DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES GOULBURN The Goulburn region Although the Goulburn region makes up only 12% of Victoria’s area it Goulburn encompasses some of Victoria’s most productive land. Goulburn The region has a temperate climate with excellent access to water resources combined with a variety of soil types and microclimates.
The area’s rich natural resources have fostered the development of Located in the north of the State, some of the most productive agricultural enterprises in Australia. the Goulburn region is often described as the 'food bowl' A huge range of quality food products are continually harvested such of Victoria. as milk, deciduous fruits, grains, beef, oilseeds and many more.
Some of the world’s most successful food companies plums, nectarines, nashi, kiwi fruit, oranges, lemons, are located in the region and there are now more than limes and cherries. 20 factories processing regional farm produce. In In response to the changing global marketplace, the excess of $630 million has been invested in food industry has developed intensive, high density planting processing infrastructure during the past few years. systems to produce early yielding, good quality, price The Goulburn region provides significant competitive fruit. The resulting additional tonnages are opportunities for investment, economic growth and available for export markets, mainly in South East Asia. export development. There are approximately 50 orchardists with packing The Goulburn region is home to a significant sheds licensed by the Australian Quarantine and proportion of the State’s biodiversity, internationally Inspection Service to pack fresh fruit for export and recognised wetlands, nature reserves and forests. twelve well-known companies that export fresh fruit.
Major industries The northern region of Victoria has the highest concentration of dairying in the state and leads the nation in milk output by region. It produces about 13% of the nation’s milk production. There are nearly 3,000 commercial dairy farms in the Goulburn Region, with 12 factories receiving milk in the area. Goulburn region dairy products include milk, butter, cheeses, yoghurt, and dried milk products. All 12 factories in the region supply the export market with product, and all but one supply the domestic market. Comprising some 400 growers, packers and exporters, the Goulburn region is one of Australia’s premier fruit growing areas. The region offers one of the widest selections of fresh, ready to eat or processed fruit. Some of the fruits grown include apples, apricots, peaches, pears, The abundance of quality food products in the region Resource Information including milk, orchard fruits, tomatoes, grapes, rice, meats and oilseeds has resulted in the establishment WATER and development of many food processing facilities. The Goulburn Broken Catchment Management All processors in the Goulburn region sell their Authority is the local catchment authority. It has products to both domestic and international responsibility for river and irrigation water quality, customers, mainly in New Zealand and South East caring for salinity and drainage problems, pest Asia. control, stream management and regional drainage. The Goulburn region is home to 95% of Australia’s Goulburn Valley Water is responsible for water, processing capacity for tomatoes. sewerage and trade waste facilities. It provides services to approximately 70,000 people located in The Goulburn region produces the greater majority of 28 cities and towns. Victoria and Australia’s fresh and processed tomatoes. High quality tomato products are currently being Goulburn Water provides irrigation, stock and exported to New Zealand and some niche markets in domestic water, diversions and drainage services to South East Asia. rural customer groups. It operates and manages the water/irrigation systems within the region. Within the Strathbogie Shire near Nagambie there are now at least 600 ha of vines, developed by both ENERGY established wine producers and numerous private Powercor Australia distributes electric power to the investment groups. Vineyards are also being established region. The larger towns and cities throughout the in the areas around Echuca, Cobram and Murchison. region are connected to natural gas.
TRANSPORT Regional Agricultural Statistics Shepparton is one of the largest road freight centres The Goulburn region has over 5,600 farming in Australia. Several large trucking companies operate establishments. in the region. The total area of private holdings is 1.6 million ha and Warehouses and regional distribution centres have the total value of agriculture from the region is $1.5 been developed to service the region’s growing food billion. companies. Shepparton is located on the main Melbourne - Brisbane Highway. The top ten Goulburn region Agricultural Industries by value are shown in the graph below. There is a bulk railway centre at Mooroopna with the capacity to load containers directly for rail transport to Melbourne and the sea port.
Milk $389m
350
300
250 Cattle & calves slaughtered 200 $200m
150 Pastures & grasses $123m Sheep & lambs Apples Pears excluding slaughtered 100 $92.1m Nashi $85.1m Tomatoes $80.6m Wheat for grain Nurseries & $67.6m $67.3m Wool flowers & turf 50 $49.4m $48m $ million GOULBURN
Natural Resource Information Regional Demographics Over 1.6 million ha of the Goulburn region is under DEMOGRAPHICS AND EMPLOYMENT cultivation. Of this area, 285,000 ha is under 28.3% of residents in this region have some type of irrigation, and 320,000 ha is used for intensive academic or vocational qualification, compared to horticulture and dairying. 34.8% in Victoria overall. The Goulburn region has some of Victoria’s most The Goulburn region is culturally diverse, with over valuable natural and cultural resources. 40 nationalities represented. The region is comprised The region consists of over 100 wetlands on private of sizeable Italian, Iraqi, British, German and Dutch and public land, which accounts for over 3,000 ha of communities. The region is also home to Muslim protected wetlands. There are four internationally community of more than 2,100 people, the majority listed and protected Ramsar sites. with either Iraqi or Turkish backgrounds. The Barmah Forest is the largest Red River Gum Forest The region also has the largest indigenous population in the world. This forest, along with the Lindsay in Victoria outside the metropolitan area. Wallpolla and Gunbower Reserves are three major EDUCATION sites of international ecological significance. The Latrobe University operates a campus in WATER BODIES AND RIVERS Shepparton, offering a range of degree courses. The Goulburn region is bordered to the north by the Agricultural education to degree level is available at Murray River, and has Victoria’s longest river - The the University of Melbourne Dookie Campus. The Goulburn - running through it. The region has both Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE operates out of stock and domestic water supply channels Shepparton offering a wide range of courses to throughout. Advanced Diploma level. Secondary schools can be found in each major centre OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES such as Shepparton, Echuca, Numurkah and Benalla. Tourism is a major industry for the region with over 7% There are also many Primary schools throughout the of the population employed in recreational or region in larger towns such as Tatura, Murchison and accommodation services. The main attractions are the Nagambie. ‘Fruit Bowl of Australia’ around Shepparton and Mooroopna and the Murray River to the north of the region. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES
POPULATION The Goulburn region has a relatively young Regional Industry population, with 75% of the population aged between Associations & Organisations 5 and 60 years. Those aged between 18 and 50 make DPI Regional Contact up approximately 42% of the population of the region. Agribusiness Development Officer - Goulburn The population in the region has grown at an average Department of Primary Industries annual rate of 1.3% between 1996 and 2001. T: (03) 5833 5397 The major industries employing people are retail, E: [email protected] agriculture, forestry, manufacturing and tourism. Regional Development Victoria Major towns in the region and their populations include: Patricia Chick T: (03) 5821 1811 Shepparton-Mooroopna 35,828 E: [email protected] Echuca-Moama (Echuca part) 10,955 Northern Victoria Fruitgrowers’ Benalla 8,614 Association Ltd. Seymour 6,441 Mr Ross Wall, Executive Officer Kyabram 5,534 T: (03) 5825 3700 Cobram 4,554 www.nvfa.com.au Yarrawonga-Mulwala (Yarrawonga part) 4,025 Wallan 3,955 Australian Processing Tomato Research Kilmore 3,632 Council Inc. Numurkah 3,382 Ms Liz Mann, Industry Development Manager (ABS, 2001) T: (03) 5825 4633 www.aptrc.asn.au Horticulture Australia Mr Richard Bennett, Manager Quality & Food Safety T: (03) 5825 3753 www.horticulture.com.au DPI Community Relationship Manager Brian Thompson T: (03)5761 1641 E: [email protected]
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