DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES The Wimmera region The Wimmera region is predominately a dryland cropping area. It covers an extensive area of western , extending from the Wimmera South Australian border to Stawell in the east and the region in the north, bordered by Rainbow and Birchip. The region is based on broadacre cropping and employment, Located in western Victoria, services to industry and value adding activities in the region reflect the Wimmera region is the prime this. Agriculture in the Wimmera is highly export focussed with over dryland cropping area of Victoria. 60% of all crop products exported. The progressive nature of the region is reflected in its strong social infrastructure and thriving community groups. The region is also home to some of the state’s most unique national and state parks such as the and Little Desert national parks.

Major industries Broadacre cropping is the major agricultural activity in the north of the region with major crops including cereals, pulses and oil seeds. Wheat grown in the region is predominantly Australian Premium White (APW), suitable for general food use, Middle Eastern flat breads and instant noodles. Biscuit, noodle and feed wheat are also produced. Barley is the second most prevalent crop in the region and is grown as either malting quality or feed. Common pulses grown are field peas, chickpeas, lentils, faba beans, broad beans, lupins and vetch. Most are exported to Asia and the Middle East, some as stockfeed. Canola is an established crop in the Wimmera and some safflower is also grown for oil. Sheep and some beef cattle are the dominant livestock industries in the Wimmera, mostly in the south west. Sheep are produced for wool and meat. Only four dairy farms are located in the Wimmera. Mining for gold is a significant activity in Stawell and mineral sands mining is underway in the south-west Wimmera near the town of Douglas and planned for the Donald region. Niche and emerging industries Regional agricultural statistics There are approximately 2,700 farm establishments in PROCESSING INDUSTRIES the Wimmera. Average farm size is in the order of Nhill has the largest duck meat processing facility in 880 ha in the Wimmera, slightly smaller than the drier and both Horsham and Stawell operate Mallee region to the north. Average annual rainfall in domestic abattoirs. Significant quantities of olive oil the region is approximately 450 mm but varies to are produced and bottled by three companies in the approximately 350 mm in the northern extremities to Wimmera. One more has been recently established in 550 mm in the south. Telopea Downs in the far north west of the region. Farm incomes from dryland cropping enterprises vary This will become the region’s largest olive oil enormously from year to year due to seasonal production establishment with nearly 600 ha of conditions and world grain prices, the latter strongly olives, all processed on site. influenced by production in competitor countries and Seven Wimmera companies produce value-added the value of the Australian dollar. pulses and occasionally cereals and oilseeds through Agricultural production in the Wimmera was worth processes as simple as cleaning, grading and $955 million in 2003/04. The top ten commodities bagging. Two of these companies undertake splitting. produced in the region by value are shown in the These grains are then exported in sea containers. graph below. The stockfeed industry is also significant with large quantities of oaten hay exported to Japan. A small number of niche businesses operate in the Wimmera. With the exception of wine grape production, they are generally dryland based. Herb production, goats for meat and hair and shedded sheep are some of the niche businesses in the Wimmera.

Wheat for grain 204,008,311 200 Barley for grain 191,132,250

150

Sheep & lambs slaughtered 111,171,414 100

Wool 70,825,273 Pigs slaughtered Canola 56,512,321 55,589,970 50 Lentils Cattle & calves 33,277,731 Pasture seed slaughtered 23,031,357 Cut flowers 21,995,652 18,513,438

$A WIMMERA

Resource information Natural resource information ENERGY LAND UNDER CONSERVATION Stawell and Horsham are connected to natural gas Parts of the Grampians National Park fall within the and the region generally has good electricity supplies, Wimmera region as does the Little Desert National but three phase power is unreliable in some smaller Park. The Big Desert Wilderness Park borders the centres, particularly in the west. region in the north west. WATER There are numerous conservation reserves maintained Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water supply open by Parks Victoria, particularly in the west of the region. channel domestic and stock water to Wimmera (and WATER BODIES & RIVERS Mallee) farms as well as towns in the region. Irrigation water is not readily available and ground water is only The Wimmera has an abundance of natural and man available in the far west of the region. The West made lakes and reservoirs including the largest Wimmera townships of Nhill and are supplied natural freshwater lake in Victoria, Lake Hindmarsh. by ground water and centre pivot irrigation occurs Many of these have been dry since the late 90s. near the South Australian border. Apart from the stock and domestic water supply TRANSPORT channel system the is the most significant water course and Yarriambiack Creek is a The Wimmera region has a wide range of courier, major tributary. container, and bulk haulage transport, along with rail transport to the port of and the port of OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES Portland. Gold mining at Stawell is an established industry and major employer for the town. Mineral sand mining has commenced at Douglas, south-west of Horsham.

TOURISM Tourism in the north is significant in the Grampians and Little Desert national parks. Numerous lakes across the region and the Wimmera River also attract tourists. The shire of West Wimmera is home to some of Australia’s endangered bird species such as the red-tailed black cockatoo and brolga and has internationally recognised wetlands. Mount Arapiles, a popular rock climbing venue, is close to the town of Natimuk. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES

Regional demographics Regional Industry EMPLOYMENT Associations & Organisations Agriculture is the region’s major employer, providing DPI Regional Contact 23% of the jobs in the region. The next largest Brian Kearns employment sector is manufacturing with approximately T: (03) 5362 2110 half as many employees as agriculture. Retail, health E: [email protected] services and education are also important employers in the region. Employment in professional jobs has Wimmera Development Association grown by 14% from 1996 to 2001. Philip Sabien, Executive Director T: (03) 53 81 1744 EDUCATION E: [email protected] The University of Ballarat has a campus in Horsham, Wimmera 2020 offering a range of degree courses. Most large Phil King, Executive Officer regional centres have secondary schools through to T: (03) 53 82 1277 VCE level. Primary and pre-school services operate in E: [email protected] many centres. Wimmera Catchment Management Authority POPULATION T: (03) 53 82 1277 The population of the Wimmera is estimated to be www.wcma.vic.gov.au 50, 812. Overall, the population has declined by half a DPI Community Relationship Manager per cent in the past five years, however internally Terry Lewis migration has occurred from rural areas into large T: (03) 5362 0729 rural centres like Horsham. E: [email protected] Major towns in the region and their populations include:

Horsham 13,241 Stawell 6,142 Warracknabeal 2,490 St Arnaud 2,400 Nhill 1,980 Dimboola 1,496 (ABS, 2001)

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