19 |Regional Profiles Further reading

ContentsMarch 2014

IntroductionRegions by WRRG and councilsSV contacts for regions (December 2014)AcronymsMap: Strategic Cordinators and WRRG'sHumeRegional featuresKey factsDemographyPolitical contextRegional prioritiesEconomic profileFunded sustainability project examplesSWOT analysisFurther 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 Hume region. It is not an exhaustive compilation of regional information, but instead focuses on information that is considered relevant to SVs priority outcomes in integrated waste management and resource efficiency.

It has been produced by SVs 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. Waste and Resource Recovery Groups) can

Work more effectively across the portfolio

Design and develop relevant programs and projects

Prepare their business plans.

Regions by RWMG and councilsRegionWRRG and Executive OfficerLGA/councils

Barwon South West

Barwon 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 WRRG

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)

DivisionBarwon South WestGippslandGrampiansHumeLoddon-Mallee

Engagement

Statewide Engagement Team

Manager : Andrew Straker (03) 8626 8813

Strategic Coordinators

Amy OBrien

0418 149068

Luke Wilkinson

0427 850 478

Trish Kevin

0409 060109

Martina Rienzner

0408 110 431

Kristy Roche

0419 311 765

Education Team

Manager : Kate Greer (03) 8626 8878

Claire Ruedin

(03) 86268747

Simon Hum

(03) 8626 8793

Candyce Presland

(03) 86268774

Simon Hum

(03) 86268793

Candyce Presland

(03) 86268774

Integrated Waste Management

Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy

Manager : David Cocks (03) 86268765

Barwon South West

Andrew Buzacott

(03) 86566701

Marcus Fogarty

(03) 86268788

Gippsland

Grampians Central West

Nick Bailey

(03) 86268824

Ben Stephenson

(03) 86268807

Goulburn Valley

Nicola Thom

(03) 86268726

North East David Cocks

(03) 86268765

Loddon Mallee

David Cocks

(03) 86268765

Nick Bailey

(03) 86268824

Kelly Wickham

(03) 86268820

Resource Efficiency

Business Productivity Team

Manager: Katrina Woolfe (03) 86268823

Yolanda Sztarr

(03) 86268843

Nick Katsanevakis

(03) 86268755

Andrew Haus

(03) 86268874

Helen Scott

(03) 86268855

Kel Dummett

(03) 86268729

Acronyms

ABS

Australian Bureau of Statistics

ALP

Australian Labor Party

CBD

Central Business District

CMA

Catchment Management Authority

DSDBI

Department of State Development, Business and Innovation

DEECD

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

DTPLI

Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure

DEPI

Department of Environment and Primary Industries

EEIG

Energy Efficiency Information Grant

EPA

Environmental Protection Agency

HACC

Home and community care

IWM

Integrated waste management

kV

Kilovolts (equivalent to 1000 volts)

LGA

Local government area

LP

Liberal Party of Australia

LPO

Litter Prevention Officer

MAC

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

NP

National Party of Australia

RDA

Regional Development Australia

RDV

Regional Development Victoria

ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic

ResourceSmart Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative Victoria

RMF

Regional Management Forum

RWMG

Regional Waste Management Group (now Waste Resource and Recovery Groups)

SME

Small to medium sized enterprise

SV

Sustainability Victoria

SV2015

SVs Strategic Plan 201215

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 OBrienDEPI 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

Metropolitan

Population

260,766

309,986

278,395

224,636

373,191

Hume Regional features

FeaturesDetails

Subregion

Goulburn Valley WRRG

Campaspe Shire Council

Greater Shepparton City Council

Mitchell Shire Council

Moira Shire Council

Murrindindi Shire Council

Strathbogie Shire Council

North East WRRG

Alpine Shire Council

Benalla Rural City Council

Indigo Shire Council

Mansfield Shire Council

Towong Shire Council

Wangaratta Rural City Council

Wodonga City Council

Alpine Resorts (Falls Creek, Mt Hotham and Mt Buller Mt Sterling)*

+Resorts are included as they have waste management responsibilities and are members of NevRwaste)

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

Central Hume: Wangaratta, Benalla, Alpine, Mansfield

Goulburn Valley: Greater Shepparton, Moira, Strathbogie and Campaspe**

Upper Hume: Wodonga, Indigo and Towong

Lower Hume: Mitchell (including Seymour) and Murrindindi (including Beveridge and Wallan)

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

Geographical features

Goulburn, Broken, Murray, Ovens, King and Kiewa river systems

Large areas of environmental value including National Parks

Alpine National Park and resorts including Falls Creek, Mt Hotham, Mt Buller Mt Sterling and Lake Mountain

Transport

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

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

Rail service and infrastructure requires investment.

Major roads and travel times

From

To

Distance (km)

Travel time (hours)

Melbourne

Seymour

110

1:18

Melbourne

Shepparton

189

2:07

Melbourne

Benalla

211

2:14

Melbourne

Echuca

225

2:34

Melbourne

Wangaratta

251

2.38

Melbourne

Wodonga

323

3:11

Key infrastructure

Puckapunyal (near Seymour) and Bandiana (near Wodonga) Military Areas

Mangalore Airport (near Seymour)

Western Composting Technology regional facility, Shepparton

Wallan and Wodonga best practice Resource Recovery Centres

Food and fruit processing facilities in Goulburn Valley

Biodiesel Producers biofuels plant, Barnawartha

Goulburn Valley Water + Diamond Energy biogas plants (Tatura and Shepparton)

Albury Waste Management Centre (in NSW)

Freight and logistics precincts, existing and emerging, at Beveridge, Seymour/Mangalore, Mooroopna, Barnawartha, Wodonga, Ettamogah (NSW) and Tocumwal (NSW)

Key facts

Structure

Hume has no single dominant regional city.

The region has four distinct subregions, each of which has access to a city and/or as per details in table

Councils/shires range from well-resourced and quickly expanding (e.g. Mitchell) to severely under resourced (e.g. Murrindindi). This is directly reflected in local waste infrastructure and services which range from best practice (Wallan and Wodonga) to requiring investment (Kinglake).

Land

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

More than a quarter (28%) of Goulburn Valley and over half (54%) of the North East is public land.

Hume was severely affected by the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009, particularly throughout Murrindindi Shire.

Many of the regions urban centres are located within the floodplains of major rivers including Benalla on the Broken river, Shepparton on the Broken and Goulburn rivers, Seymour on the Goulburn river, Wangaratta on the Ovens and King rivers and Echuca and Wodonga on the Murray river.

Demography

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

Population growth is a slightly lower than the Victorian average.

High amenity areas experience a significant influx of Melburnians seeking a rural lifestyle (weekenders and commuters).

High proportion of part time residents in areas of natural beauty (e.g. 50% of rate payers in Mansfield Shire are part time residents, similar in Alpine Shire)

Structural ageing as farmers get older, young people migrate to cities and retirees migrate to the region. Most significant in Strathbogie followed by Towong, Alpine and Benalla shires.

Shepparton-Mooroopna has the largest Indigenous population in provincial Victoria

Further cultural diversity resulting from past and recent settlement of migrants, including large Arabic speaking communities in Shepparton and Moira

Relatively low levels of social disadvantage. Of 270 relatively disadvantaged towns in regional Victoria only 40 are in the Hume region (and none in the top 24). However, disadvantaged towns include al l of the regions centres Shepparton and nearby Mooroopna, Wodonga, Wangaratta, Benalla and Seymour.

Political context

LevelRepresentative

Federal

Cathy McGowanInd Member for Indi

Rob MitchellALPMember for McEwen

Sharman StoneLP Member for Murray

State - Victorian Legislative Assembly

Tim McCurdy NP(Murray Valley)

Cindy McLeish LP (Seymour)

Jeanette Powell NP (Shepparton) Minister for Local Government,

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs

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

Bill Tilley LP(Benambra)

Paul Weller NP (Rodney)

State - Victorian Legislative Council for Northern Victoria

Candy Broad ALP

Kaye Darveniza ALP

Damian Drum ALP

Kaye Darveniza LP

Wendy Lovell LP

Amanda Millar LP

Regional priorities

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

Principles under the plan include:

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

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

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

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

Support the expansion and diversification of the regions economy

Capitalise on national transport links and tourist routes

Support industrial growth through value adding

Provide for efficient and effective transport movements within the region and to Melbourne and other key urban centres outside of the region.

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

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

adapting and diversifying agriculture in an environment of change

facilitating research and innovation in tourism, manufacturing and industry to encourage new and evolving business

developing energy infrastructure that builds on existing competitive advantages

developing a proficient land transportation system

maximising use of existing infrastructure and services and facilitating strategic investment in future infrastructure and services

ensuring efficient use of land use planning resources in the region.

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

High

Economic profile

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

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

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

Significant and declining employment sectors include manufacturing and agriculture.

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

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

Sub regionIndustry and service baseLocal industries

Central Hume

Wangaratta, supported by Benalla.

Softwood plantation

High-value agriculture

Viticulture

Goulburn Valley

Shepparton.

Food and vegetable processing

Agriculture

Grazing

Viticulture

Forestry

Upper Hume

Wodonga.

Albury-Wodonga is one of Australias 18 major cities.

Freight transport and logistics

Passenger transport

Manufacturing

Agriculture (mostly grazing)

Viticulture

Defence force

Lower Hume

Seymour (nominally).

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

Melbournes Urban Growth Boundary now encompasses Beveridge and Wallan in the Lower Hume.

Viticulture

Aquaculture

Agriculture

Timber

Defence force

Funded sustainability project examples

Recent SV projects

Alpine Living Bin project

Fluoro Collect Driving Investment for New Recycling fund

Sustainable organics management in Goulburn Valley

Inaugural SV@ your doorstep (Alpine Shire)

Current SV projects

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

Green and food waste collection in the Goulburn Valley

Tallangatta Eco Education and Integrated Services Hub (co-funded by DEECD and Living Libraries)

Education and engagement campaign for Wodonga and Indigo

Away from Home behaviour study, North East.

Third party sustainability projects

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

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

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

Climate change resilience and adaptation.

Over 15 Hume projects under Australian Governments Clean Technology Fund, including:

Energy efficient evaporator technology for Kagome Foods, Australias largest tomato processor, based in Echuca

Tri-gen plant for Wodonga Rendering (abattoir)

Consolidation from Port Melbourne to Shepparton for chemical manufacturer Pental Ltd

Energy efficient cooling technology for Victorian Alps Wine Company, based in Myrtleford.

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

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

SWOT analysis

Strengths

Multi-centred and somewhat diversified economy with strong interregional linkages

Opportunities for business development due to geographical location of Hume between Melbourne and Sydney

Strong agricultural base and established role in food production

Good collaboration between most councils/shires

History of shared resource use and collaborative procurement for waste services

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

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

Opportunities

Multi-centred structure and strong transport links are a good fit for a hub and spokes waste management model

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Weaknesses

No sizable regional city and no natural centre for the region. This affects funding support which is often based on population size and city-based models and makes it difficult to invest in centralised infrastructure

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

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

Slowing economies and employment opportunities in previous agricultural centre towns

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

Limited access to commuter rail services restricts population growth and has caused high dependence on private cars

Small councils with relatively limited resources, e.g. they dont employ waste education officers.

Threats

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

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

Downturn in manufacturing has lead and will lead to successive rationalisation

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

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

Regional Profiles Hume | 18

Regional Profiles Hume |17

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 Victorias 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 WRRGs 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.