March 2014

Contents

Map: Regions by WRRG's and councils

Table: SV contacts for regions (December 2014)

Acronyms

Map: Strategic Cordinators and Waste Resource Recoverry Groups

GrampiansRegional featuresKey factsDemographyPolitical contextRegional contextRegional prioritiesEconomic profileFunded sustainability project examplesSWOT analysis

Further reading

Sustainability VictoriaLevel 28, Urban Workshop50 Lonsdale Street Melbourne 3000

T 1300 363 744E info@sustainability.vic.gov.ausustainability.vic.gov.au

© Sustainability Victoria 2014

Printed on 100% recycled paper

Disclaimer

Information in this document is current as at February 2014. While all professional care has been taken in preparing this document, Sustainability Victoria accepts no liability for loss or damages incurred as a result of reliance placed upon its content.

Introduction

This document provides a snapshot of the Grampians regions. It is not an exhaustive compilation of regional information, but instead focuses on information that is considered relevant to SV’s priority outcomes in integrated waste management and resource efficiency.

It has been produced by SV’s Strategic Coordinator based in the region. Information has been drawn from plans and strategies, including regional strategic plans and growth plans, and other documents, as well as discussions with key regional personnel.

This document aims to assist SV staff to understand regional conditions so that SV and our stakeholders (e.g. Regional Waste Management Groups) can

• Work more effectively across the portfolio• Design and develop relevant programs and projects • Prepare their business plans.

Regions by WRRG and councils

Region WRRG and Executive Officer LGA/councils

Barwon South West

Barwon South West WRRG

EO Sandra McClelland

Colac Otway Shire Council

Greater Geelong City Council

Queenscliffe Borough Council

Surf Coast Shire Council

Corangamite Shire Council

Glenelg Shire Council

Moyne Shire Council

Southern Grampians Shire Council

Warrnambool City Council

Gippsland Gippsland WRRG

EO Mathew Peake

Bass Coast Shire Council

Baw Baw Shire Council

East Gippsland Shire Council

Latrobe City Council

South Gippsland Shire Council

Wellington Shire Council

Grampians Grampians Central West WRRG

EO Philip Clingin

Hindmarsh Shire Council

West Wimmera Shire Council

Ararat Rural City Council

Horsham Rural City Council

Northern Grampians Shire Council

Yarriambiack Shire Council

Ballarat City Council

Central Goldfields Shire Council

Golden Plains Shire Council

Hepburn Shire Council

Moorabool Shire Council

Pyrenees Shire Council

Hume Goulburn Valley WRRG

EO Nick Nagle

Campaspe Shire Council

Greater Shepparton City Council

Mitchell Shire Council

Moira Shire Council

Murrindindi Shire Council

Strathbogie Shire Council

North East WRRG

EO Brooke Hermans

Alpine Shire Council

Benalla Rural City Council

Indigo Shire Council

Mansfield Shire Council

Towong Shire Council

Wangaratta Rural City Council

Wodonga Rural City Council

(and three Alpine resorts)

Loddon Mallee Loddon Mallee

EO Karen Fazzani

Greater Bendigo City Council

Macedon Ranges Shire Council

Mount Alexander Shire Council

Buloke Shire Council

Gannawarra Shire Council

Loddon Shire Council

Swan Hill Rural City Council

Mildura Rural City Council

SV contacts for regions (December 2014)

Division Barwon South West

Gippsland Grampians Hume Loddon-Mallee

Engagement

Statewide Engagement Team

Manager : Andrew Straker (03) 8626 8813

Strategic Coordinators

Amy O’Brien

0418 149068

Luke Wilkinson

0427 850 478

Trish Kevin

0409 060109

Martina Rienzner

0408 110 431

Kristy Roche

0419 311 765

Education and LitterTeam

Manager : Kate Greer (03) 8626 8861

Claire Ruedin

(03) 86268747

Simon Hum

(03) 8626 8793

Candyce Presland

(03) 86268774

Simon Hum

(03) 86268793

Candyce Presland

(03) 86268774

Integrated Waste Management

Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy

Manager : David Cocks (03) 86268765

NB. These contacts will alter over timeBarwon South West

Andrew Buzacott

(03) 86566701

Marcus Fogarty

(03) 86268788

Gippsland Grampians Central West

Nick Bailey

(03) 86268824

Ben Stephenson

(03) 86268807

Goulburn Valley

Nicola Thom

(03) 86268726

North East

David Cocks

(03) 86268765

Loddon Mallee

David Cocks

(03) 86268765

Nick Bailey

(03) 86268824

Kelly Wickham

(03) 86268820

Resource Efficiency

Business Productivity Team

Manager: Katrina Woolfe (03) 86268823

Yolanda Sztarr Nick Andrew Haus Helen Scott Kel Dummett

(03) 86268843 Katsanevakis

(03) 86268755

(03) 86268874 (03) 86268855

(03) 86268729

Acronyms

ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics

ALP Australian Labor Party

CBD Central Business District

CMA Catchment Management Authority

DSDBI Department of State Development, Business and Innovation

DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

DTPLI Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure

DEPI Department of Environment and Primary Industries

EEIG Energy Efficiency Information Grant

EPA Environmental Protection Agency

HACC Home and community care

IWM Integrated waste management

kV Kilovolts (equivalent to 1000 volts)

LGA Local government area

LP Liberal Party of Australia

LPO Litter Prevention Officer

MAC Ministerial Advisory Committee on Waste and Resource Recovery Governance Reform, 2013

NP National Party of Australia

RDA Regional Development Australia

RDV Regional Development Victoria

ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic

ResourceSmart Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative Victoria

RMF Regional Management Forum

RWMG Regional Waste Management Group (now Waste and Resource recovery Group)

SME Small to medium sized enterprise

SV Sustainability Victoria

SV2015 SV’s Strategic Plan 2012–15

TAFE Technical and Further Education

VECCI Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry

WRRG Waste and Resource Recovery Group

Strategic Regional Coordinators

Luke WilkinsonDEPI office, Traralgon

T 1300 363 744M 0427 850 478

Martina ReinznerDEPI office, Seymour

T 5735 4330M 0408 110 431

Kristy RocheDEPI office, Epsom

T 5430 4544M 0419 311 765

Trish KevinDEPI office, Ballarat

T 5336 6856M 0409 060 109

Amy O’BrienDEPI office,Colac

T 5233 5549M 0418 149 068

Kim JohnsonRay LiversidgeSV office Melbourne

T 1300 363 744

Region Gippsland Hume Loddon Mallee Grampians Barwon South West

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

Regional Profiles – Grampians | 10

Grampians regional features

Features Details

Subregion Grampians Central West ram City of Ballarat Council

Central Goldfields Shire Council

Golden Plains Shire Council

Hepburn Shire Council

Moorabool Shire Council

Pyrenees Shire Council

Ararat Rural City Council

Horsham Rural City Council

Northern Grampians Shire Council

Yarriambiack Shire Council

Hindmarsh Shire Council

West Wimmera Shire Council

Regional centres

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

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

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

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

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

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

through the centre of the region.

Regional Profiles – Grampians | 1 1

Major roads and travel times

From To Route Distance (km)

Travel time (hours)

Melbourne Ballarat Western Highway

115 1:21

Melbourne Horsham Western Highway

300 3:22

Ballarat Geelong Midland Highway

89 1:12

Horsham Portland Henty Highway

224 2:47

Horsham Bendigo Wimmera Highway

215 2:49

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

owned wind farm• Upgrades to Ballarat and Stawell airports

Regional Profiles – Grampians | 12

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

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

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

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

Demography

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

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

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

Low rents in smaller towns can create pockets of disadvantage.

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

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

Projected change in total population for municipalities in Central Highlands region

Source: Victoria in Future 2012

Central Highlands sub region 2011 2021 2031

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

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

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

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

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

Pyrenees (S) 6900 7500 8000

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

Regional Profiles – Grampians | 1 3

Wimmera Southern Mallee sub region

2011 2021 2031

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

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

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

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

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

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

Political context

Level Representative

Federal

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

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

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

State - Victorian Legislative Assembly

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

Sharon Knight ALP Wendouree – (includes Ballarat City Council)

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

Emma Kealy NP Lowan - (includes Horsham, West Wimmera, Hindmarsh councils)

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

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

State - Victorian Legislative Council

David Koch LP National Western Victoria

Wendy Lovell LP Northern Victoria region

*Not confirmed

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

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

Regional Profiles – Grampians | 14

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

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

Regional priorities

Subregions Priorities

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

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

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

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

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

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

community assets should be recognised

Wimmera Southern Mallee

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Central High

Economic profileCentral Highlands

Economic activities include agriculture, manufacturing, government administration, education and health services, tourism, gold mining, viticulture and forestry. Ballarat City also has strong retail trade,

Regional Profiles – Grampians | 1 5

construction, property and business services. Government services are the major employer in major regional centres.

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

Wimmera Southern Mallee

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

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

Regional Profiles – Grampians | 16

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

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

Current SV projects • In vessel composting trial FABCOM at Maryborough - Grampians Central West WRRG

• Upgrade of transfer stations and education resources – in north west of Grampians Central West WRRG

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

• ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic schools – Grampians regional implementation.

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

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

Third party sustainability projects

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

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

• Supporting change and adaptation in the Northern Grampians Shire

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

• Bioenergy pilot project at Beaufort Hospital

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

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

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

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

Regional Profiles – Grampians | 1 7

SWOT analysisStrengths

• City of Ballarat Council provides leadership in strategic planning and actively encourages innovation in future economic development in the city, which benefits the surrounding region

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

• Straddles major road and rail networks.

Opportunities

• Wimmera Mallee pipeline provides opportunity for new intensive agricultural activities

• Generating energy locally from renewable sources, including bioenergy

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

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

Weaknesses

• Two-speed economy with growth in the Central Highlands sub region and potential decline in the Wimmera Southern Mallee

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

• Varied access to broadband and internet services

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

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

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

• Pockets of disadvantage throughout the region

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

Threats

• Dispersed settlements and poor public transport in north west means populations are vulnerable to rising fuel prices

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

• Ageing infrastructure• Lack of cooperation across industry sectors•

Regional Profiles – Grampians | 18

Further reading

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

All web addresses are correct as at June 2013.

ClimateWorks Australia

ClimateWorks Australia publishes a number of plans related to lowering emissions, including the low carbon growth plans for Geelong and Gippsland.

www.climateworksaustralia.org/publications.html

Council websites

Most councils publish economic reports and statistics on their websites. A full list of councils with websites is available on the Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure website.

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

Department of State Development, Business and Innovation (DSDBI)

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

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

Regional Development Victoria (RDV)

RDV provides regional development summaries on the five regions and publishes regional and subregional growth plans and strategic plans.

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

Fuelled for Growth: The 2012 Ernst and Young report on bioenergy (Fuelled for Growth: Investing in Victoria’s biofuels and bioenergy industries) is available for download at

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

Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure (DTPLI)

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

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

Profile.id

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

of local government areas.

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

WRRG websites

The WRRG’s publish business plans and annual reports on their websites. For a full list of WRRGs and their websites, see contact details listed on the SV website: www.sustainability.vic.gov.au.