

Phelan Rd

Pyrenees Hwy

Simson St

Sutton Rd

Tuaggra St

Tweeddale St

Victoria St

Wimmera Hwy

City of Greater Bendigo – 474.9km

Adam St

Arnold St

Barnard St

Bendigo - Eaglehawk Rd Bendigo - Maldon Rd Bendigo - Maryborough Rd Bendigo - Murchison Rd Bendigo - Pyramid Rd Bendigo - Tennyson Rd Bridge St

Calder Alternative Hwy

Calder Hwy

Chapel St

Condon St

Creeth St

Don St

Eaglehawk Rd

Elmore -Raywood Rd

Gladstone St

Hamelin St

Hattam St

Heathcote - Kyneton Rd

Heathcote - Nagambie

Rd Heathcote -Redesdale Rd

Heathcote -Rochester Rd Heinz St

High St

Holdsworth Rd

Holmes Rd

Inglis St

Kilmore Rd

Kyneton -Redesdale Rd

Lockwood Rd

Loddon Valley Hwy

Lucan St

Lyell Rd

Mackenzie St West

Margaret St

Marong Rd

Mccrae St

McIvor Hwy

McIvor Rd

Midland Hwy

Miller St

Mitchell St

Myers St

Myrtle St

Napier St

Northern Hwy

Oak St

Olinda St

Pall Mall

Powells Av

Pyke St

Reservoir Rd

Rohs Rd

Russell St

Sailors Gully Rd Sparrowhawk Rd

Specimen Hill Rd Strathfieldsaye Rd

Stray St

Strickland Rd

Sutton Grange -Redesdale Rd

Townsend St

Weeroona Av

Wellington St

Wills St



LGA Major Roads

Wimmera Hwy

Gannawarra Shire – 443.4km

Airport Rd

Benjeroop - Lake Charm Rd

Boo rt - Kerang Rd

Boort - Quambatook Rd

Cohuna - Koondrook Rd

Cohuna - Leitchville Rd

Cohuna - McMillans Rd

Donald - Swan Hill Rd

Dumosa - Quambatook Rd

Gonn Av

Grigg Rd

Guthrie St

Kerang - Koondrook Rd

Kerang - Murra bit Rd

Kerang - Quambatook Rd

Kerang Rd

King George St

Koondrook- Murrabit Rd

Lalbert - Kerang Rd

Leitchville - Kerang Rd


Leitchville Rd

Loddon Valley Hwy

Mildred St

Murrabit Rd

Murrabit West Rd

Murray Valley Hwy

Olive St

Pyramid - Cohuna Rd

Quambatook - Boort Rd

Quambatook - Swan Hill Rd

Thule St

Victoria St

Wellington St

Loddon Shire – 640.8km

Allen St

Arnold Rd

Barber St

Bell St

Bendigo - Maryborough Rd

Bendigo - Pyramid Rd

Boort - Charlton Rd

Boort - Kerang Rd

Boo rt - Mitiamo Rd

Boort - Pyramid Rd

Boort - Quambatook Rd

Boort - Wedderburn Rd

Boort - Wycheproof Rd

Bridgewater - Dunolly Rd

Bridgewater - Moldan Rd

Bridgewater - Serpentine Rd

Brooke St

Calder Hwy

Clyde St

Commercial Rd

Dunolly - Eddington Rd

Dunolly - Moliagul Rd

Durham Ox - Pyramid Rd

Heales St

High St

Inglewood Rd

Kelly St

King St


Loddon Valley Hwy

Logan - Wedderburn Rd

Lyons St

Mack St

Main St

Mcmillans Rd

Mitiamo - Kerang Rd

Malaga - Durham Ox Rd

Peppercorn Way

Perryman St

Prairie - Rochester Rd

Pyramid - Cohuna Rd

Pyramid - Mincha Rd

Queen St

Racecourse Rd

River St

Serpentine Rd



LGA Major Roads

Durham Ox Rd

Echuca - Mitiamo Rd

Eddington Rd

Gladfield Rd

Glossop St

Godfrey St

St Arnaud Rd

Vernon St

Victoria St

Welsh St

Wimmera Hwy

Macedon Ranges Shire – 227.2km

Aitken St

Avenue Of Honour -Calder Out Ramp Bacchus Marsh Rd

Beauchamp St

Bourke St

Burton -Calder In Ramp

Burton -Calder Out Ramp

Burton Av

Calder Fwy

Calder Hwy

Calder In -Avenue Of Honour Ramp Calder In - Burton Ramp

Calder In - Edgecombe Ramp

Calder In - Macedon - Woodend Ramp Calder In - Malmsbury East Ramp Calder In - Melbourne Ramp

Calder In - Ramsey Ramp

Calder In - Springvale Ramp

Calder In - Station Ramp

Calder Out -Couangalt Ramp

Calder Out - Edgecombe Ramp

Calder Out - Macedon -Woodend Ramp Calder Out - Malmsbury East Ramp Calder Out - Melbourne Ramp

Calder Out - Mount Macedon Ramp Calder Out - Ramsey Ramp

Calder Out - Springvale Ramp

Calder Out - Station Ramp

Calder Out -Trio Ramp

Chisholm Av

Couangalt -Calder Out Ramp

Daylesford - Malmsbury Rd

Daylesford Rd

Degraves Mill Dr

Edgecombe -Calder In Ramp

Edgecombe -Calder Out Ramp

Edgecombe Rd

Edgecombe St

Hamilton St


High St

Kyneton -Trentham Rd

Lancefield -Tooborac Rd

Macedon - Woodend -Calder In Ramp Macedon - Woodend - Calder Out Ramp Main Rd

Main St

Malmsbury East -Calder Out Ramp Malmsbury East -Calder In Ramp Melbourne -Calder In Ramp

Melbourne -Calder Out Ramp Melbourne - Lancefield Rd

Melbourne Rd

Melton Rd

Mollison St

Mount Macedon -Calder In Ramp

Piper St

Riddell Rd

Robertson St

Ramsey -Calder In Ramp

Ramsey -Calder Out Ramp

Saleyards Rd

Springvale -Calder In Ramp

Springvale -Calder Out Ramp

Station -Calder In Ramp

Station -Calder Out Ramp

Station Rd

Trentham Rd

Trio -Calder In Ramp

Trio Rd

Mildura Rural City – 663.2km

Baring Rd Kulkyne Way



LGA Major Roads

Benetook Av

Calder Hwy

Commercial St

Cotter St

Cowanna Av

Cregan St

Deakin Av

Eleventh St

Farrell St

Fifteenth St

Flora Av

Ginquam Av

Gregory St

Hattah - Robinvale Rd

Hopetoun -Walpeup Rd

Hughes St

Jacaranda St

Main Av North

Main Av South

Mallee Hwy

Mckenzie St

Mena Rd

Millewa Rd

Murphys Rd

Ranfurly Way

Reilly St

Rowe St

Seventeenth St

Seventh St

Seventh St East

Sturt Hwy

Sunraysia Hwy

Third St

Wentworth Rd

Mount Alexander Shire – 259.8km

Baringhup Rd

Barker St

Bassetts - Calder In Ramp

Bendigo - Maldon Rd

Bridgewater - Maldon Rd

Calder Fwy

Calder Hwy

Calder In - Bassetts Ramp

Calder In -Victoria Ramp

Calder Out - Midland Ramp

Calder Out - Unnamed Ramp

Castlemaine - Maldon Rd

Creswick - Newstead Rd

Daylesford - Newstead Rd

Diggers Way

Duke St

Elizabeth St

Fletcher St

Forest St

Harmony Way


Hepburn - Newstead Rd

High St

Hornsby St

Johnstone St

Lyell Rd

Main Rd

Main St

Maldon - Newstead Rd

Maldon Rd

Midland - Calder Out Ramp

Midland Hwy

Morris St

Newstead Rd

Parker St

Pyrenees Hwy

Templeton St

Tivey St

Calder In Ramp

Victoria Rd

Wright St

Swan Hill Rural City – 463.1km

Balranald Rd

Bromley Rd

Campbell St

Murray Valley Hwy

Nyah Rd

Quambatook- Swan Hill Rd



LGA Major Roads

Culgoa - Ultimo Rd

Curlewis St

Donald - Swan Hill Rd

Hattah - Robinvale Rd

Larundel St

Mallee Hwy

Mccallum St

Murray St

Quambatook Rd

Robinvale -Sea Lake Rd


Stradbroke Av

Swan Hill - Moulamein Rd

Tooleybuc Rd

Wattle St

Wattle St South

7.4.3 Rail

More than 1,900km of major rail crosses the LMR, including stations, lines and hubs.

The rail network is shown in the figure below and includes: 130

• Direct passenger and freight rail routes from Maryborough (via Ballarat), Swan Hill, Echuca and

Bendigo to Melbourne.

• Direct freight rail routes from Mildura, Kulwin and Robinvale lines via Dunolly and Ballarat to

Melbourne, Geelong and Portland.

Figure 20. Rail networks in the LMR131





Train stations

There are 15 train stations in the LMR with locations and services as outlined below:

Table 21. Train stations in LMR by LGA132,133

LGA No. Train stations

Station name(s) Services Latitude and Longitude

Buloke Shire 0 Nil Nil Nil

Campaspe Shire 2 Rochester Railway Station

Echuca Railway Station

V/Line – Bendigo Line

V/Line – Bendigo Line (Terminus)

-36.36236; 144.698681

-36.130982; 144.753459


2 Talbot Railway Station

Maryborough Railway Station

V/Line – Maryborough Line

V/Line – Maryborough Line

-37.172899; 143.70564

-37.050908; 143.742402


4 Kangaroo Flat Railway Station

Bendigo Railway Station

Eaglehawk Railway Station

Epsom Railway Station

Elmore Railway Station



V/Line – Swan Hill Line



-36.794834; 144.24899

-36.76567; 144.283009

-36.718525; 144.24838

-36.706342; 144.32104

-36.49502; 144.607758

Gannawarra Shire 1 Kerang Railway Station V/Line – Swan Hill Line -35.733122; 143.924425

Loddon Shire 2 Dingee Railway Station

Pyramid Railway Station



-36.369233; 144.23112

-36.053113; 144.113133


2 Clarkefield Railway Station

Riddells Creek Railway Station

Gisborne Railway Station

Macedon Railway Station

Woodend Railway Station

Kyneton Railway Station

Malmsbury Railway Station








-37.483498; 144.745373

-37.465124; 144.679831

-37.458825; 144.598722

-37.423573; 144.561397

-37.358799; 144.52589

-37.258279; 144.450602

-37.18974; 144.375323

Mildura Rural City 0 Nil Nil Nil


1 Castlemaine Railway Station

V/Line – Bendigo Line -37.062837; 144.213799

Swan Hill Rural City 1 Swan Hill Railway Station

V/Line – Swan Hill Line -35.341114; 143.562343

Total 15


133 DOT (2020): https://www.vline.com.au/getattachment/f8a1e2c3-5d60-4abe-b608-2bc18e9f8197/V-Line-Network-Map


https://www.vline.com.au/getattachment/f8a1e2c3-5d60-4abe-b608-2bc18e9f8197/V-Line-Network-Map



7.4.4 Air

The LMR has a significant airport in Mildura which is the third largest passenger airport in Victoria, after

Tullamarine and Avalon. Mildura airport has regular passenger air services to Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide

and Broken Hill operated through Qantas, Rex and Virgin Australia.

The LMR is served by 11 airports/aerodromes, with many registered by the Australian Civil Aviation Safety

Authority, as outlined below. There are several other air bases used for firefighting and emergency

evacuations throughout Loddon Mallee.

Table 22. Registered airports and aerodromes in LMR by LGA134

LGA No.

Airports Airport Name Airport Codes

Buloke Shire 4 Birchip Airport

Donald Airport

Sea Lake Airport

Wycheproof Airport

ICAO: YBIR

ICAO: YDOD

ICAO: YSLK

ICAO: YWYF

Campaspe Shire 1 Echuca Airport IATA: ECH; ICAO: YECH

Central Goldfields Shire 1 Maryborough Airport ICAO: YMBU

City of Greater Bendigo 1 Bendigo Airport IATA: BXG; ICAO: YBDG

Gannawarra Shire 1 Kerang Airport IATA: KRA; ICAO: YKER

Loddon Shire 0 Nil Nil

Macedon Ranges Shire 1 Kyneton Airport ICAO: YKTN

Mildura Rural City 1 Mildura Airport ICAO: YMIA

Mount Alexander Shire 0 Nil Nil

Swan Hill Rural City 1 Robinvale Airport

Swan Hill Airport

IATA: RBC; ICAO: YROI

IATA: SWH; ICAO: YSWH

Total 11

7.5 Water and wastewater

Treated water supplies and wastewater services are essential to human health, liveability and the

environment. As the population grows and expands across Victoria the criticality of these services and their

associated infrastructure will also increase.

7.5.1 Water

The Murray River system, including its tributaries, wetlands and lakes, is an important environmental,

cultural and economic feature of the LMR. The northern part of the Loddon Mallee is home to important

riverine and wetland ecosystems along major rivers and floodplains, while in the south, the upper and middle

134 CASA (2020): https://www.casa.gov.au/aerodromes/aerodromes-register/registered-aerodromes

https://www.casa.gov.au/aerodromes/aerodromes-register/registered-aerodromes



reaches of the Campaspe, Coliban and Loddon rivers are important catchment areas supporting urban

populations and agriculture.

The Wimmera Mallee Pipeline was a major project completed in 2010, which has delivered reliable and

high-quality water to towns, for domestic and stock uses, for lakes and weirs for consumption, and for

recreation and industrial uses. It comprises 9,159 kilometres of rural pipeline which provides a continuous

water supply to around 7,000 rural customers and 36 towns across the Wimmera and Mallee. Recreational

lakes and weirs in the region are also supplied via the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline, from both the Grampians

reservoir system through the Wimmera Mallee and via Grampian Wimmera Mallee Water’s Murray River

allocations.135

Water security is heavily impacted by both long-term trends – such as increasing population growth,

urbanisation and climate change – and sudden events, including floods and oil spills. Some examples of

the impacts such events could have include:

• Diminished agricultural production leading to a decline in gross domestic product.

• Health risks, such as blue-green algae outbreaks, which can be triggered by changes in nutrients and

salinity, storage volumes, water flow and warmer weather. Large numbers of blue-green algae can

produce toxins harmful to humans, animals, birds, livestock and the environment.136

• An increasing reliance on groundwater, which in Victoria is primarily used by dairy farms and other

livestock, for irrigating crops, power generation and town water supplies.137

In a range of emergencies, including blue-green algae incidents, dam safety issues and disruption to water

services – DELWP is charged with responsibility for responding to and mitigating the impact of such

events.138

Since 2006 the water sector has been identified as an essential service according to an Act of Parliament,139

which requires Victoria’s water organisations to have risk management plans in place which include

provisions for terrorist acts. Water resources are also particularly susceptible to all hazard events, including

bushfires, drought, floods, earthquakes, cyclones, contamination and epidemics. Individual disruptions to

infrastructure in one area can have an impact on the response and recovery efforts in other areas because

water is both dependent and interdependent on infrastructure networks across Victoria. For example, water

supplies rely on electric power to operate distribution pumps while electric power requires water for electricity

135 GWM Matter (2020): https://www.gwmwater.org.au/component/edocman/885-recreation-lake-and-weir-pools-map/download

136 DELWP (2020): https://www.water.vic.gov.au/waterways-and-catchments/rivers-estuaries-and-waterways/blue-green-algae

137 DELWP (2020): https://www.water.vic.gov.au/groundwater/victorias-groundwater-resources

138 DELWP (2019): https://www.water.vic.gov.au/managing-dams-and-water-emergencies/emergency-management

139 The Terrorism (Community Protection) Act 2003.community protection

https://www.gwmwater.org.au/component/edocman/885-recreation-lake-and-weir-pools-map/download

https://www.water.vic.gov.au/waterways-and-catchments/rivers-estuaries-and-waterways/blue-green-algae

https://www.water.vic.gov.au/groundwater/victorias-groundwater-resources

https://www.water.vic.gov.au/managing-dams-and-water-emergencies/emergency-management



generation. So too, the water sector relies on supply chains, including the transport sector, to provide

chemicals for water treatment and disinfection and may share common service corridors.140

Several government departments and agencies share responsibility for managing and protecting Victoria’s

bays, rivers and ports, including:

• Parks Victoria

• Fisheries Victoria

• Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP)

• Department of Transport

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• Water Police141

Key water storages in the LMR are managed by Goulburn Murray Water, Coliban Water and Southern Rural

Water.

140 Global Terrorism Research Centre (2015):

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275658307_Plan_Prepare_and_Safeguard_Water_Critical_Infrastructure_Protection_in_Australia

141 Parks Victoria (2020): https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/water-management

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275658307_Plan_Prepare_and_Safeguard_Water_Critical_Infrastructure_Protection_in_Australia

https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/water-management



Reservoirs

There are 21 reservoirs in the LMR, as outlined below:

Table 23. Reservoirs in LMR by LGA142

LGA No.

Reservoirs Reservoir name(s)

Capacity (ML)

Water Authority

Campaspe Shire

4

Greens Lake

Waranga Basin

Torrumbarry Weir

Kow Swamp

32,500

432,360

36,810

51,640


Central Goldfields Shire 2

Tullaroop Reservoir

Cairn Curran Reservoir (also in Mount Alexander Shire)

72,950

147,130



3

Sandhurst Reservoir 2,405 Coliban Water

Lake Eppalock

Spring Gully Reservoir

304,651

1,680

Goulburn-Murray Water (Coliban Water has a % share)

Gannawarra Shire

3

Middle and Reedy Lakes

Kangaroo Lake

Lake Charm

5,900

39,710

21,970


Loddon Shire 1 Laanecoorie Reservoir 8,000 Goulburn-Murray Water


4

Rosslynne Reservoir Southern Rural Water

Upper Coliban Reservoir

Lauriston Reservoir

Malmsbury Reservoir

37,770

19,790

12,034

Coliban Water

Mildura Rural City 1 Mildura Weir 36,600 Goulburn-Murray Water

Mount Alexander Shire 2

Barkers Creek

McCay Reservoir

1,673

1,365

Coliban Water


1 Lake Boga 37,794 Goulburn-Murray Water

Total 21

For areas with mains drinking water, most of these systems are treated to potable standard meeting the

Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. While the main systems are predominately based around surface

water supplies from reservoirs, there are also some communities that rely on groundwater for drinking water.

Table 24 outlines the areas serviced by water supply systems in the region. These include networks of

system storages (tanks and basins), pumping stations and pipes. A system of bulk water entitlements

governs the extraction of water from these storages and systems143.

142 DELWP (2020): https://www.water.vic.gov.au/water-reporting/water-in-your-region

143 https://waterregister.vic.gov.au/water-entitlements

https://www.water.vic.gov.au/water-reporting/water-in-your-region

https://waterregister.vic.gov.au/water-entitlements



In areas where mains drinking water is not available, rural communities rely on local rainwater, groundwater

and surface water sources as private water supplies144. Understanding where these sources might be is

important when looking at the impacts of a range of water quality and contamination events including

waterborne diseases, chemical runoff, aquifer contamination and airborne particulates.

Table 24. Key water providers and water supply systems 145 146 147 148

Provider Supply System Source

Goulbourn Wimmera Mallee Water

Murray River (Ouyen, Speed Patchewollock, Piangil, Eureka, Nyah, Swan Hill, Cannie Ridge)

Murray River Pumps

Swan Hill

Piangil

Nyah

Liparoo

Murrayville and Cowangie Groundwater

Goulburn (Quambatook) Normanville Pipeline

Lower Murray Water149

Murray River (Mildura, Kerang, Red Cliffs, Piangil, Robinvale, Koondrook, Murrabit, Swan Hill)

Murray River

Kerang Murray River at Koondrook

Irrigation Channel

Loddon River at Kerang

Goulburn Valley Water

Stanhope, Colbinabbin, Rushworth, Corop, Girgarre, Tongala, Kyabram,

Goulburn River

Coliban Water

Campaspe System Lake Eppalock

Campaspe River at Goornong

Coliban System Northern (Bendigo, Heathcote)

Sandhurst Reservoir

Caledonia Reserve

Lake Eppalock

Goldfields Superpipe

Coliban System Southern (Castlemaine, Kyneton)

McCay Reservoir

Lauriston Reservoir

Barkers Creek Reservoir

Elmore System Groundwater

144 https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/water/private-drinking-water

145 https://www.gwmwater.org.au/images/Urban_and_Rural_Water_Strategy_2017_-_Final_July_6_2017.pdf

146 https://www.lmw.vic.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/CTD-001363-Urban-Water-Strategy-2017-2066.pdf

147 https://www.coliban.com.au/files/2019-06/ColibanWaterUrbanWaterStrategy2017_Appendices.pdf

148 https://www.gvwater.vic.gov.au/Portals/0/GV-Water/Documents/Plans-Strategies/Urban_Water_Strategy_2016-2065.pdf?ver=2019-03-25-

160559-823


https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/water/private-drinking-water

https://www.gwmwater.org.au/images/Urban_and_Rural_Water_Strategy_2017_-_Final_July_6_2017.pdf

https://www.lmw.vic.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/CTD-001363-Urban-Water-Strategy-2017-2066.pdf

https://www.coliban.com.au/files/2019-06/ColibanWaterUrbanWaterStrategy2017_Appendices.pdf

https://www.gvwater.vic.gov.au/Portals/0/GV-Water/Documents/Plans-Strategies/Urban_Water_Strategy_2016-2065.pdf?ver=2019-03-25-160559-823





Provider Supply System Source

Coliban Water

Goulburn System (Rochester, Lockington, Dingee, Pyramid Hill, Boort, Serpentine, Jarklin, Macorna, Mysia, Mitiamo)

Waranga Western Channel

Lake Eildon

Campaspe River

Loddon System (Bridgewater, Inglewood, Laanecoorie, Tarnagulla, Dunolly, Bealiba)

Loddon River

Murray System (Cohuna, Leitchville, Gunblower, Echuca)

Murray River

Taylors Creek

Cohuna Channel

Gunblower Creek

Trentham System Groundwater

Reservoir 1

Reservoir 2

Wimmera System (Korong, Wedderburn, Wychitella, Borung)

Wimmera-Mallee pipeline

7.5.2 Emergency water supply points

Victoria has more than 300 emergency water supply points, overseen by DELWP and managed by various

state agencies, for use during drought and bushfires. Some can be used to supply water to firefighting

vehicles.150

7.5.3 Wastewater

There are also numerous water and wastewater treatment plants across the region, with plants in most

towns and multiple plants spread across each LGA. Wastewater treatments plants are regulated by the

Victorian Environment Protection Authority (EPA).

Wastewater can be treated to different levels to allow reuse activities and support safe discharge to the

receiving environment. Class A is the highest grade of recycled water and can be used in residential areas

and to irrigate food crops. Class D is the lowest class and can only be used in areas with low risk of human

contact such as irrigation outside of agricultural food production151. Most treatment plants in Loddon Mallee

treat water to Class C standard or above for recycled use or discharge to environment152. Table 25

summarises the areas in the region serviced by wastewater treatment systems. Local Governments are

responsible for the regulation of septic tanks in areas without sewerage systems.

150 DELWP (2020): https://data.aurin.org.au/dataset/vic-govt-delwp-datavic-water-ewsp-na

151 https://ref.epa.vic.gov.au/our-work/licences-and-approvals/~/media/Publications/464%202.pdf

152 http://www.barwonwater.vic.giv.au/water-and-waste/sewage

https://data.aurin.org.au/dataset/vic-govt-delwp-datavic-water-ewsp-na



Table 25. Key sewerage service providers and service areas 153 154 155 156

Provider Service area Treatment Plant

Central Highlands Water Maryborough Maryborough

Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water

Local Town systems Various

Lower Murray Water Local towns systems (Koondrook, Murrabit, Swan Hill, Kerang, Lake Boga, Nyah West, Nyah, Robinvale, Irymple, Mildura, Red Cliffs, Merbein)

10 Treatment plants

Coliban Water Coliban System Northern Axedale

Bendigo

Heathcote

Coliban System Southern Castlemaine

Kyneton (Domestic)

Kyneton (Trade waste)

Elmore System Elmore

Goulburn System Boort

Lockington

Pyramid Hill

Rochester

Loddon System Bridgewater

Dunolly

Murray System Gunblower

Cohuna

Echuca

Trentham System Kyneton

Wimmera System Wedderburn

153 https://www.gwmwater.org.au/images/Urban_and_Rural_Water_Strategy_2017_-_Final_July_6_2017.pdf


155 https://www.coliban.com.au/files/2019-06/ColibanWaterUrbanWaterStrategy2017_Appendices.pdf

156 https://www.gvwater.vic.gov.au/Portals/0/GV-Water/Documents/Plans-Strategies/Urban_Water_Strategy_2016-2065.pdf?ver=2019-03-25-

160559-823

https://www.gwmwater.org.au/images/Urban_and_Rural_Water_Strategy_2017_-_Final_July_6_2017.pdf


https://www.coliban.com.au/files/2019-06/ColibanWaterUrbanWaterStrategy2017_Appendices.pdf





7.6 Waste and recycling

7.6.1 Landfill

Landfill – the below ground disposal of waste materials that cannot be recycled – continues to be a part of

Victoria’s waste management strategy. Many landfill sites are licensed to accept low-hazard (Category C)

industrial waste. However, prescribed industrial waste can only be accepted at one hazardous (Category B)

landfill in Victoria – this is located in Taylors Road in Dandenong South in the City of Greater Dandenong.157

Closed landfills also pose environmental risks, including from:

• Leachate – a liquid formed by decomposing waste and rainwater – which can contaminate

groundwater; and

• Landfill gas – from decomposing waste – which can migrate to the atmosphere.158

A study conducted by the Fire Services Commissioner in 2012 found that a series of significant fires in

Victorian landfill sites had been costly and resource intensive for fire services to suppress. The need to work

more closely with operators of landfill sites was identified as a recommendation to improve operating

practices and develop fire management plans.159

There are currently 40 sites in the LMR listed in the EPA’s Priority Sites Register which have been issued a

Clean Up Notice or a Pollution Abatement Notice, as the current condition of the sites is incompatible with

the current or approved use and poses a risk to human health or the environment.160 Examples of

contamination and pollution issues experienced in the region include former landfill sites, current and former

industrial sites, historical deposits of mine tailings and dumped industrial waste.161

157 EPA Victoria (2020): https://ref.epa.vic.gov.au/your-environment/waste/landfills

158 EPA Victoria (2020): https://ref.epa.vic.gov.au/your-environment/waste/landfills/closed-landfills.html

159 EMV (2012): https://www.emv.vic.gov.au/how-we-help/reviews-and-lessons-management/operational-reviews/fire-management-at-landfill-

sites

160 EPA Victoria (2020): https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-community/environmental-information/land-groundwater-pollution/priority-sites-register

161 EPA Victoria (2020): https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-community/environmental-information/land-groundwater-pollution/priority-sites-register

https://ref.epa.vic.gov.au/your-environment/waste/landfills

https://ref.epa.vic.gov.au/your-environment/waste/landfills/closed-landfills.html

https://www.emv.vic.gov.au/how-we-help/reviews-and-lessons-management/operational-reviews/fire-management-at-landfill-sites

https://www.emv.vic.gov.au/how-we-help/reviews-and-lessons-management/operational-reviews/fire-management-at-landfill-sites

https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-community/environmental-information/land-groundwater-pollution/priority-sites-register

https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-community/environmental-information/land-groundwater-pollution/priority-sites-register



There are 77 landfill sites across the region, as below:

Table 26. Landfill sites in LMR by LGA162

LGA No. Sites Operating Status and Waste Type

Buloke Shire 5 General waste – 2

Closed – 3

Campaspe Shire 10 Asbestos, tyres, solid inert waste, general waste – 1

Closed – 9

Central Goldfields Shire 7 Closed – 7

City of Greater Bendigo 6 All waste types – 1

Asbestos, contaminated soil (Cat. C), tyres, solid inert waste, general waste – 1

Closed – 4

Gannawarra Shire 12 Asbestos, contaminated soil (Cat. C), solid inert waste, general waste – 1

Closed – 11

Loddon Shire 10 Solid inert waste and general waste – 3

Closed – 7

Macedon Ranges Shire 1 Closed – 1

Mildura Rural City 12 Solid inert waste – 1

Closed – 1

Mount Alexander Shire 4 Asbestos, contaminated soil (Cat. C), solid inert waste, general waste – 1

Closed – 3

Swan Hill Rural City 10 Commercial and industrial waste, general waste, asbestos, contaminated soil (Cat. C) – 1

General waste, commercial and industrial waste – 1

Closed – 8

LMR Total 77





7.6.2 Recycling

There are 49 transfer stations and 118 stockpile sites registered by the EPA (waste in storage for recycling

or reuse), across the region as outlined below:

Table 27. Transfer Stations and EPA Stockpile Sites in LMR by LGA163 164

LGA No. Transfer

Stations No. EPA

Stockpile Sites

Buloke Shire 8 10

Campaspe Shire 7 20

Central Goldfields Shire 4 6

City of Greater Bendigo 4 15

Gannawarra Shire 5 5

Loddon Shire 8 8

Macedon Ranges Shire 3 9

Mildura Rural City 7 26

Mount Alexander Shire 2 3

Swan Hill Rural City 1 16

LMR Total 49 118

7.7 Government services

Regional emergency management plans should consider how to ensure the continuation of government

services to the community during an emergency – a time when they are likely to need vital support. The

coronavirus pandemic of 2020 has already demonstrated the precarious nature of government workforces

and the impact that absenteeism as a direct consequence of a disaster can have flow on effects (e.g., health

care workers in an emergency department who are required to self-isolate for a period of 14 days following

exposure to the virus can lead to the closure of wards or the cessation of elective surgeries which may lead

to diversions for Ambulance Victoria and other care settings being required to pick up the slack).

Government services not already covered in this scan include prisons, community correctional services and

law courts, which can have their own unique issues in the face of an emergency.

7.7.1 Prisons and community correctional facilities

There are two prisons/community correctional facilities in the LMR: Loddon Prison Precinct (Middleton) and

Tarrengower Prison (both in Mount Alexander Shire).165







7.7.2 Law courts

There is one County Court and 10 Magistrates courts in the region, as outlined below:

Table 28. Law Courts in LMR by LGA166

LGA No. Courts Name

Buloke Shire 0 N/A

Campaspe Shire 1 Echuca Magistrates Court

Central Goldfields Shire 1 Maryborough Magistrates Court

City of Greater Bendigo 2 Bendigo Magistrates Court

Bendigo County Court

Gannawarra Shire 1 Kerang Magistrates Court

Loddon Shire 0 N/A

Macedon Ranges Shire 1 Kyneton Magistrates Court

Mildura Rural City 2 Mildura Magistrates Court

Ouyen Magistrates Court

Mount Alexander Shire 1 Castlemaine Magistrates Court

Swan Hill Rural City 2 Robinvale Magistrates Court

Swan Hill Magistrates Court

Total 11





7.8 Emergency services

The LMR is served by 32 ambulance stations, 56 police stations, 200 fire stations, 21 SES units and 1

Coast Guard flotilla.

7.8.1 Ambulance stations

There are 32 ambulance stations across the region.

The Ambulance response time performance for Code 1 calls across LGAs for Q4 of the 2019-20 reporting

period is provided below:

Table 29. Ambulance response times for LMR (2019-20)167 168

LGA

No. Stations

Locations

Code 1 – % Responses

within 15 mins

Code 1 – Average response

time (mins)

Buloke Shire 3 Charlton, Donald, Sea Lake 24.3% 27:23

Campaspe Shire 3 Echuca, Kyabram, Rochester 66.5% 13:59


1 Maryborough 59.3% 16:52


7 Bendigo, Eaglehawk, Epsom, Heathcote, HEMS3, Kangaroo Flat, Strathdale

74.5% 13:17

Gannawarra Shire 2 Cohuna, Kerang 47.1% 21:08

Loddon Shire 3 Boort, Inglewood, Wedderburn 34.9% 21:46


4 Gisborne, Kyneton, Romsey, Woodend 58.7% 14:41

Mildura Rural City 4 Irymple, Mildura, Murrayville, Ouyen 82.0% 11:57


1 Castlemaine 48.8% 18:37


4 Manangatang, Nyah West, Robinvale, Swan Hill

71.2% 14:24

Total 32

167 Ambulance Victoria (2019): https://www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/ambulance-victoria-data-sets/


https://www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/ambulance-victoria-data-sets/




7.8.2 Police stations

There are 56 police stations across the region as follows:

Table 30. Police stations in LMR by LGA169

LGA No.

Stations Locations

Buloke Shire 6 Birchip, Charlton, Culgoa, Donald, Sea Lake, Wycheproof

Campaspe Shire 7 Echuca, Gunbower, Kyabram, Rochester, Rushworth, Stanhope, Tongala

Central Goldfields Shire 2 Dunolly, Maryborough

City of Greater Bendigo 6 Axedale, Bendigo, Elmore, Goornong, Heathcote, Raywood

Gannawarra Shire 4 Cohuna, Kerang, Koondrook, Quambatook

Loddon Shire 7 Boort, Bridgewater, Inglewood, Pyramid Hill, Serpentine, Tarnagulla, Wedderburn

Macedon Ranges Shire 8 Gisborne, Kyneton, Lancefield, Macedon, Malmsbury, Riddells Creek, Romsey, Woodend

Mildura Rural City 7 Merbein, Mildura, Murrayville, Ouyen, Red Cliffs, Underbool, Werrimull

Mount Alexander Shire 3 Castlemaine, Maldon, Newstead

Swan Hill Rural City 6 Lake Boga, Manangatang, Nyah, Piangil, Robinvale, Swan Hill

Total 56

7.8.3 Fire stations, lookouts and refuges

There are 200 fire stations across the region as outlined below:

Table 31. Fire Stations and Forest Industry Brigades in LMR by LGA170

LGA No. Stations

(and Brigades)

Station locations

Buloke Shire 29 Berriwillock Fire Station

Birchip Fire Station

Buckrabanyule Fire Station

Charlton Fire Station

Coonooer Bridge Fire Station

Cope Cope Fire Station

Corack East Fire Station

Corack Fire Station

Culgoa Fire Station

Curyo Fire Station

Donald Fire Station







LGA No. Stations

(and Brigades)

Station locations

Dumosa Fire Station

Glenloth East Fire Station

Jeffcott Fire Station

Laen East Fire Station

Litchfield Fire Station

Nandaly Fire Station

Narraport Fire Station

Nullawil Fire Station

Reedy Dam Fire Station

Sea Lake Fire Station

Teddywaddy Fire Station

Warmur Fire Station

Watchem Fire Station

Watchupga Fire Station

Wooroonook Fire Station

Wycheproof Fire Station

Wycheproof South Fire Station

Yeungroon Fire Station

Campaspe Shire 22 Bamawm Extension Fire Station

Colbinabbin Fire Station

Corop Fire Station

Corop West Fire Station

Echuca Fire Station

Echuca Village Fire Station

Girgarre Fire Station

Gunbower Fire Station

Kotta Fire Station

Kyabram Fire Station

Lockington Fire Station

Pine Grove Fire Station

Rochester Fire Station

Rushworth Fire Station

Stanhope Fire Station

Tennyson Fire Station

Timmering Fire Station

Tongala Fire Station

Toolleen Fire Station

Torrumbarry Fire Station

Wyuna Fire Station



LGA No. Stations

(and Brigades)

Station locations

Yambuna Fire Station

Central Goldfields Shire 9 Bealiba Fire Station

Bowenvale Fire Station

Carisbrook Fire Station

Dunolly Fire Station

Maryborough Fire Station

Moolort Joyces Creek Fire Station

Mt Cameron Fire Station

Talbot Fire Station

Wareek Bung Bong Fire Station

City of Greater Bendigo 29 Axe Creek Fire Station

Axedale Fire Station

Bendigo Fire Station

Costerfield Fire Station

Eaglehawk Fire Station

Elmore Fire Station

Golden Square Fire Station

Goornong Fire Station

Heathcote Fire Station

Hunter-Diggora Fire Station

Huntly Fire Station

Junortoun Fire Station

Kamarooka Fire Station

Kangaroo Flat Fire Station

Knowsley Fire Station

Lockwood Fire Station

Maiden Gully Fire Station

Mandurang Fire Station

Marong Fire Station

Mia Mia Fire Station

Mosquito Creek Fire Station

Mt Camel Fire Station

Oscar 1 Emerg Response Fire Station

Raywood Fire Station

Redesdale Fire Station

Sedgwick Fire Station

Strathfieldsaye Fire Station

Sutton Grange Myrtle Ck Satellite Fire Station (Myrtle Creek)

Woodvale Fire Station



LGA No. Stations

(and Brigades)

Station locations

Gannawarra Shire 12 Beauchamp Fire Station

Cohuna Fire Station

Kerang Fire Station

Koondrook Fire Station

Lake Charm Fire Station

Lalbert Fire Station

Leitchville Fire Station

Macorna Fire Station

Meering West Fire Station

Murrabit Fire Station

Quambatook Fire Station

Sandhill Lake District Fire Station

Loddon Shire 29 Appin South Fire Station

Baringhup West Satellite Fire Station (Eddington)

Barraport-Gredgwin Fire Station

Barraport-Gredgwin Satellite Fire Station (Gredgwin)

Berrimal Fire Station

Boort Fire Station

Bridgewater Fire Station

Campbells Forest Fire Station

Dingee-Tandarra Fire Station

Fentons Creek Fire Station

Inglewood Fire Station

Jarklin Fire Station

Korong Vale Fire Station

Loddon Vale Fire Station

Mitiamo Fire Station

Murphys Creek Fire Station

Mysia Fire Station

Newbridge Fire Station

Powlett-Salisbury Fire Station

Pyramid Hill Fire Station

Rheola Fire Station

Serpentine Fire Station

Tarnagulla Fire Station

Wedderburn Fire Station

Woodstock West Fire Station

Woosang Fire Station

Wychitella Fire Station



LGA No. Stations

(and Brigades)

Station locations

Yando Fire Station

Yarrawalla Fire Station

Macedon Ranges Shire 22 Benloch Fire Station

Bolinda Monegeetta Fire Station

Bullengarook Fire Station

Carlsruhe Fire Station

Clarkefield District Fire Station

Clarkefield District Satellite Fire Station (Boggy Gate)

Darraweit Guim Fire Station

Gisborne Fire Station

Hesket-Kerrie Fire Station

Hesket-Kerrie Satellite Fire Station (Hesket-Cherokee)

Kyneton Fire Station

Lancefield Fire Station

Macedon Fire Station

Malmsbury Fire Station

Mount Macedon Fire Station

Newham Fire Station

Pastoria Fire Station

Riddells Creek Fire Station

Romsey Fire Station

Springfield Fire Station

Tylden Fire Station

Woodend Fire Station

Mildura Rural City 14 Carwarp Fire Station

Cowangie Fire Station

Irymple Fire Station

Merbein Fire Station

Meringur District Fire Station

Meringur District Satellite Fire Station (Werrimull)

Mildura Fire Station

Mittyack Fire Station

Murrayville Fire Station

Nangiloc Fire Station

Ouyen Fire Station

Red Cliffs Fire Station

Underbool Fire Station

Walpeup Fire Station

Mount Alexander Shire 17 Baringhup West Fire Station



LGA No. Stations

(and Brigades)

Station locations

Baringhup West Satellite Fire Station (Baringhup West)

Campbells Creek Fire Station

Castlemaine Fire Station

Chewton Fire Station

Elphinstone Fire Station

Fryerstown Fire Station

Guildford Fire Station

Harcourt Fire Station

Langley-Barfold Fire Station

Maldon Fire Station

Metcalfe Fire Station

Newstead District Fire Station

Sutton Grange Myrtle Ck Fire Station

Taradale Fire Station

Walmer Fire Station

Walmer Satellite Fire Station (Muckleford)

Swan Hill Rural City 17 Annuello Fire Station

Beverford District Fire Station

Boundary Bend Fire Station

Chinkapook Fire Station

Goschen Fire Station

Kooloonong Fire Station

Lake Boga Fire Station

Manangatang Fire Station

Natya Fire Station

Nyah Nyah West Fire Station

Piangil Fire Station

Robinvale Fire Station

Swan Hill Fire Station

Ultima Fire Station

Waitchie Fire Station

Wemen Fire Station

Woorinen South Fire Station

Total 200



There are seven fire lookouts across the region, as below:

Table 32. Fire Lookouts in LMR by LGA171

LGA No. Lookouts Locations

Buloke Shire 0 Nil

Campaspe Shire 1 Growlers Hill

Central Goldfields Shire 0 Nil

City of Greater Bendigo 2 Mt Ida, One Tree Hill

Gannawarra Shire 0 Nil

Loddon Shire 1 Mt Brenanah

Macedon Ranges Shire 1 FT 4 Mt Macedon

Mildura Rural City 0 Nil

Mount Alexander Shire 2 Fryers Ridge, Mt Tarrengower

Swan Hill Rural City 0 Nil

Total 7

There are no Community Fire Refuges in the region.172 However, there are 53 Neighbourhood Safer

Places (NSP), as outlined below:

Table 33. Neighbourhood Safer Places in LMR by LGA173

LGA No. NSP Locations

Buloke Shire 2 Charlton, Donald

Campaspe Shire 1 Echuca

Central Goldfields Shire 5 Carisbrook, Dunolly, Maryborough (2), Talbot

City of Greater Bendigo 11 Axedale, Bendigo, Eaglehawk, Heathcote, Junortoun, Kangaroo Flat (2), Maiden Gully, North Bendigo, Redesdale, Strathfieldsaye

Gannawarra Shire 4 Cohuna, Kerang, Koondrook, Murrabit

Loddon Shire 6 Boort, Bridgewater on Loddon, Inglewood, Pyramid Hill, Serpentine, Wedderburn

Macedon Ranges Shire 4 Lancefield, Macedon, Riddells Creek, Woodend

Mildura Rural City 10 Cullulleraine, Irymple, Merbein, Mildura (3), Murrayville, Ouyen, Red Cliffs, Underbool

Mount Alexander Shire 8 Campbells Creek, Castlemaine, Guildford, Harcourt, Maldon (2), Newstead, Taradale

Swan Hill Rural City 2 Robinvale, Swan Hill

LMR Total 53


172 CFA (2020): https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/community-fire-refuges

173 CFA (2020): http://www.saferplaces.cfa.vic.gov.au/cfa/search/default.htm


https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/community-fire-refuges

http://www.saferplaces.cfa.vic.gov.au/cfa/search/default.htm



7.8.4 SES

There are 21 SES units across the region, including:

Table 34. SES Units in LMR by LGA174

LGA No. Units Locations

Buloke Shire 2 Birchip, Wycheproof

Campaspe Shire 4 Echuca, Kyabram, Rochester, Rushworth

Central Goldfields Shire 2 Dunolly, Maryborough

City of Greater Bendigo 3 Bendigo, Heathcote, Marong

Gannawarra Shire 1 Kerang

Loddon Shire 1 Wedderburn

Macedon Ranges Shire 2 Gisborne, Woodend

Mildura Rural City 3 Mildura, Murrayville, Ouyen

Mount Alexander Shire 1 Castlemaine

Swan Hill Rural City 2 Swan Hill, Robinvale

Total 21





7.8.5 Volunteer Coast Guard Flotillas

There is one Coast Guard flotilla in the region – VF5 Lake Eppalock in the City of Greater Bendigo.175

A map of emergency services is provided in the figure below:

Red = Fire station (CFA and FRV) Green = Ambulance station

Blue = Police station

Orange = SES Light Blue = Life saving Purple = Coast Guard

Figure 21. Emergency services for the LMR176

7.8.6 Emergency Coordination Facilities

Emergency services agencies are supported by the State Control Centre (SCC) in East Melbourne (the

State’s primary control centre for the management of Class 1 and Class 2 emergencies), one Regional

Control Centre (RCC) in Bendigo (a facility that enables the implementation of Command, Control and

Coordination arrangements within a set regional boundary) and four Incident Control Centres (ICCs) –

where an Incident Controller and Incident Management Teams can manage response activities in an

emergency.177

175 Australian Volunteer Coastguard (2020): https://coastguard.com.au/locations/full-flotilla-list/


177 EMV (2019): https://files-em.em.vic.gov.au/public/Doctrine/ManHand/VIC-EOpsHandbook.pdf

https://coastguard.com.au/locations/full-flotilla-list/


https://files-em.em.vic.gov.au/public/Doctrine/ManHand/VIC-EOpsHandbook.pdf



In total there are 37 emergency coordination centres across the region, including 32 Local Command

Facilities, as outlined below:

Table 35. Emergency Coordination Facilities in LMR by LGA178

LGA Facility

Locations RCC ICC LCF

Buloke Shire - - 5 Birchip, Charlton, Donald, Sea Lake, Wycheproof

Campaspe Shire - - 4 Echuca, Lockington, Rochester, Rushworth

Central Goldfields Shire - - 2 Dunolly, Maryborough

City of Greater Bendigo 1 1 5 Bendigo

Loddon Mallee (CFA)

Bendigo, Elmore, Heathcote, Huntly, Redesdale

Gannawarra Shire - - 2 Cohuna, Kerang

Loddon Shire - - 4 Boort, Inglewood, Pyramid Hill, Kerang

Macedon Ranges Shire - 1 3 Gisborne

Gisborne, Kyneton, Romsey

Mildura Rural City - 1 3 Mildura

Mildura, Murrayville, Ouyen

Mount Alexander Shire - - 2 Castlemaine, Maldon

Swan Hill Rural City - 1 2 Swan Hill

Swan Hill, Robinvale

Total 1 4 32 37





A map of emergency coordination facilities is provided in the figure below:

Yellow = Emergency Coordination Centres Red = Community Refuge

Green = Neighbourhood Safer Places

Figure 22. Emergency Coordination facilities, Fire refuges and NSPs for LMR179

7.9 Other infrastructure assets and industries

7.9.1 Infrastructure and industries

LMR is home to a number of infrastructure assets and industries, including:

• Abattoirs (6)

o Hardwick Meatworks Abattoir

o Hazeldene’s Chicken Abattoir

o HW Greenham and Sons Abattoir

o Mildura Abattoir

o Mystic Squab Farm and Abattoir

o Swan Hill Abattoir

o Don KR Castlemaine





• Backpackers

o Bendigo Backpackers

• Rooming Houses (23)

• Supported Residential Facilities (7)

7.9.2 Dependencies

The following infrastructure assets are key dependencies for this region:

• Calder Freeway/Highway – Melbourne-Gisborne-Kyneton-Bendigo-Inglewood-Mildura link

• Sturt Highway – Adelaide-Mildura-Hay-Wagga Wagga link

• Murray Valley Highway – Robinvale-Swan Hill-Echuca-Wodonga-Towong link

• Sunraysia Highway – Ouyen-Donald-Ballarat link

• Midland Highway – Geelong-Ballarat-Bendigo-Shepparton-Wangaratta-Mansfield link

• Pyrenees Highway – Elphinstone-Maryborough-Avoca-Ararat link

• Direct passenger and freight rail routes from Maryborough (via Ballarat), Swan Hill, Echuca and

Bendigo to Melbourne.

• Direct freight rail routes from Mildura, Kulwin and Robinvale lines via Dunolly and Ballarat to

Melbourne, Geelong and Portland.

• Berri (SA) to Mildura gas pipeline

• Ballan to Bendigo gas pipeline



7.9.3 Tourism infrastructure

Other significant infrastructure includes sites such as event facilities and stadiums, major tourist attractions

and shopping centres. These sites are outlined below:

Table 36. Tourism infrastructure in LMR by LGA

LGA Infrastructure category

Name

Buloke Shire Nil -

Campaspe Shire Nil -

Central Goldfields Shire Nil -


Shopping Centres

Event and Entertainment Facilities

Bendigo Marketplace Shopping Centre

Lansell Square Shopping Centre

Bendigo Exhibition Centre

Bendigo Stadium

Bendigo Racecourse

Gannawarra Shire Nil -

Loddon Shire Nil -

Macedon Ranges Shire Nil -

Mildura Rural City Shopping Centres Mildura Central

Mount Alexander Shire Nil -

Swan Hill Rural City Nil -

7.9.4 Cladding fire safety risk

The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) is in the process of conducting a State-wide audit of non-compliant

building materials in Victoria, with a focus on reducing fire safety risks for buildings found to have

combustible cladding.180

On 25 November 2014, a fire in the 23-storey Lacrosse high-rise building in Docklands highlighted the fire

safety risks of non-compliant external wall coverings. The fire, which spread vertically, directly affected

approximately 500 residents who required immediate evacuation and accommodation.181

To date, more than 2,200 inspections have been undertaken and LMR has been identified to have 10

privately owned buildings with cladding.

180 https://www.vba.vic.gov.au/cladding/audit

181 https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/sitecollectiondocuments/mbs-report-lacrosse-fire.pdf

https://www.vba.vic.gov.au/cladding/audit

https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/sitecollectiondocuments/mbs-report-lacrosse-fire.pdf



Figure 23. Number of privately owned buildings with cladding by LGA182

182 https://www.vba.vic.gov.au/cladding/cladding-by-municipality

Buloke, 0

Campaspe, 1

Central Goldfields, 0

Gannawarra, 0

Greater Bendigo, 6

Loddon, 0

Macedon Ranges, 1

Mildura, 2

Mount Alexander, 0

Swan Hill, 0



8. Social Environment

Social factors that influence the culture and institutions of LMR include demographic characteristics and

trends, and the values, norms and customs of the people who reside or work within or travel through the

region.

8.1 Population

8.1.1 Current population

Nearly 340,000 people live in the LMR, with a large portion of the population (35%) living in the City of

Greater Bendigo.

Population density for LMR ranged between 0.8 persons per km2 (in Buloke) and 39.4 persons per km2 (in

Greater Bendigo), with an average of 5.8 persons per km2.

Figure 24. LMR Population by LGA (2019) 183

183 ABS (2020): https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/DetailsPage/3218.02018-19?OpenDocument

https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/DetailsPage/3218.02018-19?OpenDocument



Table 37. LMR Population Density by LGA (2019) 184

LGA Total

Population Area (sq km)

Population Density (persons/km2)

Buloke 6,124 8,000 0.8

Campaspe 37,622 4,519 8.3

Central Goldfields 13,186 1,533 8.6

Gannawarra 10,472 3,735 2.8

Greater Bendigo 118,093 3,000 39.4

Loddon 7,504 6,696 1.1

Macedon Ranges 50,231 1,748 28.7

Mildura 55,777 22,083 2.5

Mount Alexander 19,754 1,530 12.9

Swan Hill 20,649 6,115 3.4

LMR 339,412 58,959 5.8





8.1.2 Population forecast

By 2036, the population of the region is forecast to increase by 59,383 people (17%) to 398,795 people,

with the majority taking up residence in Greater Bendigo (+35,666 people), Macedon Ranges (+14,412

people) and Mildura Rural City (+6,777 people). The LGAs of Buloke Shire, Gannawarra Shire, Loddon

Shire and Swan Hill Rural City are forecast to experience declines in population by 2036.

Refer to the below tables and visualisations for Local Government population breakdowns and forecasts.

Table 38. Estimated Population and Projections by LGA

LGA Estimated Population and Projections

2019185 2036186 No. Increase % Growth

Buloke 6,124 5,015 -1,109 -18.1%

Campaspe 37,622 39,084 1,462 3.9%

Central Goldfields 13,186 14,134 948 7.2%

Gannawarra 10,472 9,928 -544 -5.2%

Greater Bendigo 118,093 153,759 35,666 30.2%

Loddon 7,504 7,347 -157 -2.1%

Macedon Ranges 50,231 64,643 14,412 28.7%

Mildura 55,777 62,554 6,777 12.1%

Mount Alexander 19,754 21,814 2,060 10.4%

Swan Hill 20,649 20,517 -132 -0.6%

LMR 339,412 398,794 59,383 17.5%

VICTORIA 6,596,039 8,722,766 2,126,727 32.2%

185 ABS (2017): https://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/information-portal/table-and-chart

186 VIF2019 projections: https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/land-use-and-population-research/victoria-in-future/tab-pages/victoria-in-future-data-

tables


https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/land-use-and-population-research/victoria-in-future/tab-pages/victoria-in-future-data-tables

https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/land-use-and-population-research/victoria-in-future/tab-pages/victoria-in-future-data-tables



Table 39. LMR Population by age group (2017) 187


LGA

Age Group (Years)

0-14 15-19 0-19

Subtotal 20-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75-84 85+

65+

Subtotal

Total

No.

Buloke 1,047 357 1,404 220 500 572 871 1,015 812 563 327 1,702 6,284

Campaspe 6,923 2,392 9,315 1,893 3,759 4,033 5,054 5,292 4,473 2,654 1,122 8,249 37,595

Central Goldfields 2,119 699 2,818 659 1,071 1,255 1,701 2,010 1,997 1,142 434 3,573 13,087

Gannawarra 1,756 640 2,396 487 902 1,014 1,411 1,571 1,495 937 354 2,786 10,567

Greater Bendigo 22,055 7,293 29,348 8,035 14,458 13,276 14,061 13,855 10,646 5,918 2,670 19,234 112,267

Loddon 1,228 419 1,647 246 550 741 1,082 1,340 1,105 599 248 1,952 7,558

Macedon Ranges 9,920 3,017 12,937 2,310 4,329 6,500 7,279 6,368 5,006 1,987 764 7,757 47,480

Mildura 10,672 3,594 14,266 3,366 6,889 6,277 7,062 7,026 5,331 3,075 1,366 9,772 54,658

Mount Alexander 2,970 947 3,917 785 1,684 2,220 2,844 3,231 2,569 1,284 563 4,416 19,097

Swan Hill 4,089 1,287 5,376 1,276 2,649 2,356 2,707 2,746 2,001 1,239 546 3,786 20,896

LMR 62,779 20,645 83,424 19,277 36,791 38,244 44,072 44,454 35,435 19,398 8,394 63,227 329,489

% 19.0% 6.3% 25.3% 5.8% 11.2% 11.6% 13.4% 13.5% 10.7% 5.9% 2.6% 19.2% 100.0%

VICTORIA 1,166,502 374,125 1,540,627 466,102 991,712 849,923 809,781 705,704 532,826 294,754 130,219 957,799 6,321,648

% 18.5% 5.9% 24.4% 7.4% 15.7% 13.4% 12.8% 11.2% 8.4% 4.7% 2.1% 15.2% 100.0%




Table 40. LMR Projected population by age group (2036)

LGA

Age Group (Years)

0-14 15-19 0-19

Subtotal 20-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75-84 85+

65+

Subtotal

Total

No.

Buloke 609 256 865 158 429 423 535 679 814 703 410 1,927 5,015

Campaspe 5,842 1,960 7,802 2,061 4,315 4,645 4,418 4,386 5,268 4,259 1,929 11,456 39,084

Central Goldfields 1,950 613 2,563 523 1,372 1,599 1,502 1,689 2,236 1,809 840 4,885 14,134

Gannawarra 1,459 504 1,963 407 949 1,156 1,065 1,201 1,503 1,240 445 3,187 9,928

Greater Bendigo 27,607 9,591 37,199 9,838 18,725 19,787 19,268 16,142 15,671 12,062 5,067 32,800 153,759

Loddon 1,037 282 1,319 258 759 836 837 1,011 1,130 886 312 2,328 7,347

Macedon Ranges 11,795 3,777 15,572 3,170 6,069 8,575 8,839 7,677 7,069 5,131 2,543 14,743 64,643

Mildura 10,372 3,405 13,777 3,450 7,727 8,184 7,318 6,595 7,280 5,796 2,428 15,504 62,554

Mount Alexander 2,901 898 3,798 725 1,758 2,533 2,945 3,106 3,352 2,578 1,019 6,948 21,814

Swan Hill 3,098 1,055 4,153 1,164 2,359 2,325 2,501 2,482 2,629 2,027 877 5,533 20,517

LMR 66,670 22,340 89,010 21,753 44,461 50,063 49,228 44,968 46,951 36,491 15,870 99,312 398,794

% 16.72% 5.60% 22.32% 5.45% 11.15% 12.55% 12.34% 11.28% 11.77% 9.15% 3.98% 24.90% 100.00%

VICTORIA 1,484,771 511,324 1,996,095 585,796 1,232,559 1,266,034 1,146,896 886,495 771,700 568,029 269,162 2,948,620 8,722,766

% 17.0% 5.9% 22.9% 6.7% 14.1% 14.5% 13.1% 10.2% 8.8% 6.5% 3.1% 33.8% 100.0%



Figure 25. Population growth for LMR by LGA (2019-2036)

8.2 Vulnerability indicators

In emergency management there are many population vulnerability indicators that have a geographical

distribution and are relevant to natural hazard risk analysis. These include:

• The young, the elderly and those needing assistance, who may be dependent on others for care;

• Single parents, who may lack support for their dependent children;

• Income and public housing residency, which are indicators of socio-economic disadvantage and can

have an impact on a household’s ability to recover from a disaster;

• Education level and proficiency in English, which can limit understanding of warnings, risks and

preparation advice;

• Car ownership, which may have an impact on a household’s ability to evacuate;

• Unoccupied dwellings, which may reduce owners’ engagement levels with the local community and

reduce the likelihood that relevant preparations will be undertaken for their properties.

Some of these indicators for LMR are summarised below. Of note:

• More than a quarter (26.6%) of LMR households are lone person;

• Approximately one in five households in LMR indicated they had no internet connection at home in

2016.



Table 41. Vulnerable Communities Indicators by LGA (2016)188

LGA

Vulnerability Indicators (%)

Po

pu

lati

on

ag

ed

65

+

Lo

ne p

ers

on

ho

useh

old

s

Peo

ple

wit

h a

dis

ab

ilit

y

Peo

ple

wit

h p

oo

r

En

glish

pro

ficie

nc

y

Esti

mate

d h

om

ele

ss

po

pu

lati

on

Po

pu

lati

on

wit

h n

o

mo

tor

veh

icle

s

Po

pu

lati

on

wit

h n

o

inte

rnet

co

nn

ecti

on

at

ho

me

Buloke 28.2% 30.2% 7.4% 0.4% 0.1% 4.4% 25.4%

Campaspe 22.9% 25.0% 6.4% 0.3% 0.3% 4.0% 21.0%

Central Goldfields 28.3% 31.5% 8.9% 0.3% 0.3% 5.7% 26.9%

Gannawarra 27.6% 29.4% 6.5% 0.3% 0.2% 4.0% 25.4%

Greater Bendigo 17.8% 24.9% 5.9% 1.0% 0.3% 4.7% 16.2%

Loddon 26.7% 29.5% 7.4% 0.3% 0.5% 3.3% 25.4%

Macedon Ranges 17.1% 17.9% 4.1% 0.5% 0.1% 2.2% 10.5%

Mildura 18.7% 24.7% 6.8% 2.1% 0.3% 5.6% 21.1%

Mount Alexander 24.1% 29.2% 5.0% 0.5% 0.3% 4.1% 17.4%

Swan Hill 18.9% 23.8% 5.5% 3.0% 0.5% 5.1% 22.5%

Average LMR 23.0% 26.6% 6.4% 0.9% 0.3% 4.3% 21.2%

Figure 26. Vulnerable Communities Indicators for LMR (2016)

188 https://blog.id.com.au/2020/population/demographic-trends/interactive-chart-is-your-community-demographically-vulnerable/#chart

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

Populationaged 65+

Loneperson

households

People witha disability

People withpoor

Englishproficency

Estimatedhomelesspopulation

Populationwith nomotor

vehicles

Populationwith nointernet

connectionat home



8.2.1 The young and the elderly

Within the LMR, 25% of the population was aged 19 years or younger in 2018, while 20% was aged 65

years or older

Figure 27. Population breakdown for LMR by Age (2018)189

However, these vulnerable groups were not evenly distributed across the region, with Macedon Ranges

Shire having the highest proportion of people aged 0-19 years (28%), while Mount Alexander Shire (17%)

had the lowest proportion of people aged 0-19 years. Conversely, Buloke Shire, Central Goldfields Shire,

Gannawarra Shire and Loddon Shire had the highest number of people aged 65+ years (28%), while

Macedon Ranges Shire had the lowest number of people aged 65+ years (17%).


19%

6% 6%

11% 11%

13% 13%

11%

6%

3%

0-14 15-19 20-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75-84 85+




Table 42. Proportion of Population by Age Group and LGA (2018) 190

LGA 19 years or younger (%) 65 years + (%)

Buloke Shire 22% 28%

Campaspe Shire 24% 23%

Central Goldfields Shire 21% 28%

City of Greater Bendigo 26% 18%

Gannawarra Shire 22% 28%

Loddon Shire 21% 28%

Macedon Ranges Shire 28% 17%

Mildura Rural City 26% 18%

Mount Alexander Shire 20% 25%

Swan Hill Rural City 26% 19%

8.2.2 Those needing assistance

When it comes to assistance with core activities, approximately 6.5% of the population of the LMR have a

need – in real terms representing 19,344 people. However, the number of people in need varies according

to LGA, from just 4.4% of the population of Macedon Ranges Shire (1,879 people) in 2016 to 9.6% of the

population of Central Goldfields Shire (1,158 people).

Table 43. Need for assistance with Core Activities for LMR by LGA (2016)191

LGA Total Percentage

Buloke Shire 457 8.1%

Campaspe Shire 2,357 6.9%

Central Goldfields Shire 1,158 9.6%

City of Greater Bendigo 6,548 6.4%

Gannawarra Shire 686 7.0%

Loddon Shire 558 8.4%

Macedon Ranges Shire 1,879 4.4%

Mildura Rural City 3,644 7.4%

Mount Alexander Shire 934 5.7%

Swan Hill Rural City 1,123 6.3%

Total LMR 19,344 6.5%







8.3 Diversity

8.3.1 Birthplaces and languages spoken

Ethnic and cultural indicators reflect a population’s composition and can be useful indicators of socio-

economic status. These characteristics can help inform decision-makers about a population’s ability to

access services and information and assist service providers determine the need to communicate in

languages other than English.

The population of LMR is less culturally diverse than metro regions with 10.1% of the population born

overseas. However, the populations of Macedon Ranges, Mildura, Mount Alexander and Swan Hill are

slightly higher than the rest of LMR with each LGA above 11% but no more than 14% born overseas while

the population of the Shire of Buloke 6.31 % were born overseas. Refer Table 44.

In LMR the most common countries of birth (other than Australia) were:

• England – which featured in the top three of all 10 LGAs

• New Zealand – which featured in the top three of 9 of the 10 LGAs

• India – which featured in the top three of 3 of the 10 LGAs

5.8% of the population of LMR speaks a language other than English at home. In all LGAs, except for

Mildura and Swan Hill, the number of people who speak only English at home were above 95%. The Rural

City of Swan Hill observed about 86% of the population only speaks English at home.

The diversity of most common languages spoken at home other than English is observed to be significant

in LMR with 13 languages listed as common language to speak at home for the 10 LGAs.

In LMR the most common languages spoken (other than English) were:

• Italian – which featured in the top three for 6 of the 10 LGAs

• Mandarin – which featured in the top three for 5 of the 10 LGAs

• German – which featured in the top three for 4 of the 10 LGAs

As a proportion of LMR, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders represent 2.7% of the total LMR population.

Ranging between 0.7% of the population in the Macedon Ranges to 4.2% and 4.7% of the population in the

Rural Cities of Mildura and Swan Hill respectively.



There are many Aboriginal languages. However, they do not have geographic boundaries. The most

widespread in Victoria are the Kulin languages.192

Figure 28. Map of Aboriginal languages of Victoria193

192 https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/alcv/History.pdf

193 https://cv.vic.gov.au/stories/aboriginal-culture/our-story/vacl-language-map-of-victoria/

https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/alcv/History.pdf

https://cv.vic.gov.au/stories/aboriginal-culture/our-story/vacl-language-map-of-victoria/



Table 44. Population by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) status and birthplace and LGA (2016)195

194 .id (2020): profile.id.com.au

195 ABS Census 2016: https://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/information-portal/table-and-chart

LGA

Birthplace

Australia Elsewhere Total Top 3 Countries of Birth (other than Australia)194

ATSI All

No. % EMR No. % No. % No. % 1 2 3

Buloke 67 1.21% 5,201 93.69% 350 6.31% 5,551 100.00% England New Zealand India

Campaspe 874 2.59% 31,243 92.59% 2,500 7.41% 33,743 100.00% England New Zealand Philippines

Central Goldfields 190 1.61% 10,654 90.23% 1,153 9.77% 11,807 100.00% England New Zealand Netherlands

Gannawarra 203 2.10% 9,118 94.38% 543 5.62% 9,661 100.00% England New Zealand Philippines

Greater Bendigo 1,846 1.81% 93,326 91.36% 8,822 8.64% 102,148 100.00% England New Zealand India

Loddon 119 1.81% 5,976 90.66% 616 9.34% 6,592 100.00% England Philippines New Zealand

Macedon Ranges 297 0.70% 36,795 86.52% 5,735 13.48% 42,530 100.00% England New Zealand Germany

Mildura 2,065 4.25% 42,733 88.02% 5,815 11.98% 48,548 100.00% England Italy New Zealand

Mount Alexander 209 1.23% 14,851 87.27% 2,167 12.73% 17,018 100.00% England New Zealand Netherlands

Swan Hill 832 4.69% 15,363 86.53% 2,391 13.47% 17,754 100.00% India Italy England

LMR 6,702 2.27% 265,260 89.81% 30,092 10.19% 295,352 100.00%




Table 45. Population by language spoken at home (2016)196

LGA

Language Spoken at Home

English Only Other

Language Total Top 3 Languages Spoken (other than English)197

No. % No. % No. % 1 2 3

Buloke 5,474 97.11% 163 2.89% 5,637 100.00% Malayalam Mandarin Tagalog

Campaspe 33,184 96.82% 1,091 3.18% 34,275 100.00% Italian Filipino Tagalog

Central Goldfields 11,752 97.31% 325 2.69% 12,077 100.00% Filipino Mandarin German

Gannawarra 9,583 97.88% 208 2.12% 9,791 100.00% Malayalam Greek Punjabi

Greater Bendigo 97,860 95.04% 5,103 4.96% 102,963 100.00% Karen Mandarin Italian

Loddon 6,486 96.69% 222 3.31% 6,708 100.00% Filipino German Hungarian

Macedon Ranges 41,023 95.21% 2,064 4.79% 43,087 100.00% Italian German Mandarin

Mildura 44,286 89.63% 5,126 10.37% 49,412 100.00% Italian Turkish Greek

Mount Alexander 15,942 96.16% 637 3.84% 16,579 100.00% Mandarin German Italian

Swan Hill 15,710 86.89% 2,371 13.11% 18,081 100.00% Italian Tongan Vietnamese

LMR 281,300 94.20% 17,310 5.80% 298,610 100.00%


197 .id (2020): profile.id.com.au




8.3.2 Income and housing

According to Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), which measure the relative level of socio-

economic advantage or disadvantage based on a range of Census characteristics (where higher scores

indicate lower levels of disadvantage), LGAs within the LMR were ranked as follows:

Table 46. SEIFA socio-economic disadvantage ranking within LMR by LGA (2016) 198

LGA SEIFA Score Ranking (Most

Disadvantaged)

Buloke Shire 967 24th

Campaspe Shire 967 23rd

Central Goldfields Shire 889 1st

City of Greater Bendigo 981 31st

Gannawarra Shire 957 18th

Loddon Shire 942 9th

Macedon Ranges Shire 1,060 71st

Mildura Rural City 935 5th

Mount Alexander Shire 995 42nd

Swan Hill Rural City 947 11th

LMR Average 964 -

VICTORIA Average 997 -

Central Goldfields Shire – with a SEIFA score of 889 – was the most disadvantaged LGA in LMR (and the

most disadvantaged in Victoria), while Macedon Ranges Shire was the least disadvantaged in LMR (and

ranked 71st of 79 LGAs in Victoria). Overall, LMR is more disadvantaged than the average for Victorian

LGAs.

Other indicators of socio-economic status include income and housing. In the LMR in 2016: 199

• There were 129,685 occupied private dwellings, with an average of 2.5 persons per dwelling.

• 5.6% of households had no vehicle.

Refer also Table 47.







Table 47. Socio-economic Indicators for LMR (2016)200

Indicator Total Percentage

Low income households with rental stress 3,845 30.2%

Low income households with mortgage stress 8,632 9.2%

Home ownership 86,811 73.9%

Separate houses - 89.0%

Occupied private dwellings 129,685 -

Households with internet connected 94,175 79.7%

These findings provide an indication of the number of properties that could be impacted in the event of an

emergency and the relative ease with which people might be able to leave their dwellings by motor vehicle

as well. It also indicates the availability of personal financial resources to support any actions required in

the event of an emergency.

8.4 Education

8.4.1 Educational institutions

There are 202 schools and 56,027 full-time enrolments in the region, with government schools making up

72% of all schools and 67% of full-time enrolments:

Figure 29. Number of schools and full-time enrolments in LMR201

The number of schools and full-time enrolments in the region are distributed across LGAs as follows, with

the City of Greater Bendigo having the highest number of schools (51) and the largest number of full-time

enrolments (19,843):


201 DET (2020): https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/department/Pages/factsandfigures.aspx


https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/department/Pages/factsandfigures.aspx



Table 48. Schools and full-time enrolments in LMR by LGA (2019)202

LGA No. Schools Full-time Enrolments

Buloke Shire 10 939

Campaspe Shire 24 6,588

Central Goldfields Shire 8 2,106

City of Greater Bendigo 51 19,843

Gannawarra Shire 12 1,274

Loddon Shire 9 892

Macedon Ranges Shire 26 8,741

Mildura Rural City 31 9,820

Mount Alexander Shire 16 2,137

Swan Hill Rural City 15 3,688

Total LMR 202 56,027

There is one university and two TAFEs with multiple campuses across the region, including:

Table 49. Universities and TAFEs in LMR203

University/TAFE Campuses

Latrobe University Bendigo, Mildura

Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE Bendigo, Echuca, Castlemaine

Sunraysia Institute of TAFE Mildura, Swan Hill, Robinvale, Cardross (training farm)

There are also 242 childcare facilities across the region (including childcare centres, pre-schools and

kindergartens).204

202 DET (2020): https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/department/Pages/factsandfigures.aspx



https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/department/Pages/factsandfigures.aspx





The below figure shows the location of educational facilities in the LMR:

Light Green = Primary school Mid-green = Primary/secondary school

Dark Green = Secondary school Pink = Special school

Orange = Further education Yellow = Tertiary institution

Red = University

Figure 30. Map of Educational Facilities within the LMR205

8.4.2 Educational Level

Approximately 1 in 3 persons (32.7%) of people over 15 years of age in the LMR have a bachelor’s degree

or higher non-school qualification, however more than 1 in 2 persons (57.4%) did not complete Year 12.

Table 50. Education Level achieved in LMR206

Education Level Total Percentage

People over 15 with bachelor’s degree or higher non-school qualification (2016)

37,759 32.7%

Did not complete Year 12 (2016) 135,000 57.4%

15-19 years old not in school or employment 1,301 6.5%







8.5 Health

The State Health Emergency Response Plan outlines arrangements for managing health emergencies (i.e.,

incidents requiring a significant and coordinated response from the health system, the Department of Health

and Human Services and the emergency management sector, in partnership with the community) to ensure

an effective response and ease adverse consequences.207 Practitioners, health professionals, service

organisations and government agencies may also be required to respond to local emergencies to care for

the injured or unwell directly affected.

In an emergency, vulnerable populations such as those in hospitals, health care facilities and retirement

villages, may require significant and coordinated priority interventions, responses and support for their

safety.

In LMR in 2011 there were 115 General Medical Practitioners per 100,000 people.

8.5.1 Hospitals and health centres

There are 30 hospitals, two community health centres and nine maternal and child health services across

the region, as outlined below:

Table 51. Hospitals and healthcare facilities in LMR by LGA208

LGA Hospitals Community

Health Centres

Maternal and Child Health

Services

Buloke Shire 5 0 0

Campaspe Shire 4 1 0

Central Goldfields Shire 2 0 0

City of Greater Bendigo 5 0 1

Gannawarra Shire 2 0 0

Loddon Shire 2 1 0

Macedon Ranges Shire 1 0 7

Mildura Rural City 4 0 0

Mount Alexander Shire 2 0 1

Swan Hill Rural City 3 0 0

Total LMR 30 2 9

207 DHHS (2020): https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/emergencies/shera


https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/emergencies/shera



Details of the 30 hospitals across the LMR are further outlined below:

Table 52. Hospitals in LMR by LGA209

LGA No. Hospitals Hospital Names

Buloke Shire 5 Birchip Public Hospital

Charlton Public Hospital

Donald Public Hospital

Sea Lake and District Hospital

Wycheproof Public Hospital

Campaspe Shire 4 Echuca Public Hospital

Kyabram Public Hospital

Rochester Public Hospital

Rushworth Public Hospital

Central Goldfields Shire 2 Dunolly Public Hospital

Maryborough Public Hospital

City of Greater Bendigo 5 Bendigo Day Surgery

St John Of God - Bendigo

Bendigo Base Public Hospital

Bendigo Public Hospital

Heathcote Public Hospital

Gannawarra Shire 2 Cohuna Public Hospital

Kerang Public Hospital

Loddon Shire 2 Boort Public Hospital

Inglewood Public Hospital

Macedon Ranges Shire 1 Kyneton Public Hospital

Mildura Rural City 4 Mildura Base Public Hospital

Mildura Private Hospital

Mildura Base Public Hospital

Ouyen Public Hospital

Mount Alexander Shire 2 Castlemaine Public Hospital

Maldon Public Hospital

Swan Hill Rural City 3 Manangatang Public Hospital

Robinvale Public Hospital

Swan Hill Public Hospital

Total LMR 30

LMR has three hospitals with an intensive care unit with a total of 32 beds available:

• Bendigo Base Public Hospital (20)

• Mildura Base Public Hospital (8)

• St John of God (4)

209 DHHS (2017): http://data-dhs.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/5000b3c446ed419eb590baa3832eb8f7_0

http://data-dhs.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/5000b3c446ed419eb590baa3832eb8f7_0



The below figure shows the location of the above healthcare services, with hospitals centred closer to larger

towns, while community health centres are located in more remote areas.

Pink = Community health centre Purple = Maternal/child health centre

Green = Day procedure centre

Orange = General hospital Yellow = General hospital (emergency)

Figure 31. Map of hospitals and health care facilities in the LMR210





8.5.2 Aged Care

There are 82 aged care facilities across the region, as outlined below:

Table 53. Aged care facilities in LMR211

LGA No. Facilities

Buloke Shire 8

Campaspe Shire 11

Central Goldfields Shire 5

City of Greater Bendigo 20

Gannawarra Shire 4

Loddon Shire 4

Macedon Ranges Shire 8

Mildura Rural City 10

Mount Alexander Shire 3

Swan Hill Rural City 9

Total LMR 82

The locations of these facilities is also provided below:

Figure 32. Map of aged care facilities in the LMR212







The number of people in the LMR who accessed aged care support at some stage during the 2018-19

reporting period is outlined in the following table. This number forms part of the total number of people in

the community who may need some form of assistance during an evacuation or emergency.

Table 54. Aged Care Support in LMR (2018-2019)213

Age Bracket Home Care Residential Care Transition Care Total

0–49 2 10 - 12

50–54 5 15 - 20

55–59 21 29 1 51

60–64 18 61 - 79

65–69 89 132 3 224

70–74 170 210 8 388

75–79 220 346 11 577

80–84 285 575 23 883

85–89 234 869 17 1,120

90–94 144 825 16 985

95–99 30 338 1 369

100+ 6 44 - 50

Total 1,224 3,454 80 4,758

In LMR in 2016 there were 86.8 residential care places per 100,000 population aged 70 years and over.

8.6 Cultural values and assets

The LMR is the traditional home of the First Peoples of the Millewa-Mallee being Latji Latji, Ngintait and

Nyeri Nyeri Traditional Owners, the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jajawadjali, Wergaia, Jupagulk, Dja Dja Wurrung,

Taungurung and Yorta Yorta peoples. 214

8.6.1 Aboriginal cultural heritage assets

Rivers and waterways are particularly important heritage sites for the Dja Dja Warrung people and hold

economic, social, environmental and spiritual values. Sites include the Loddon, Coliban, Campaspe, Avoca

and Avon Rivers, and the Boort, Eppalock and Laanecoorie Lakes. The Dhelkunya Dja Land Management

Board manages six parks held as Aboriginal Title and managed through Joint Management Plans: the

Greater Bendigo and Kara Kara National Parks, the Paddys Ranges State Forest, Kooyoora State Park,

Hepburn Regional Park, and Wehla Nature Conservation Reserve. Dja Dja Warrung artefacts continue to

213 https://www.gen-agedcaredata.gov.au/Resources/Access-data/2020/March/GEN-data-People-using-aged-care

214 ACHRIS (2020): https://achris.vic.gov.au/weave/wca.html

https://achris.vic.gov.au/weave/wca.html



be found across the Loddon Campaspe region, particularly as development of infrastructure and housing

expands. Artefacts include scar trees, middens, burial remains and other ritual artefacts.

Important heritage sites on the land of the First Peoples of the Millewa-Mallee are found in the Hattah-

Kulkyne National Park and the Murray-Sunset National Park.

Other significant cultural assets in the LMR include art galleries and museums, as outlined below:

Table 55. Significant cultural assets in LMR215

LGA Art Galleries and Museums

Buloke Shire Auchmore Historic Homestead

Donald Agricultural Museum

Donald District Archives

Golden Grains Museum

The Old Police Camp Donald

Campaspe Shire Historical Society Museum

Lockington And District Living Heritage Complex

Opperman Sports Museum

Port of Echuca Discovery Centre

Rochester Historical and Pioneer Society Museum

Rushworth Museum

Warf Shed Museum

Central Goldfields Shire Central Goldfields Art Gallery

Dunolly Museum

Museum of Truth And Lies

Talbot Historical Museum

City of Greater Bendigo Bendigo Art Gallery

Bendigo Joss House Temple

Bendigo Pottery Museum

Golden Dragon Museum

La Trobe University Visual Arts Centre

Soldiers Memorial Museum Bendigo

Gannawarra Shire Cohuna And District Historical Society Museum

Quambatook Heritage Machinery Shed

Loddon Shire -

Macedon Ranges Shire Kyneton Museum

Lancefield Court House Museum

Mildura Rural City Langtree Hall Museum

Mildura Arts Centre Gallery





LGA Art Galleries and Museums

Mildura RAAF Museum

Rio Vista Historic House

Mount Alexander Shire Castlemaine Art Gallery and Historical Museum

Maldon Museum and Archives Association

Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum

Swan Hill Rural City Lake Boga Flying Boat Museum

Swann Hill Regional Gallery

The region also hosts a number of major events and festivals throughout the year, including:

Table 56. Major events in LMR by LGA

LGA Major events and festivals

Buloke Shire -

Campaspe Shire -

Central Goldfields Shire -

City of Greater Bendigo Bendigo Blues and Roots Festival, Bendigo Easter Festival, Bendigo Cup

Gannawarra Shire -

Loddon Shire -

Macedon Ranges Shire -

Mildura Rural City Mildura Jazz, Food and Wine Festival

Mount Alexander Shire Maldon Folk Festival, Castlemaine Festival of Gardens

Swan Hill Rural City -

The below figure shows two layers that represent areas of cultural and heritage sensitivity. The first in

Orange, shows the areas of cultural heritage sensitivity that are known or likely to contain places and objects

of significance to Aboriginal cultural heritage. These are defined in the Aboriginal Heritage Regulations 2018

and include areas around designated watercourses and waterways, areas surrounding known Aboriginal

cultural heritage places and areas with landforms and soil types that are similar to known cultural heritage

places. While the areas shown are more likely to contain a higher number of cultural heritage places and

objects, these places can be found all over Victoria where Aboriginal people have lived216. The areas in blue

highlight locations that have been included in the Victorian Heritage Register showing places, objects and

shipwrecks that are currently protected under the Heritage Act 2017.217

216 https://www.aboriginalvictoria.vic.gov.au/cultural-heritage-sensitivity

217 https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/

https://www.aboriginalvictoria.vic.gov.au/cultural-heritage-sensitivity

https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/



Figure 33. Areas of cultural and heritage significance218 219

8.7 Volunteerism

An indication of a region’s level of community volunteering is also an important vulnerability factor because

volunteers and their social networks can be of assistance during emergencies.

In 2016, 64,858 people in LMR (5.6%) indicated that they were volunteers.220

According to the Ministerial Council for Volunteers (2017), approximately 4% of volunteers work for an

emergency services organisation221 and EMV estimates over 100,000 people in Victoria volunteer across a

wide range of emergency management agencies.222

218 https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/areas-of-cultural-heritage-sensitivity

219 https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/victorian-heritage-register


221 Ministerial Council for Volunteers (2017): https://iepcp.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/MCV-Volunteers-in-Victoria-report.pdf

222 EMV (2015): https://www.emv.vic.gov.au/volunteerstatement

https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/areas-of-cultural-heritage-sensitivity

https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/victorian-heritage-register


https://iepcp.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/MCV-Volunteers-in-Victoria-report.pdf

https://www.emv.vic.gov.au/volunteerstatement



• As at 1 July 2020, CFA Victoria noted its volunteer membership at 53,311 people, with an additional

1,486 junior members.223

Volunteering is evolving in Victoria, particularly with respect to growing expectations around community

responsibility for emergency preparedness, the impact on operations of new communications technology,

and the characteristics of volunteers. For example, volunteering styles are becoming more diverse, but also

more episodic, while physical locations and office hours are becoming less of a constraint to people

volunteering their time and staying connected. However, in their series of reports, Emergency Volunteering

2030,224 the authors found that:

• Community sector groups anticipate a serious shortage of volunteers in the future, mounting

expectations to deliver emergency services, a rise in costs and poorer outcomes for communities.

• Volunteerism managers foresee growing regulation and corporatisation impacting negatively on

volunteer sustainability.

• Local government managers have flagged the need to examine how resourcing and funding options

and restrictions may be hindering the emergency management sector’s ability to respond to the

changing landscape of volunteering.

9. Economic Environment

An understanding of the LMR’s economic resilience can play an important role in emergency management

planning by providing some context to how adversity might affect local economies and the degree to which

different communities are likely to cope with the ongoing effects of emergencies.

The Mallee sub-region has an economy based on agriculture and manufacturing, while the Loddon

Campaspe sub-region is also focused on both agriculture and food product manufacturing, both of which

are key exports for the region.

9.1 Economic situation

The regional economy of the Mallee sub-region is heavily concentrated around two significant industries –

agriculture and manufacturing. While agriculture is based on irrigated and dryland farming, manufacturing

in the region is focused on food processing, construction and service provision.225

223 CFA (2020): https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about/cfa-at-a-glance

224 DIIS (2019): https://emergencyvolunteeringau.dropmark.com/594398?q=%23Emergency-Volunteering-2030-study%20%23report


https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about/cfa-at-a-glance

https://emergencyvolunteeringau.dropmark.com/594398?q=%23Emergency-Volunteering-2030-study%20%23report




While the Loddon Campaspe sub-region is also heavily driven by agriculture, it also supports other key

industries including financial, health and insurance services, manufacturing and mining, with the city of

Bendigo driving much of the recent economic growth in the region.226

New modelling from the Department of Treasury and Finance suggests the coronavirus pandemic has had

a potentially unprecedented impact on Victoria’s economy. It is likely the State will record negative economic

growth for the current and next financial years.

• Gross regional product (GRP) is expected to drop by 14% in the June and September quarters as a

consequence of lower incomes, loss of consumer and business confidence and disruptions to global

supply chains.

• Unemployment is expected to rise to 11% in the September quarter and the number of jobs has

already fallen by almost 7% across Victoria since March 2020. 227

While the true extent of the impact on the LMR is unclear, it is likely to reflect the economic trends for

Victoria.

9.1.1 Key economic indicators

Key economic indicators across the LMR for the period 2018-19 are summarised below:228

Gross Regional Product (GRP) reflects the region’s contribution to the broader State economy and the value

of the regional economy.

• Overall, the LMR contributed $16.0 billion to the Victorian economy, which was 3.5% of the total for

the State (Gross State Product is estimated at $454.6 billion).

GRP per worker provides an indication of workforce participation.

• Overall, the LMR had a lower than average rate of productivity at $110,557 compared with $166,496

per worker for Victoria.


227 DTF (2020): https://www.dtf.vic.gov.au/economic-and-financial-updates/coronavirus-economic-outlook



https://www.dtf.vic.gov.au/economic-and-financial-updates/coronavirus-economic-outlook




Table 57. Economic indicators for LMR229 230

Indicators

Gross Regional Product ($ million) (2019) $16,026m

Gross Regional Product per worker ($) (2018) $110,557

10-year average annual GRP growth rate (2009-2019) 1.00%

Total Jobs (2019) 144,956

Annual jobs growth rate (2018-2019) 3.65%

5-year average annual jobs growth rate (2014-2019) 1.68%

10-year average annual jobs growth rate (2009-2019) 1.45%

The number of local jobs reflects the health of the labour market.

• Overall, the LMR provided over 144,956 jobs, which was 5.3% of the total number of jobs for the state

(2.73 million jobs).

Labour force participation measures an economy’s active workforce, while the unemployment rate

measures the loss of productive resources to the economy.

• Overall, the LMR’s labour force participation rate in 2016 was 60.8%, which is in line with the Victorian

average (60.5%)

• The unemployment rate (3.93%) in 2019 Q4, was below the State average (4.8%).

Figure 34. Quarterly unemployment rate % for LMR (2017-2019)



0.0%

1.0%

2.0%

3.0%

4.0%

5.0%

6.0%

7.0%

2017Q1

2017Q2

2017Q3

2017Q4

2018Q1

2018Q2

2018Q3

2018Q4

2019Q1

2019Q2

2019Q3

2019Q4





Table 58. Labour Force Indicators for LMR (2016)231

Indicators Total Percentage

Labour force participation

Participation at 65 years plus

147,790

8,049

60.8%

12.4%

People receiving an unemployment benefit

Receiving an unemployment benefit for more than 180 days

13,808

11,647

7.2%

6.1%

Youth unemployment (ages 15-24) 2,971 11.5%

9.1.2 Industry and employment

The main industries by number of jobs in the LMR overall in 2016 were Health Care and Social Assistance

(16% of all jobs), Retail Trade (12% of all jobs) and Education and Training (9% of all jobs), as shown below:

Figure 35. Jobs by industry in LMR (2016)232

The main industries by number of businesses in the LMR overall in 2019 were Agriculture, Forestry and

Fishing (24% of all businesses), Construction (17% of all businesses) and Rental, Hiring and Real Estate

services (8% of all businesses), as shown below:



Accommodation and Food Services, 7%

Administrative and Support Services, 3%

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, 9% Arts and Recreation Services, 1%

Construction, 7%

Education and Training, 9%

Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services, 1%

Financial and Insurance Services, 3%

Health Care and Social Assistance, 16%

Information Media and Telecommunications, 1%

Manufacturing, 9%

Mining, 1%

Other services, 4%

Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, 4%

Public Administration and Safety, 6%

Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services, 1%

Retail Trade, 12%

Transport, Postal and Warehousing, 4%

Wholesale Trade, 2%





Figure 36. Businesses by industry in LMR (2019)233

Of the 31,002 businesses in the region, over 60% are non-employing businesses, while 37% are small

businesses with less than 20 employees.

Table 59. Businesses by size in LMR (2018)234

Size of Business Percentage

Large businesses (200+ employees) 0.06%

Medium businesses (20-199 employees) 2.33%

Small businesses (<20 employees) 37.11%

Non-employing businesses 60.49%

9.2 Banking and finance

Banking and finance is a critical infrastructure sector that facilitates financial transactions across service

providers and customers, arranges insurance, leverages assets and aims to manage and create wealth.

The sector reaches far beyond Victoria’s borders and is regulated by the Commonwealth.235




Accommodation and Food Services, 4%

Administrative and Support Services, 3%

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, 24%

Arts and Recreation Services, 1%

Construction, 17%

Education and Training, 1%

Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services, 0%

Financial and Insurance Services, 7%

Health Care and Social Assistance, 4%

Information Media and Telecommunications, 1%

Manufacturing, 4%

Mining, 0%

Other services, 5%

Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, 8%

Public Administration and Safety, 0%

Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services, 8%

Retail Trade, 6%

Transport, Postal and Warehousing, 5%

Wholesale Trade, 3%






Bendigo Bank, Australia’s fifth largest bank, is headquartered in Bendigo with more than 7,000 employees

and 1.8 million customers across 500 branch locations Australia-wide.236

9.3 Political and legal factors

There are eight electoral Regions in Victoria. Five Members of Parliament (MPs) represent each Region in

the Victorian Parliament's Legislative Council (Upper House). The principal role of people who are elected

to represent a Region is to review legislation that has been passed by the Lower House. Loddon Mallee sits

within the Northern Victorian Region. A breakdown of state and federal electoral divisions can be found

below. The Victorian Electoral Commission and the Federal Electoral Commission use different borders

distinctions that Emergency Management Regions due to the need to separate groups by population.237

Therefore, the list below includes all divisions that cross into LMR:

State electorates:

• Mildura

• Murray Plains

• Bendigo East

• Bendigo West

• Ripon (part)

• Lowan (part)

Federal

• Mallee

• Nicholls (part)

• Bendigo

• Ballarat (part)

236 Bendigo Bank (2020): https://www.bendigobank.com.au/about-us/

237 Victorian Electoral Commission Map of districts: https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/findelectorate/

https://www.bendigobank.com.au/about-us/



10. Operational Learnings

The Victorian emergency management sector supports a culture of continuous improvement by:

• Encouraging the sector to share lessons, both positive actions to sustain and areas for improvement

• Encouraging learning from both assurance activities and contemporary good practice

• Focusing on systems of work, rather than the performance of individuals

• Recognising that identifying and implementing sustainable solutions takes time, resources and

opportunity

In November 2015, Victoria’s first sector-wide lessons management framework, EM-LEARN, was approved.

This framework further supports the development of a culture of continuous improvement and outlines a

model for lessons management and how it will be implemented into the sector, particularly operational

activities initially.

Lessons management involves the identification and learning of lessons captured through assurance and

learning activities (including debriefing, monitoring and reviews) occurring before, during and after

emergencies. This process of moving from identifying lessons to learning lessons is guided by the lessons

management life cycle within the EM-LEARN Framework, and should inform emergency management

planning to ensure ongoing continuous improvement.

Operational learnings identified from across the State over the past 12 months include:

Declarations

• It was observed that there was little discussion/communications with the regions regarding the State

of Disaster declaration for the summer fires, which resulted in confusion around what arrangements

were required to be put in place at the regional level to support this. However, the declaration did

result in the appointment of a State Relief Coordinator to support relief activities at the regional level

and the State Response Controller at the State level which was viewed positively.

• Observations indicate that during the lead-up to a Code Red Declaration on 21 November 2019, there

were issues with responding agencies accessing timely intelligence, information and predictions to

enhance their operations due to how quickly the data was being updated. Specifically, accessing EM-

COP was highlighted as challenging at times.



IT

• IMT's highlighted the difficulties encountered with IT systems, connecting to networks and the

hardware in operational facilities. Observations indicate that there are challenges in accessing and

using multiple systems including EM-Drive, Webmail, EM-COP, IMS, Fireweb and FIRS.

Evacuation

• Observations indicate that Controllers were hesitant to consider robust evacuation planning until the

exact location of the towns requiring evacuation was known. Evacuation planning highlighted the need

for targeted messaging to people within evacuation areas, and the importance of having local agencies

(i.e. CFA) involved in the evacuation planning process and ensuring that relief centres are located in

'safe' areas.

• Observations indicate that it is difficult to plan for or assume where people will want to go post

evacuation or assuming what their needs might be. It is also very important that local councils are

involved in the planning and implementation of any evacuation or reception centres.

Planning

• Early identification of potential storm/flood hazards allowed for planning and pre-positioning of storm

and flood teams in IMT's. The adoption of standard processes for assuring the implementation of

safety alerts related to thunderstorms worked well.

Information Management and Intelligence

• Observations indicate that relief information on VicEmergency was not always consistent with

information distributed via community newsletters and other channels and that community

communications need to be clear and targeted to the audience.

• Observations indicate that communications between the incident, regional and State tiers could be

improved, in terms of building relationships, information sharing and reporting - and that all tiers need

to be proactive and take responsibility for ensuring this is done in a clear and timely manner.

• Observations indicate that the lack of an intelligence unit within IMT's and Sector Commanders in the

field impedes data collection at the incident level. There is value in establishing an intelligence within

ICCs to centrally and consistently coordinate and manage damage assessment and other data which

is collected from sources in various formats.

• It was observed that the SCC experienced difficulties in obtaining sufficient intelligence from across

the incident and regional tiers. At times there was a divergence of views between the State and

incident tiers regarding what the priority intelligence requirements were, which was exacerbated by

the fact that the State tier implemented new requirements - which were added to the existing



procedures and products during times of peak operational demand on intelligence teams across all

levels.

Personnel

• Fatigue management is a continuing issue. Personnel have concerns on shift length, rostering

principles, rostering practices, entitlements and their general understanding of how to self-manage

fatigue in relation to assigned shifts.

• Observations indicate staff are being activated into functional roles when they do not necessarily have

the right accreditation or experience to perform the role effectively. In addition to being a potential

safety issue of having unaccredited staff performing functional roles in an emergency, it also places

pressure on others within the functional cell to cover the knowledge/experience gap and can cause

frustration across the entire IMT.



11. Data sources

Table 60. Metadata

Item Details

Report section 5. Regional Context 6. Natural Environment 7. Built Environment 8. Social Environment 9. Economic Environment

Data set Regional Development Victoria Information Portal

Data source Online

Location https://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/information-portal/table-and-chart

Data accessed July 2020

Data type Geospatial database

Custodian DJPR

Publisher DJPR

Coverage Victoria

Frequency Approx. every four years

Item Details

Report section 6. Natural Environment

Data set Mean monthly and mean annual temperature data - maximum, minimum and mean (based on standard 30-year period 1961-1990)

Data source Online

Location http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/climate_averages/temperature/index.jsp

Data accessed August 2020


Custodian BOM

Publisher BOM

Coverage Australia

Frequency Unknown

Item Details


Data set Mean monthly, seasonal and annual rainfall data (based on standard 30-year period 1981-2010)

Data source Online

Location http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/climate_averages/rainfall/IDCraingrids.jsp



Custodian BOM

Publisher BOM

Coverage Australia

Frequency Unknown


http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/climate_averages/temperature/index.jsp



Item Details


Data set Design Rainfall Data System

Data source Online

Location http://www.bom.gov.au/water/designRainfalls/revised-ifd/


Custodian BOM

Publisher BOM

Coverage Australia

Frequency Unknown

Item Details


Data set Average annual and monthly days of rain

Data source Online

Location http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/climate_averages/raindays/index.jsp?period=anandproduct=5mm#maps


Custodian BOM

Publisher BOM

Coverage Australia

Frequency Unknown

Item Details


Data set Bushfire Prone Areas

Data source Online

Location https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/designated-bushfire-prone-area-bpa

Date produced Last updated 24/3/2020 – produced 07/09/2011

Data accessed 09/05/2020


Custodian DELWP

Publisher DELWP

Coverage Victoria

Frequency Unknown

Item Details


Data set Major River Basins of Victoria

Data source Online

Location https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/awrc-major-river-basins-of-victoria




Custodian DELWP

Publisher DELWP

Coverage Victoria

Frequency Unknown



Item Details


Data set Vicmap Lite: Statewide data series depicting major features, public land, vegetation, hydrology, transport and administrative data

Data source Online

Location https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/vicmap-lite




Custodian DELWP

Publisher DELWP

Coverage Victoria

Frequency As required

Item Details


Data set 1 in 100 year flood extent

Data source Online

Location https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/1-in-100-year-flood-extent




Custodian DELWP

Publisher DELWP

Coverage Victoria


Item Details


Data set Flood Warning Catchment Areas

Data source Online

Location http://www.bom.gov.au/metadata/catalogue/19115/ANZCW0503900441?template=full



Custodian BOM

Publisher BOM

Coverage Australia

Frequency Unknown

Item Details

Report section 7. Built Environment

Data set Potential Impact Reports (by LGA)

Data source EM-COP

Location EM-COP

Date produced May 2020



Custodian EMV

Publisher EMV

Coverage Victoria




Item Details


Data set FOI – Point – Vicmap Features of Interest

Data source Online

Location https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/foi-point-vicmap-features-of-interest




Custodian DELWP

Publisher DELWP

Coverage Victoria


Item Details


Data set Electricity

Data source Online

Location https://data.gov.au/dataset/ds-aurin-aurin%3Adatasource-AU_Govt_GA-UoM_AURIN_DB_national_major_power_stations_2016/details?q=Major%20Power%20Stations

Date produced Last updated December 2016



Custodian Australian Government

Publisher Australian Government

Coverage Australia


Item Details


Data set PTV Public Transport

Data source Online

Location https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/public-transport-a-collection-of-ptv-datasets




Custodian Public Transport Victoria

Publisher Public Transport Victoria

Coverage Victoria

Frequency Quarterly

Item Details


Data set Roads

Data source Online

Location https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/road-network-vicmap-transport




Custodian DELWP

Publisher DELWP


https://data.gov.au/dataset/ds-aurin-aurin%3Adatasource-AU_Govt_GA-UoM_AURIN_DB_national_major_power_stations_2016/details?q=Major%20Power%20Stations

https://data.gov.au/dataset/ds-aurin-aurin%3Adatasource-AU_Govt_GA-UoM_AURIN_DB_national_major_power_stations_2016/details?q=Major%20Power%20Stations

https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/road-network-vicmap-transport



Coverage Victoria


Item Details


Data set EPA Victoria Landfill Register

Data source Online

Location https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/epa-victoria-victorian-landfill-register-vlr-location-polygons

Date produced 11/01/2020



Custodian EPA

Publisher EPA

Coverage Victoria


Item Details


Data set Emergency Services

Data source Ambulance Victoria Data Sets

Location https://www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/ambulance-victoria-data-sets/


Data type Database

Custodian AV

Publisher AV

Coverage Victoria

Frequency Annually

Item Details

Report section 8. Social Environment

Data set Population

Data source Australian Bureau of Statistics

Location https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/DetailsPage/3218.02018-19?OpenDocument


Data type Database

Custodian ABS

Publisher ABS

Coverage Australia

Frequency As needed – next issue expected for release on 30/03/2021

Item Details


Data set Hospital locations

Data source Online

Location http://data-dhs.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/5000b3c446ed419eb590baa3832eb8f7_0



Data type Spatial

Custodian DHHS

Publisher DHHS

https://www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/ambulance-victoria-data-sets/

https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/DetailsPage/3218.02018-19?OpenDocument



Coverage Victoria

Frequency Unknown

Item Details


Data set School enrolments

Data source Online

Location https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/department/Pages/factsandfigures.aspx



Data type Spreadsheet

Custodian DET

Publisher DET

Coverage Victoria

Frequency Six-monthly

Item Details


Data set Aged Care

Data source Online

Location https://www.gen-agedcaredata.gov.au/Resources/Access-data/2020/March/GEN-data-People-using-aged-care

Date produced Last updated 03/03/2020


Data type Spreadsheet

Custodian Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Publisher GEN Aged Care Data

Coverage Australia

Frequency Unknown

Item Details


Data set Areas of Aboriginal cultural heritage sensitivity

Data source Online

Location https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/areas-of-cultural-heritage-sensitivity



Data type Shapefile

Custodian DPC

Publisher DPC

Coverage Victoria

Frequency Quarterly

Item Details


Data set Victorian Heritage Register

Data source Online

Location https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/victorian-heritage-register




Custodian DELWP

https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/victorian-heritage-register



Publisher DELWP

Coverage Victoria

Frequency Fortnightly

Item Details


Data set Areas of Cultural Heritage Sensitivity

Data source Online

Location https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/areas-of-cultural-heritage-sensitivity




Custodian DPC

Publisher DPC

Coverage Victoria

Frequency Quarterly

Item Details

Report section Natural Environment

Data set Climate average maps reference period 1961 - 1990

Data source Online

Location http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/maps.shtml


Data type ASCII grid

Custodian Bureau of Meteorology

Publisher Bureau of Meteorology

Coverage Victoria

Frequency Fortnightly



12. List of Abbreviations

Table 61. List of Abbreviations

Acronym Description

ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation

ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics

ACHRIS Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Register and Information System

AEMO Australian Energy Market Operator

AEP Annual Exceedance Probability

ARI Average Reference Interval

BOM Bureau of Meteorology

CFA Country Fire Authority

CMA Catchment Management Authority

CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

DAWE Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

DELWP Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (VIC)

DET Department of Education and Training (VIC)

DHHS Department of Health and Human Services (VIC)

DISER Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources

DJPR Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (VIC)

DOT Department of Transport

DTF Department of Treasury and Finance

EMLA Emergency Management Legislation Amendment

EMV Emergency Management Victoria

EPA Environment Protection Authority

FDP Fire Danger Period

FFMV Forest Fire Management Victoria

GRP Gross Regional Product

ICC Incident Control Centre

ICU Intensive Care Unit

IFD Intensity-Frequency-Duration

LGA Local Government Area

MEMP Municipal Emergency Management Plan

NWMR North West Metro Region

PTV Public Transport Victoria

RCC Regional Control Centre

REMP Regional Emergency Management Plan

REMPC Regional Emergency Management Planning Committee

SCC State Control Centre

SEIFA Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas

SEMP State Emergency Management Plan

SES State Emergency Service (VIC)

SLS Surf Life Saving (VIC)

SSIP State Significant Industrial Precinct



13. Document information

13.1 Document details

Criteria Details

Document title: Environmental Scan Report: Loddon Mallee Region

Document owner: Information Management and Intelligence Team, EMV

13.2 Version control

Version Date Description Author

0.1 14/05/2020 Initial template created C. Jolly

0.2 05/07/2020 First draft M. Frew

0.2 27/07/2020 Second draft M. Frew/C. Murphy

1.0 06/08/2020 Draft for initial consultation C. Jolly

1.1 06/09/2020 Updated based on feedback from IREMPCs

M. Frew, M. Brereton, W. Stephenson, M. Slavtcheva, C. Jolly

1.2 10/09/2020 Proof reading J. Kaye, T. Penfold

2.0 14/09/2020 Final release C. Jolly

13.3 Document approval

This document requires the following approval:

Name Title Organisation

Debra Abbott Deputy Emergency Management Commissioner

EMV

Andrew Crisp Emergency Management Commissioner EMV