Inquiry Into Regional Australia Submission 21
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Mildura Rural City Council (“MRCC”) thanks the House Select Committee on Regional Australia (“the Committee”) for the opportunity to submit on matters relevant to the development of regional Australia, and the importance of regional communities in terms of a vibrant, diverse and economically strong nation. The terms of reference for the Committee are broad and wide ranging. Rather than addressing each of the 12 items of interest to the Committee, our submission will provide an overview of the issues of critical importance to the people of the wider Mildura Rural City Council area, and, where relevant, those of interest to regional Victoria. Summary of Critical Issues Rural and regional communities, including Mildura Rural City Council, contribute significantly to the economic performance of Australia There is a strong sense of community pride, identity, leadership and resilience within our many towns and regions Our community has a rich and important Aboriginal history, and two Registered Aboriginal Parties with a strong focus on cultural heritage and strengthening local Aboriginal communities in terms of health, education and economic outcomes Unique natural features, heritage and a diversity of experiences make rural and regional communities, including MRCC, significant in terms of tourism MRCC has significant underlying infrastructure, including educational facilities, airport and transport/logistics which make us a desirable location and underpins our economic and social viability. Further investment in infrastructure such as rail and road, will be essential for our future. Attracting and retaining skilled and semi-skilled workforce to rural and regional areas is an ongoing issue. For Mildura there are immediate, significant risks to agriculture and horticulture due to the availability of workers, prompting calls for a farm visa and options around labour licencing and accommodation Climate change impacts, drought and water security are critical issues to the future of the Mildura area, and require innovative and coordinated response across all levels of government Rural and regional communities frequently experience high levels of social disadvantage, resulting in poor health and wellbeing outcomes. MRCC has amongst the highest rates of domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, mental health issues, suicide, and lower rates of income and educational attainment. Coordinated efforts to reduce disadvantage and the provision of services in regional locations are critical for positive community and individual wellbeing. Rural and regional Councils have major infrastructure and service requirements often over vast areas. Mildura is 22,000 sq km, around 1/10th of the State of Victoria. This imposes a heavy toll on our community, with a large asset base to maintain, with a limited rate base from which to generate rate revenue. The importance of consistent and equitable grants such as the Financial Assistance Grants, indexed, and taking into account the specific issues for regional and rural communities such as remoteness, social disadvantage and the span of services and distances, cannot be overstated Access to competitive or other grant funding from both Commonwealth and State, in addition, that recognise the value and contribution which rural and regional communities make to the overall economic and social fabric of the country, are also critical and are often the only way in which smaller communities can access new infrastructure and services. Mildura Rural City Council – at a glance Demographic profile*: Land area: 22,330km2 Major townships: Mildura, Irymple, Red Cliffs, Ouyen and Merbein Other rural townships: Meringur, Werrimull, Cullulleraine, Cardross, Nangiloc, Colignan, Murrayville, Nichols Point, Cowangie, Underbool and Walpeup Estimated resident population: 55,515 Estimated Mildura population: 32,738 Estimated Indigenous population: 2,519 The majority of the Mildura region’s population were born in Australia (77 per cent), 1.5 per cent were born in England, 1.2 per cent in Italy, 0.9 per cent in India, 0.9 per cent in New Zealand and 0.8 per cent in Afghanistan. Level above sea level: 50m Climate: Dry summers and mild winters Key industries: Dryland farming, irrigated horticulture (table grapes, wine grapes, dried grapes, citrus, vegetables and nuts), tourism, food and beverage manufacturing, transport and logistics, retail, health and community services Emerging industries: Renewable energy generation, aquaculture, mineral sands mining and recycling * Source: Figures based on 2019 update to Australian Bureau of Statistics data. Our Community and Council Vision To be the most liveable, people friendly community in Australia. How does our region contribute to our nation’s economic success? Agriculture and food processing form the backbone of our regions contribution to the national economy. Mildura’s GRP in 2018 was $2,682 million, with $1,902 million in regional exports. The region produces (as a percentage of national volumes) 98% dried grapes, 75% table grapes, 68% almonds, and 24% citrus, along with up to 60 other varieties of fruit and nuts grown in the region, and 15.4% of Victoria’s grain grown here. Up to 20% of Australia’s wine is also crushed in the Murray Darling / Swan Hill region. Mildura generated approximately $330 million from tourism to the region in FY 17/18, of which approximately 30% were domestic visitors. The region is surrounded by over 1 million hectares of national parks, with attractions of national importance such as Mungo National Park and Murray-Sunset National Park. With access to open space, and a number of our major townships located on the Murray River, our region is a hub for water based sports and motor sports, and the municipality hosts a number of significant annual events, attracting visitors from interstate. The Mildura South Regional Sporting Precinct now under construction is anticipated to boost sports tourism to the region, and with an AFL-standard oval as part of the project it is anticipated that we will be able to attract and increase the number of major events held in Mildura. Our prominence as a major food bowl allows us to take advantage of food and wine tourism, with a number of local cellar doors and farm gate tours operating, as well as food and wine festivals held annually. There is a strong arts and culture community, with a dedicated arts centre and a number of major annual arts and cultural events held each year. The region is also seeing significant investment in an emerging solar farming industry with four large solar farms now built or under construction within the municipality. What are the other assets and success stories in our community? Located on the border of three states, Mildura is uniquely positioned as a key transport hub, particularly for road freight. Mildura is serviced by an airport with connections to three capital cities – Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney, but has no passenger rail services. The Mildura LGA has a diverse community, with 4.6% of our population identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, and a further 79 nationalities represented and 74 languages other than English spoken. There are two Registered Aboriginal Parties across the area, which have a strong focus on cultural heritage and strengthening social and economic outcomes for local Aboriginal people. Mildura Rural City Council was also designated a Refugee Welcome Zone in 2002 by the Refugee Council of Australia. Local tertiary education offerings are delivered by a TAFE and La Trobe University, as well as Monash University’s School of Rural Health, encouraging young people to stay in the region for further education and creating pathways into local entry-level employment. A new organisation, Mallee Regional Innovation Centre, also provides the area with access to tertiary research capability with a focus on innovation and leadership in production and environmental management. What are the issues that may impact our region’s ability to make our contribution? With a large part of our economy reliant on the agricultural industry, and an ageing local workforce, Mildura is reliant on access to a reliable seasonal workforce for picking and packing. The introduction of the Victorian government’s Labour Hire Licensing Scheme is welcomed by Council to ensure the wellbeing of workers, but concerns remain about the readiness of the local industry to transition, particularly in the absence of a Farm Visa or similar legal solution for currently undocumented workers. The issue of labour shortages in our horticultural sector is further compounded by a lack of on farm accommodation for workers, with current State planning regulations creating barriers to the development of appropriate accommodation on farming zoned land. Therefore, Mildura Council continues to advocate for the introduction of a Farm Visa, together with an amnesty for existing undocumented farm workers in the short-term to support the impending harvest season commencing in January 2020, that will enable current seasonal workers to return to pick and pack horticultural produce, and support the industry to transition effectively. Water security and effective ongoing water management remains a critical success factor for our current and future economic development, as well as accessible water for community need and the environment. Such is the concern around water security, Mildura Rural City Council resolved at its meeting in August 2019 to develop a Water Position Statement related to water