There’s strength in numbers when helping shape the prosperity of an entire region.
This was the goal put before participants at 'The Grampians 2025 and Beyond: A State of the Region Forum', led by then-RDA Chair Stuart Benjamin.
The event was the first of its kind for the Grampians region and aimed to identify and leverage economic growth opportunities through all the region has to offer.
Organised by Regional Development Australia (RDA) Grampians with the support of Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions, it was a successful step towards generating a shared vision and approach among the region's many public and private organisations.
About the Grampians region
The Grampians region spans 50,000 square kilometres.
Stretching from west of Melbourne to the South Australian border, it encompasses 11 local government areas.
The region:
- is home to about one in six regional Victorians
- accounts for 135,600 jobs and 16% of regional small businesses (defined as employing one to 19 staff)
- has an economy that generates more than $17.7 billion and accounts for 15% of regional Victoria’s total output.
It's also home to lands represented by 5 Traditional Owner Groups, including:
- Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Corporation
- Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation
- Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation
- Barengi Gadjin Land Council (representing the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk Peoples of the Wotjobaluk Nations)
- Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation.
The region possesses a range of natural assets that help to power the state.
From mineral sands to idyllic weather for renewable energy, it has the potential to be a major player in the renewable energy transition.
The Grampians also boasts productive agricultural land that supplies global markets, and has a strong manufacturing sector that produces food, fibre and materials which service local and global industries.
Leveraging opportunities
The Grampians' economy is the second-most diverse in Victoria.
Despite this, the forum identified challenges to long-term prosperity – namely, the concentration of growth in select areas.
To ensure that economic development is evenly distributed moving forward, the forum identified the following priority growth sectors:
- food and fibre processing - leveraging the region's strong agricultural base to support more communities
- mineral sands development - capitalising on natural resources to create jobs and energy exports
- renewable energy - driving growth in wind and solar
- advanced manufacturing - expanding the sector to provide machinery, technologies and value-add processing to support growth across multiple sectors.
With a range of panels, speakers and case studies, the forum brought new and established leaders together to help set a course for the future.
Attendees left with a shared commitment to shaping the region’s development for the benefit of communities, businesses and industries.
‘If we can approach this with shared value at the heart of it – of ‘what’s in it for me’ and ‘what’s in it for us’, then I think we’ve got a much better starting point to move forward,’ said Louise Pogmore, Partner at KPMG.
‘One thing I’ve learned out of today, and it’s good, is that we’re acting as a region and we’re sharing ideas across the region, which is very important,’ said Hepburn Shire Council Mayor Cr Don Henderson.
By strengthening the sense of community between leaders, the forum helped to generate a wider understanding of the policies and projects that are needed to help the Grampians region thrive.
The work of the Grampians RDA Board to deliver on these regional priorities continues under the leadership of new Board Chair, Michael Tudball.
The RDA program is an Australian Government Initiative. For more information about the work of the RDA committees, visit the RDA website.