LOCAL PROVISION CAMPASPE PLANNING SCHEME 21 MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT This Municipal Strategic Statement specifically aims to provide strategic direction for the environmental, economic, social and physical development of the Shire of Campaspe. The Statement is to be read in conjunction with the local policies contained at Clause 22. The Statement has been developed following site analysis, review of existing and past strategies, and thorough consultation with the Shire’s residents, business operators and relevant government authorities. The Statement presents objectives and actions for the reference and consideration of decision making bodies. The Statement is derived from the Integrated Strategy Plan for the Shire of Campaspe which was adopted by Council in April 1996. The Statement has an overall timeframe to the year 2010 although periodic reviews will take place. The Statement focuses on land use and development priorities geared to the attainment of the community endorsed Vision for the Shire. It also acknowledges that the Shire is committed to developing partnerships with surrounding municipalities, community groups and other agencies to address issues of regional concern. MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT - CLAUSE 21 PAGE 1 OF 1 1 OCTOBER 1998 LOCAL PROVISION CAMPASPE PLANNING SCHEME 21.01 SHIRE OF CAMPASPE AT A GLANCE The Shire of Campaspe comprises the former City of Echuca, the former Shires of Deakin and Rochester, the former Town of Kyabram and parts of the former Shires of Waranga, Rodney, Cohuna and Gordon. The Shire of Campaspe is strategically located in north central Victoria. It is 205 kilometres directly north of Melbourne, with its northern most border being the Murray River. The Shire covers an area of approximately 4,529 km2 . The Shire’s location in respect to major regional interstate and intrastate transport links gives it a strategic advantage in accessing major markets. Its climate, history, natural assets and location in relation to major urban centres also provide the Shire with an extensive tourism focus. Campaspe is part of a wide region extending right along the Murray River; up into NSW and south as far south as the Great Dividing Range. The key regional issues confronting the region include; • natural resource management including water quality; salinity; rising water table; protection of forests and wetlands; and redressing the loss of native vegetation. • economic sustainability based on agriculture including traditional irrigated and dryland farming practices; value adding to these practices; increased development of intensive agriculture; prospects for more innovative agricultural pursuits. • regional settlement development especially in relation to the growth of some regional centres (e.g. Bendigo; Shepparton; Echuca) at the expense of smaller towns (e.g. Sea Lake; Girgarre etc.). • infrastructure provision including good road access to some parts of the region; poor and declining rail access; and haphazard telecommunications access. Campaspe is part of the wider Murray Darling Basin region which includes vast areas of Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia. These areas require a co-ordinated approach to the issues of water quality, disposal of wastes into the river systems, and the environmental impacts of the recreational use of the rivers and floodplains. The Murray Darling Basin Commission is the overarching body for the regional co-operation and co- ordination of approach which is so fundamental to the future of the Basin. Campaspe is now split between the North Central Region Catchment Management Authority; and the Goulburn Broken Region Catchment Management Authority. MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT - CLAUSE 21.01 PAGE 1 OF 8 1 OCTOBER 1998 LOCAL PROVISION CAMPASPE PLANNING SCHEME Map 1: Shire of Campaspe 21.01-1 Population The estimated resident population of the Shire in June 1996 was 35,072. Functionally, Echuca (the Shire’s major urban centre) interacts with its New South Wales’ counterpart, Moama. The current population of Echuca - Moama is approximately 13,000. The bulk of the Shire’s population is centred around the northern and eastern points of the Shire - especially within the Echuca - Kyabram - Rochester triangle. The southern and western areas of the Shire are more sparsely populated. Following Echuca, the other primary population centres of the Shire (based on the 1996 census) include Kyabram (5738), Rochester (2553), Tongala (1164), Rushworth (976), Stanhope (565), Lockington (375), Gunbower (260) and Girgarre (209) . After experiencing sluggish population growth during the first half of the 1980s, the Shire's population grew rapidly during the late 1980s and early 1990s. In fact population growth in the Campaspe region has been faster than that of rural Victoria, metropolitan Melbourne and the State as a whole. Nevertheless, the overall buoyant situation masks significant discrepancies between centres within the Shire. MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT - CLAUSE 21.01 PAGE 2 OF 8 1 OCTOBER 1998 LOCAL PROVISION CAMPASPE PLANNING SCHEME For example, the Shire's four biggest centres - Echuca, Kyabram, Rochester and Tongala - have experienced significant population growth between 1976 and 1996. In contrast population numbers in some of the smaller centres have declined in the twenty years leading up to 1996 (Rushworth & Girgarre). Population change is intrinsically related to economic conditions. The large centres (especially Echuca) are the bases of the Shire's tourism, retailing and the services sector. These are the fastest growing industries in the Shire. Overall, it is projected that the central and north-eastern parts of the Shire will continue to grow rapidly. Long term growth trends suggest that in the year 2021 the municipality will accommodate approximately 42,100 people. 21.01-2 Employment Agricultural production, based on intensive irrigated areas and large tracts of dryland farming, combine to form the largest industry in the Shire. Other major employment sectors in the Shire includes food processing, retail and wholesale trade, community services and manufacturing. A high proportion of the Shire's workforce (22.7 per cent in 1996) is employed in agriculture, forestry, fishing, etc. In Campaspe this almost exclusively relates to agricuIture - especially dairying, cattle and sheep grazing, vegetable, fruit and grain growing. Between 1981 and 1996, employment in agriculture declined by about 17 per cent. This can be attributed to structural changes in the dairy industry and the broader economy in areas affected by more automated and efficient production techniques, better storage facilities and transportation efficiencies. Other significant industries include wholesale and retail trade (17.4 per cent of all employed in 1996), community services (14.7 per cent), and manufacturing (14.7 per cent). Manufacturing in the Shire mainly relates to food processing as well as some light engineering. Significant employment growth has been occurring in tourism, retailing and the services sector. These changes mirror the shift away from a production-based economy towards a services-based one throughout the advanced industrialised world. As a result of such changes, larger rural centres - such as Echuca-Moama- are likely to diversify their economic bases and prosper at the expense of smaller towns. The Shire's diverse economic structure - which offers residents a wide range of employment opportunities in tourism, recreation, agriculture, food processing, manufacturing, retailing, and government and community services - is meeting the employment needs of the population very well. The unemployment rate for Campaspe Shire is approximately 4.2 per cent. This compares with 6.0 per cent for regional Victoria as a whole. (Source: Urban Enterprise P/L, June 1998). The Shire of Campaspe's key tourism assets are based on the Murray River, Port of Echuca, River Boats, Native Forests, Historical Buildings, Kyabram Fauna Park and Licensed clubs across the river at Moama. The estimated annual turnover associated with the tourism industry is $100 Million. This figure does not include the associated multiplier effect associated with tourism activity. The tourism Industry in the Shire employs approximately 1500 people. 21.01-3 Towns Echuca is Campaspe's largest and most diverse centre which serves local, regional and tourist functions. Although Echuca's population is around the 10,000 mark, its catchment area is estimated to include 50,000 people within a 70 kilometre radius. Overall, the city is an important commercial, industrial, community, recreational and transportation hub for northern Victoria and southern New South Wales. Echuca's industry structure is dominated MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT - CLAUSE 21.01 PAGE 3 OF 8 1 OCTOBER 1998 LOCAL PROVISION CAMPASPE PLANNING SCHEME by retail and wholesale trade. Other notable business sectors include property and business services, construction, accommodation, personal services and manufacturing. Echuca is the base for the Shire's growth industries (particularly tourism), and is an attractive retirement destination. Kyabram is a service centre for its rural hinterland. Compared to Echuca, Kyabram is a lower order retail centre mainly geared for high frequency shopping trips with a 'convenience goods' emphasis. Traditionally, Kyabram's economic and employment base has been underpinned by the services sector - especially in legal, accounting, financial, health, education and community services. But more recently, processing of fruit