Mirboo North

Live. Work. Invest. Contents

Location 1 Why Mirboo North? 2 Lifestyle 4 Development 6 Business Diversity 8 Climate 11 Sports and Recreation 12 Walks and Parks 13 Tourism 14 Mirboo North Town Map 16

Accompanying Liftouts (inside back cover)

Council Services Education Employment Health, Aged & Child Care Live... in a vibrant and welcoming community that offers a great lifestyle. Work... in a region with an enviable unemployment rate where you are only 30 minutes from some of the largest employers in . Invest... and build your business in a sustainable environment with a long history of technological innovation and access to a growing pool of skilled employees. Location

Nestled in the two hours south east of , the picturesque town of Mirboo North is situated on the just 25 kilometres from , ’s largest township.

Surrounded by rolling hills, rich farmland and panoramic views, Mirboo North is a small town with a big sense of community, offering a village lifestyle that is within easy reach of the beautiful beaches of the south east coast of and the , the largest populated centre in the Gippsland region and home to some of its biggest employers.

Key Facts

• 155 km south east of Melbourne (2 hours) • Close to the large population centres and major employers of the Latrobe Valley • Offering a village lifestyle within easy reach of the beautiful beaches Melbourne between Phillip Island and • Mirboo North is the principal township in the north eastern area of • Regular bus services to Latrobe Valley and

Pakenham

Cranbourne Sale Trafalgar

G r a nd R idge Ro a

d

Cowes Mirboo North Tarra Bulga Leongatha National Park Phillip Island Yarram

Wonthaggi Inverloch Foster

Venus Bay

Sandy Point

Wilsons Promontory National Park

Country:

State: Victoria 1 Why Mirboo North?

Beautiful scenery, 7-day-a-week shopping and excellent local services have all contributed to making Mirboo North a desirable location to live, work and invest.

First settled in the 1870s, the The village lifestyle is supported by is well positioned to take advantage plentiful local supply of Mountain Mirboo North’s excellent health and of the region’s anticipated population Ash timber drove early development education facilities. The town boasts increase. in the area. Although not officially a secondary college, primary school, known as Mirboo North until 1929, kindergarten and medical centre, One of the benefits of relocating it was the arrival of the first locomotive along with aged care and modern to a smaller rural township is the at the newly built railway terminus child care centres. opportunity to participate and in 1885 that marked the beginning make a difference at a local level. of this vibrant township’s story. The picturesque town of Mirboo Mirboo North has a large number North is nestled in the Strzelecki of community organisations and Whilst timber may have been the Ranges two hours south east volunteer groups which contribute catalyst, it is the area’s rich soil and of Melbourne. Situated on the to making Mirboo North a reliable climate that has helped Strzelecki Highway, it is just 25 welcoming and active community. Mirboo North become the modern kilometres from Leongatha, South and attractive community it is today. Gippsland’s largest township. The diverse landscape that surrounds Mirboo North is reflected in the mix Gippsland’s population is projected of agriculture, manufacturing, service to grow to more than 305,000 by and retail businesses that have made 2026 and, in addition to demonstrating a successful home here. strong local growth, Mirboo North

2 Sustainable Living Opportunities Choosing a place to live or build your business is a long term commitment. Mirboo North’s future is based on solid foundations and a shared vision of a sustainable future.

• In 2010 ‘Our Town Our Future’ articulated the Town Centre Partnership’s plan to position Mirboo North as a ‘vibrant centre catering for all’ that is at the ‘heart of a sought after lifestyle’

• Mirboo Country Development, an association of local businesses, community groups and individuals recently developed a new brand for the town “Mirboo North Country” which communicates the uniqueness and character of Mirboo North and is being used to promote the town at a local, regional and state level

• The Mirboo North & District Community Foundation works to enhance the social & economic strength of the community. Through its annual grants program and by working in partnership with other philanthropic and charitable organisations, the Foundation is committed to building a sustainable and inclusive community

The 2004 Mirboo North Structure Plan, undertaken by South Gippsland Shire Council in consultation with the community, provides a framework to identify opportunities and guide the future growth and development of the town and surrounds. The Structure Plan incorporates a range of key strategies to:

• Protect and enhance the natural environment of the area

• Provide development opportunities in keeping with the needs of the community

• Promote high quality urban design and protect places of heritage significance

Key Facts Benefits of Rural Town Living

Population: A growing town population of 1,500 • Consistently lower housing prices than metropolitan or outer suburban areas Industry: Agribusiness, education, health & community services, retail, tourism • Strong sense of community

Education: Child care centre, kindergarten, • Family friendly atmosphere primary school, secondary college • Clean, green and safe environment Health: Medical centre, pharmacy, aged care facility, maternal & child • Healthy and relaxed lifestyle health centre Emergency Services: Police, Ambulance, CFA, Road South Gippsland Information Rescue Unit

Communications: ADSL2+ (Mirboo North exchange) • Comprises an area of 3,280 square kilometres with fibre optic (National Broadband Network) to come • Attracts approximately 1.1 million visitors annually

Utilities: Reticulated sewerage and water • Has an economy with annual output over $2.8 billion systems • Is one of Victoria’s most valuable agricultural regions

3 Lifestyle

A move to Mirboo North means becoming a part of a vibrant welcoming community.

Local housing and land affordability means you can swap mortgage-stress for a better life-work balance, whether you choose to live in a modern family home, unit or hobby farm.

And a move here doesn’t mean sacrificing access to modern technology or communications as Mirboo North’s exchange is ADSL2+ enabled. Fibre Optic is to come via the National Broadband Network.

Life in the country is tranquil but far from boring. ‘Mirboo North is a great place to live because it There are plenty of things to see and do and is a beautiful, simple lifestyle with friendly people, Mirboo North’s rich natural environment is your many activities for families to participate in and doorway to a healthier lifestyle as well as a great a strong sense of a community that is “going places.” place to build a business. (MCDI community survey response 2011)

Community Spirit The Mirboo North Mirboo North offers plenty of Community Shed opportunity to participate at a local The Mirboo North Community Shed level. The Community Directory lists offers a variety of classes covering more than sixty local community subjects such as pottery, cooking, organisations, by far the largest number health promotion, broadband for in the Shire. seniors and a Men’s Shed workshop. Local groups and their volunteers are Mirboo North Community Shed involved in a broad range of activities 38-40 Burchell Lane. - from producing the town’s weekly paper, organising the monthly market, to curating the annual Art Show. Local branches of the Lions Club, Rotary and Mirboo North Times RSL all make a significant contribution Mirboo North’s weekly local paper has all to charity at a local, regional and the news from the town and surrounds. international level. Originally privately owned, in 1997 the “The sense of community spirit and Mirboo North Newspaper Cooperative warmth would make anyone feel at home.” took over the publication and for more (MCDI community survey response 2011) than fifteen years the paper has been produced by a team of local volunteers.

4 Family Friendly

‘A great place to raise your kids with a strong sense of community.’ ‘Family friendly especially for services available for families.’ (MCDI community survey response 2011)

Mirboo North is a healthy and safe environment for raising a family. The town has an excellent education complex and there are a range of services for families with children ArtyGras conveniently located in the town. [email protected] www.mirboonorth.vic.au/artygras The Secondary College’s Year 9 program is a winner of the Gippsland Curriculum Innovation Award and the town Mirboo North Art Show boasts a modern child care centre, kindergarten, play group, www.mirboonorthartshow.com.au toy library and weekly youth club. Mirboo North Arts Council The Mirboo North Arts Council organises regular live Arts & Culture music events throughout the year. Gippsland is home to a lively artistic community and www.mirboonorth.vic.au/arts Mirboo North hosts regular events throughout the year that showcase their talent. Ridge Writers is one of a number of local groups where you can indulge your creative passion for writing, crafting or reading. The annual Mirboo North Art Show and ArtyGras festival www.mirboonorth.vic.au/ridge-writers attracts more than 3,000 visitors to the town over the Mother’s Day weekend and features the work of more than Mirboo North Library 100 exhibiting artists, musicians, dancers and performers. The Mirboo North Library has an extensive catalogue which can be accessed online and also offers internet access. ‘We’re part time tree changers and Mirboo North has offered Ridgway (cnr Brennan Street). us a sanctuary that has a passionate community, creative drive, www.wgrlc.vic.gov.au calm and friendly folk and good old fresh air! Bliss!!!’ (MCDI community survey response 2011) 5 Development

Mirboo North’s local nickname as the An important objective of the Structure larger proportion of households ‘town on top’ owes as much to its Plan is to safeguard the unique village with low mortgage repayments elevated position on the Grand Ridge character of Mirboo North, whilst in comparison to Melbourne road as it does to its continued growth. ensuring that appropriate resources metropolitan. Data from the are available to meet the anticipated 2006 Australian Bureau of Statistics The 2004 Mirboo North Structure increase in residential, commercial shows that overall, 52.1% of Plan highlights Mirboo North’s capacity and agricultural development. households in Mirboo North have for sustainable development and mortgage repayments of less than provides a robust framework to guide Mirboo North’s excellent housing $950 per month. planning over the next fifteen years. affordability is highlighted by the

Residential Development Commercial Development Around 40% of Mirboo North’s working population Ridgway, Mirboo North’s central business district is the heart are employed as managers and professionals. The town of the town. This vibrant 7-day-a-week precinct includes a enjoys a much higher permanent occupancy rate than mix of retail shops, food outlets and local businesses that many other areas in the region. intermingle with the town’s heritage buildings.

Whilst the majority of dwellings are single storey A key strategy of the Mirboo North Structure Plan detached, a key strategy outlined in the Mirboo North is to continue consolidating Ridgway as a commercial Structure Plan is to promote a greater diversity of centre and encourage further development in the housing, particularly within walking distance of the precinct. The ‘Our Town Our Future’ initiative has commercial centre of town. developed a three year Strategic Game Plan to protect and grow the vitality and viability of the town centre. An analysis of residential land supply undertaken for the Structure Plan shows that land availability is currently In addition to Ridgway there are also excellent sufficient to accommodate the projected population opportunities for complimentary commercial growth, however additional rezoning is likely to occur development available between Giles Street in the near future. A mix of medium and low density and Burchell Lane. land is available and there are a number of housing developments currently underway within the township.

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Mirboo North is home to a diverse mix of successful businesses. Manufacturing, large and small scale agribusiness, retail, hospitality and tourism are all well represented within the local area - testament to the appeal of Mirboo North as a viable location, whether you’re relocating an existing business or starting a brand new venture.

South Gippsland Shire Council has a dedicated Economic Development Unit which is a first point of call for business enquiries and staff are on hand to help guide you through a number of processes including:

• Council permit guidance

• Land availability

• State and Federal government grant identification

• Business visitation, linkages with government agencies and networking

Industry Profile

Strzelecki Engineering Strzelecki Engineering is a highly successful business. As a manufacturer of structural steel, the company is more diversified than many of its competitors. The company focuses on commercial and industrial buildings, multi-storey steel work, architecturally designed houses, bridges, heavy maintenance shut-down work and Research & Development.

With up to 500 projects a year, Strzelecki Engineering’s work takes them from Mallacoota to Geelong. Recent projects include the DPI dairy research centre at Ellinbank and a new Coles Distribution Centre north of Melbourne.

Starting life fifteen years ago as a sole-trader, Strzelecki Engineering now employs up to thirty people and generates work for a large number of locally based contractors and suppliers. The company has a strong commitment to creating pathways for young people, offers regular apprenticeships and provides work experience for local secondary college and VCAL students. Owners Paul Van De Rydt and Carmelo Mancarella are firmly committed to Mirboo North as the right location for their business. Strzelecki Engineering is active in the local community providing valuable support and sponsorship for a number of local groups and events.

8 Small businesses make up 96% of all business in Victoria with an increasing proportion of these being home-based. Widespread availability of broadband internet, easy access to the markets of Gippsland, Melbourne and beyond all help to make Mirboo North an attractive lifestyle choice for those wishing to build a small or home-based enterprise.

Industry Profile

Cottage Garden Threads Pam Spurway, founder of Cottage Garden Threads transforms plain thread into colourful hand dyed variegated embroidery thread. In the three years since starting the business, Pam has taken Cottage Garden Threads from the kitchen sink to a successful home-based business that produces in excess of 40,000 metres of hand-dyed embroidery thread each month.

The business supplies over 150 patchwork, quilting and fine embroidery shops in Australia, an increasing number of overseas customers and a bespoke service to a select group of designers.

Pam attributes her success to creating a quality product. Cottage Garden Threads has 134 colourfast colours, available in three thread ranges, each of which goes through an eight stage industry tested process. The innovative packaging used for the embroidery skeins keeps them secure on display and prevents tangling once opened. As a wholesale business Cottage Garden Threads is not dependent on a shop front, relying instead on word of mouth and its website to drive business.

9 Retail Mirboo North’s lively mix of cafes and speciality stores means there’s no reason not to stay local - whether you’re doing the weekly shop, filling a prescription or browsing for homewares. The town’s flourishing retail precinct is supported by:

• A Town Centre Partnership strategy to keep shopping dollars local and actively promote the town as a 7-day-a-week destination

• A balanced mix of quality retail outlets - speciality, food outlets, Community Bank, essentials, hardware and real estate

• Low local unemployment rates with the majority of the resident working population employed as managers (20.2%), professionals (19%) and trade workers/technicians (16.5%)

• Local initiatives e.g. Christmas Trading Night and special events that bring large numbers of visitors to town

10 Agriculture South Gippsland’s reliable climate, consistent rainfall A wide range of certified organic products originate and rich productive soils support a range of established from South Gippsland including milk, berries and orchard agricultural and associated industries. Agribusiness is a crops. Opportunities are plentiful in niche agricultural growth area in South Gippsland, and with the exception markets, many of which do not require large acreages of fodder crops, the value of production across all for viability, such as olives, wine, herbs and bush foods. agricultural industries grew between 1997 and 2006, indicating there is still enormous potential for expansion. Proximity to Melbourne, a reliable climate, land availability, access to a pool of experienced workers Gippsland produces around a third of Victoria’s milk and and opportunities for value-adding all combine to make is a major centre for milk processing, including the large agribusiness an attractive proposition in South Gippsland. Murray Goulburn facility at Leongatha and the Burra Foods facility located in Korumburra. Supporting the region’s dairy industry is a wealth of machinery, repair, stockfeed and dairy supply businesses.

South Gippsland’s natural attributes also make it attractive for the production of other agricultural products including beef and vegetables. Horticulture generates in excess of $21 million dollars for the local economy. Gippsland is a major producer of certified seed and table potatoes, and Mirboo North along with its neighbour Thorpdale, makes a significant contribution to this sector. Key Facts

• In 2011 the gross value of agricultural production in • Beef production generates $141 million for the local South Gippsland totalled $419 million and employed economy and provides employment for over 670 people around 2,200 people • South Gippsland Shire’s Rural Strategy sets out • Dairy farming is South Gippsland’s most important industry, a long term vision for the Shire’s rural areas and providing direct employment for 1,246 people in South will support the continued growth of sustainable Gippsland and is worth $665 million to the region agricultural industries Climate Long-term rainfall and 2009 rainfall charts are based on Temperature Variation (°C)

30 data from the South Gippsland Water measurement site

25 in Leongatha. Long-term rainfall is based on average data from 1892 to 2009. 20

15 Temperature variation is based on data obtained from the 10 Wonthaggi weather observation station and shows average 5 maximum and minimum temperatures for each month.

0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Wonthaggi is the closest weather station to Mirboo North and these values are based on long-term 40+ year averages. Long-term Rainfall (mm)

120 All data sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology website.

100

80

60

40

20

0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 11 Sports and Recreation

Mirboo North has a great range of sporting and recreational facilities located throughout the township.

Walter J Tuck Reserve Pool The Walter J Tuck Reserve, located on Surrounded by lush bushland, this the Strzelecki Highway on the north 25 metre pool has nine lanes, two east side of town, is an important children’s pools and BBQ facilities. community hub in Mirboo North and home to the local , football, www.mirboonorth.vic.au/pool , soccer and clubs.

The reserve has extensive facilities Mirboo North Golf Club including: Mirboo North’s 18 hole golf course is one of the most beautiful in • Two ovals, one of which has a turf Gippsland. The club holds regular pitch for cricket, football and soccer Saturday morning competitions and • Asphalt netball and tennis courts offers spacious club rooms and its own with courtside change rooms and motel located adjacent to the course modern amenities www.mirboonorthgolfclub.com.au • Pony Club arena

• Modern well equipped club Mirboo North Bowling Club and social rooms Founded in 1954 and recently resurfaced, the club is popular amongst locals and Skate Bowl hosts regular tournaments. Located in Baromi Park featuring a concrete bowl which is suitable for skating and BMX bikes.

12 Walks and Parks

Mirboo North’s parks, trails and reserves are among the ‘Mirboo North seems always green and inviting. Its village very best in Gippsland. Whether you’re planning a picnic atmosphere and open parkland and walking trails make or a bush walk, they can be enjoyed all year round. it a wonderful getaway from the bustle of city life.’ (MCDI community survey response 2011)

Baths Road Reserve To the west of Baromi Park lies the spectacularly lush Baths Road Reserve. With 2km of walking track the reserve features an unusual spring-fed water fern plant community known as the King Fern Gully.

Lyrebird Forest Walk 3km north of the town located just off the Strzelecki Highway, the Lyrebird Forest Walk is an easy bushwalk through native forests. The Lyrebirds, for which the walk is named, are known for their ability to imitate the calls of other birds, and can also reproduce the sound of car horns, chain saws and other man-made noises.

Grand Ridge Rail Trail Baromi Park With its entrance located at the Baromi Park is located along the former Walter J Tuck Reserve, the Grand Ridge railway reserve in the centre of the Rail Trail links Mirboo North with the town. In addition to its playground neighbouring town of Boolarra. facilities the Park is the location for the town’s busy monthly market. The trail is used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders. It follows the path of the A recent addition to the Park is the old railway line, which closed in 1974 bushfire memorial by Michael Meszaros. and takes in bush and farmland over The sculpture features a koala (known its 12 kilometres. Visitors to the trail as Sam) receiving a drink of water from are treated to an array of flora, which a fire-fighter. This action by a local changes according on the season. Fauna volunteer during the 2009 bushfires is no less diverse with visitors often captured the imagination of the world, catching a glimpse of swamp wallabies, and came to symbolise the generosity echidnas, wombats, brush tail possums, of people in a crisis. goannas and blue tongue lizards. 13 Tourism

You could start with coffee and cake the village, or picnic in the park Wherever you start or end your at one of Mirboo North’s colourful whilst the kids let off steam in the journey, Mirboo North’s vibrant cafes or, if you’re feeling energetic, a playground. centre will keep you entertained bike ride on the . seven days a week. Later that evening you could grab Later, you could saunter down dinner at the pub and drink an award ‘Clean air for the lungs, sensational Ridgway, browse for homewares winning beer at the Brewery’s restaurant. scenery for the eyes, luscious green and collectibles, stock up for a craft grass for the feet, tweeting bird calls project or pick up a good read at If you’re here on the last Saturday for the ears, beautiful beef for the one of the town’s two bookshops. of the month you can pick up some taste buds - Mirboo North is a five locally grown produce and fossick for sensory experience’. For lunch you could people watch treasures at the market in the park. (MCDI community survey response 2011) from a courtyard overlooking

14 Mirboo North is home to several established events in the Gippsland calendar, attracting large numbers of visitors from the local community and further afield:

Mirboo North Art Show The Mirboo North Art Show, now in its 4th decade takes place over the Mother’s Day Weekend and attracts art lovers from all over Gippsland.

ArtyGras Festival Coinciding with the Art Show, Mirboo North’s ArtyGras is a cultural extravaganza bringing over 3,500 visitors to town.

The Mirboo North Art Show and ArtyGras Festival were awarded South Gippsland 2012 Community Event of the Year.

Mossvale Park Live Music Events This picturesque park hosts a range of top quality live music events through summer and early autumn. Mossvale’s annual ‘Music for the People’ has been running for the past 44 years and attracts up to 1,000 people.

South Gippsland Golf Classic Played over nine days and across nine golf courses including Mirboo North, the Classic attracts over 195 players per day. Unlike many rural towns, most of Mirboo North’s For more information: www.visitpromcountry.com.au shops and cafés are open seven days a week. Along with a number of high profile local events, Mirboo North’s always open for business attitude has established it as Key Facts a tourist destination in its own right. More than 1,700 cars travel the Strzelecki Highway at Mirboo North • 1.1 million visitors to South Gippsland annually every day and there is enormous potential for further growth in tourism. • 1,884 people employed in the tourism industry • Visitors spend around $223 million in South Nestled in the heart of the Strzelecki Ranges, Mirboo Gippsland annually North is the only town on the spectacular tourist drive. Mirboo North is also an • South Gippsland has approximately 400 tourism ideal base for exploring some of Victoria’s best businesses State Parks and the pristine beaches of the south • 73% of visitors originate from Melbourne east coast of Victoria. 15 Mirboo North Township Map

O ld Parker Road

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Jepson Court Gunn Court

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Key P Police Station S Service Station C Church F Fire Station i Tourist information L Library A Ambulance Station H Shire Hall

16 Mirboo North Live. Work. Invest.

For more information: Council Information www.southgippsland.vic.gov.au

Visitor Information www.visitpromcountry.com.au

Mirboo North-Specific Information www.mirboonorth.vic.au

This publication has been produced error, loss or other consequence which by the South Gippsland Shire Council. may arise from you relying on information We do not guarantee that the publication in this publication. is without flaw or is appropriate for Published April 2012. your particular purposes and therefore Photography: tommy gun. Council disclaims all liability for any