Regional Development Victoria

Plotting a course for the Grampians

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So we're very pleased today, to be welcoming for the first time, 11 councils from across the Grampians region. We don't just think about our own individual council. We think about our cross borders and our entire region. And how can we get our, maybe even our unfair share of not only government funding, but the economic prosperity that can come from businesses.

The one good thing about functions and forums like this is that you gather together some key leaders to the area.

It's a bit like a big footy league, I think. And we've got all these different teams in the room. The audience gets to hear about opportunities that they might not be able to see for themselves. And, so we can have

a really good, well-informed strategic conversation. They can see opportunities of how they can work together with, you know, with the big picture in mind.

What are the game changers for the region? What would actually unlock the potential?

In the western districts of Victoria, so let's call it the western half of Victoria, the largest portion of the

Australian wind tower supply chain exists here.

Little did they know, they didn't find coal, but what they had found instead was a vast amount of mineral sands deposits.

Dare I say insect protein has been thrown around for some time. I'm still a bit terrified of it, but it's, it's definitely a growing space.

So we’ve got to make sure that we are coming up with projects that are both sustainable for the argument, but also, what policy do we need to change?

We have to be more courageous around the thinking associated with the way in which we install energy assets.

The wonderful thing about wind & solar is you can generate energy anywhere. What about, instead of that turbine 200m tall on your farm, we'll put in 15 hectares of solar panels.

In relation to the mining space, it's far more appealing to live in the Wimmera, than Tom Price or flying in and out of Perth.

Another one that's been pretty powerful for us has been - velocity is not the answer to complexity, conversation is.

The nuance sits in the local community. So, there's a huge opportunity for every single person in this room to look at how we can bring everyone on the journey.

How can we be doing better at local government and state level?

How do you know when you've got alignment, I guess, from different segments?

Do you look further afield in terms of how you attract your residents?

What happens if we do actually value add, using green energy?

Using what we're digging out of the ground, what we're growing to create those jobs?

Wonderful to hear the presentation from so many key speakers, but the benefit has been networking with so many neighbouring shires.

The sessions have been fantastic, but the ability to network during our short breaks was absolutely fantastic for me.

One thing I've learned out of today, and it’s good, is that we’re acting as a region. We're sharing ideas across the region, which is very important.

We all sort of  feed off each other. And certainly, there's been some really good questions asked.

But I love it when the talk comes back to the values that relate to people. And there was really good discussion around the shared values, and that being such an important part to drive expectations.

All incredibly aligned on the benefits of being a unified team.

If we can approach this with shared value at the heart of it, of what's in it for me, what's in it for me, and then what's in it for us? Then I think we've got a much better starting point to move forward.

Use our skills. Use the, I guess the avenues that we can open up within the state, and in particular with the federal government.

And that's, that's my team's job. Is to try and help work through these challenges. Using those platforms that we've talked about today, like our regional partnerships, our Regional Development Australia Committee, which is you know, leading this today.

If we can work to that position of being aligned in our need for change, then we can bring that policy into play. Then we can bring those projects in and give our communities what we all understand they deserve.

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.

At the forum, it was identified that the Grampians:

  • was home to about one in six regional Victorians
  • accounted for 135,600 jobs and 16% of regional small businesses (defined as employing one to 19 staff)
  • had an economy that generated 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. Learn more about the work of Victoria's RDA committees.