Southern Loddon Mallee Regional Strategic Plan 1 - Macedon ...

Foreword
It is our pleasure to present the Loddon Mallee Regional Strategic Plan.
The Plan is the result of extensive input - over nearly two years - from
community, business and government leaders located in the region.
The Loddon Mallee region is expansive and diverse running from the
north-west through to central Victoria and bordering South Australia
and New South Wales.
Because of the region’s size and diversity, two sub-plans have been
prepared for the north and south of the region, reflecting the different
challenges and opportunities they face. Accordingly each of the Plans
identifies priority areas for focus over the coming years.
The Northern Loddon Mallee is about 45,000 square kilometres.
The Murray River is the ‘lifeblood’ of the region, which is a major food
producer for Victoria, Australia and export markets.
It is a highly productive agricultural and horticultural region. Some of
its larger urban areas - Echuca, Swan Hill and Mildura - are experiencing
sustained population growth and tourism interest, while some smaller
towns are experiencing population decrease.
The region has a dispersed population and a strong Indigenous
heritage with about 3,100 people identifying as Indigenous at the last
census. About 8 per cent of the region’s population reported being
born overseas. Echuca, Swan Hill and Mildura also service significant
cross-border populations.
The Plan identifies a range of opportunities for the northern Loddon
Mallee that focus on water; transport; infrastructure; diversification
of the economy; education and training; healthcare; community
resilience; the natural environment; and cross-border issues.
The Southern Loddon Mallee is the geographic centre of Victoria, and
its location and transport linkages make the region highly accessible,
particularly from Melbourne. It also includes the thriving provincial
centre of Bendigo.
2 Southern Loddon Mallee Regional Strategic Plan
The region is experiencing strong population growth which is
projected to continue at almost 50 per cent above the Victorian
regional average, with drivers including improved road and rail links,
more jobs and investment, and the region’s liveability appealing to
‘tree-changers’. The main industry employers in the region are retail,
health and manufacturing.
The region has a significant migrant population, with almost 13,500
people born overseas and overseas migration projected to stay strong.
In managing the region’s growth we also face challenges in achieving
social equity and reducing pockets of social disadvantage.
The Plan identifies priorities for the southern Loddon Mallee, focused
on managing population growth; community resilience; healthcare;
education and training; arts, culture and other infrastructure that
promotes ‘liveability’; diversification of the economy; transport;
telecommunications infrastructure; water; and natural environment.
The delivery of the overarching Loddon Mallee Regional Strategic Plan
will be overseen by the Loddon Mallee Regional Management Forum
and the Regional Development Australia Loddon Mallee Committee.
These groups will continue to provide strong regional leadership and
work collaboratively to implement the actions outlined in this plan.
This Plan, combined with government support, will deliver the action
and investment to keep the Loddon Mallee region flourishing into the
future.
Penny Armytage
Regional Champion, Loddon Mallee Regional Management Forum,
Secretary, Department of Justice
Jenny Dawson
Chair, Loddon Mallee Regional Development Australia Committee
The following Councils have endorsed this Plan, as has Loddon Mallee Regional Development Australia Committee and the Loddon Mallee Regional Management Forum