SWAN HILL PLANNING SCHEME

21.01 MUNICIPAL PROFILE 19/01/2006 VC37

21.01-1 Location 19/01/2006 VC37 The municipality embraces a geographical area of 6,000 square kilometres. It is located in the north-west of the State of Victoria. The Murray River borders the municipality. The estimated resident population in 2001 was 20,710 persons.

21.01-2 State and Regional Context 19/01/2006 VC37 The municipality is part of a wider region which features an extensive agricultural area and one of the most productive areas of the Murray Darling Basin. Swan Hill’s strategic location and transport advantages enables ready supply to markets in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide. The geographical size and strategic location of the municipality places greater regional importance on Swan Hill, Robinvale and other centres which attract business and service from south western New South Wales and areas in Victoria outside of the municipality. Swan Hill’s location midway between the regional growth centres of Bendigo and Mildura brings potential economic benefits for service industries relating to tourism, transport and distribution of goods and raw materials. The regional role of Swan Hill serves much of the eastern Mallee and south western New South Wales. Co-ordination of strategic and land use planning with the State and local governments in New South Wales is particularly important within the Murray River Corridor, including land within the floodplain. Co-ordinated planning is also important for border towns such as Swan Hill and Robinvale.

21.01-3 Municipal Overview 19/01/2006 VC37

Historical Development

The history of white settlement of the Rural City of Swan Hill has been dominated by the Murray River and the railway lines to Yungera, now closed beyond Piangil and Robinvale. Whereas the river initially provided a means of transport, its importance has grown as a source of water for agricultural production, grazing stock and domestic use. Both river and rail have influenced the pattern of white settlement, development of which is evidenced today by isolated homesteads, small townships established along the rail routes, and more prosperous riverside towns especially Swan Hill and Robinvale. The Rural City of Swan Hill’s distinctive nineteenth and twentieth century character tells an important story about the way of life, rural hardships, taming of the environment, economic and social development within the region. It is important that heritage places are recognised, protected, retained, conserved, interpreted and celebrated and that new development is respectful of and makes a positive contribution to its heritage values. Historically, the municipality’s urban centres developed at different times, and for different reasons. Swan Hill, for example, developed from the late 1840s as a river crossing and stop-over point for overlanders. Some towns were privately subdivided, including Lake Boga (1895), Ultima (1900), Waitchie (1909) and Robinvale (1926). Others developed near tanks which were excavated by early pastoralists, later expanding by Soldier Settlement, such as Chillingollah (1909), Chinkapook (1913) and Annuello (1921). Settlements at Nyah, Wood Wood and Kunat were boosted through the establishment of Village Settlements. Townships have flourished and contracted depending on the population of their hinterland. In some locations, few traces remain of once busy settlements, while other towns have

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developed considerably. Today, each of the towns perform a service role, of some kind, for town residents and rural communities. Land use and development planning needs to support township roles based on service provision, townscape qualities, heritage, proximity to the River Murray or retirement.

People

Swan Hill Rural City, like other parts of the region, has seen structural change in the population for several decades. The population is ageing, and there has been significant population loss from rural areas and small centres, specifically in dryland farming areas. A counter trend is also evident, largely resulting from the location of the municipality, and its two largest centres on the River Murray within increasingly important horticultural areas, and areas where lifestyle advantages have drawn new people to settle. Irrigation areas, and areas along the River generally, have experienced population growth for economic and lifestyle reasons. While Echuca-Moama and Mildura are clear example of this trend, large towns within the municipality have also experienced this population growth and change. In 2001 the estimated population of Swan Hill Rural City was 20,710. This population level has remained stable over previous decades, increasing by less than 600 persons since 1981. While overall population levels in the municipality have remained fairly stable over a long period, there has been a shift of population away from dryland farming areas, into larger centres, and to the Murray River corridor.

Population 1981-2001

1981 1991 2001 AVERAGE ANNUAL CHANGE

Swan Hill 8,398 9,362 9,771 0.8%

Robinvale 1,751 2,081 2,094 0.9%

Lake Boga* 502 482 679 1.5%

Nyah West 535 524 541 0.1%

Woorinen 527 350 323 -2.4%

Nyah 351 340 315 -0.5%

Manangatang 366 300 251 -1.9%

Piangil 185 164 181 -0.1%

Ultima 178 168 132 -1.5%

Balance 7,913 6,861 6,423 -1.0%

Total 20,706 20,623 20,710 0.0%

Source: ABS Census (*includes boundary readjustment 1996-2001) The fastest growing areas in the municipality have been Lake Boga, Robinvale and Swan Hill, as well as their hinterlands. Dryland farming areas, as well as some smaller towns on the River Murray corridor and rural areas in general have lost population over previous decades. The population of the municipality is also ageing. Trends in population movement, employment and the economic structure of farming areas and the towns supported by farming have resulted in a decrease in the number of young people, especially

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young adults in most areas of regional Victoria. Inward migration of older people to larger centres, particularly those with lifestyle advantages and higher level services for an ageing community have increased this component of the population in many areas in this region.

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Age Structure by SLA, 2001

80+

70-79

60-69

50-59

40-49

30-39

20-29

10-19

0-9

0% 5% 10% 15% 20%

Swan Hill Robinvale Balance

Source: ABS Census (SLA: Statistical Local Area) The low proportion of young adults is most evident in rural areas of the municipality, while Robinvale has the youngest age profile. Swan Hill has a higher proportion of people aged over 80 years, relating to the provision of services in this urban centre. Since the previous census in 1996 the proportion of people aged under 30 years in the municipality has decreased from 43.8% to 42.4%, while the proportion aged over 60 years has increased from 17.8% to 18.4% of the population, part of a trend occurring over previous decades. The age structure of Robinvale and surrounds stands out in comparison to other areas of the municipality, and to other areas in the region. Robinvale also exhibits specific characteristics in relation to the growth of a range of ethnic groups within the community. In Robinvale, almost 10% of the population were recorded as indigenous people, much higher than the average for the municipality. The population is also characterised by high levels of people speaking languages other than English (25%) and of people born outside of Australia (20.3%), particularly in Italy, Greece, New Zealand, the Pacific and in Vietnam.

REGION OF BIRTH, 2001 NUMBER PROPORTION

Australia 2,900 74.5%

New Zealand & Pacific 331 8.5%

UK/Ireland 57 1.5%

Northern/Western Europe 20 0.5%

Southern/Eastern Europe 185 4.8%

South East Asia 182 4.7%

Other Asia 7 0.2%

Other 13 0.3%

Not Stated 199 5.1%

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Total 3,894

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Employment

The characteristics of the labour force in Swan Hill Rural City reflect the dominance of agriculture as an industry in the region. Over 25% of the workforce in the municipality are employed in this sector. Other industry sectors employing a significant component of the workforce include retail trade and the community services and health sector. The age of the agricultural workforce is generally older than the overall workforce, with 15.1% of the agricultural workforce aged between 55 and 64 and 7.4% aged over 65 years. This is a feature consistent with other areas of Australia, and presents social and land use management challenges in relation to farm management and farm business succession.

Industry of Employment, 2001

Agriculture, Forestry

Wholesale, Retail Trade

Health/Community Services

Manufacturing

Education

Construction

Property/Business Services

Hospitality &c.

Transport, Storage

Personal/Other Services

Government Admin. Defence

Finance, Insurance

Cultural/Recreational Services

Communication Services

Utilities

Mining

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

Source: ABS Census In urban Swan Hill, the retail trade (18.7%) and the community services and health sector (11.5%) are the largest employment sectors, reflecting the role of Swan Hill as a commercial and community services hub within the region. A similar pattern is evident in urban Robinvale. Overall, the demographic characteristics of the community in Swan Hill Rural City are consistent with other parts of the region. Among the implications of these trends and characteristics are the need to address the consequences of community contraction in dryland farming areas, meeting the diverse housing and service needs of an ageing population and addressing residential population and housing growth in productive irrigation areas. Additionally, the diversity of the community, particularly in Robinvale presents particular development and growth issues and opportunities at a local and regional level.

Agriculture

Extensive rural areas along the Murray River utilise irrigation water for intensive agriculture including grape, stonefruit citrus, nuts, vegetable and fodder production, and

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dairying; while the dryland areas are dominated by extensive grazing and cropping. The total value of agricultural production in the municipality is estimated to be in excess of $344 million. The agricultural base of the municipality and adjoining areas is expanding and diversifying, particularly with new irrigation areas supporting expanded vine planting and vegetable growing. Increasingly the prospects for local food processing are being enhanced. Beef cattle and sheep for meat and sheep for wool production are important industries for eastern Mallee. The pumped irrigation districts of Nyah, Tyntynder, Robinvale, Tresco and private diverters are significant infrastructure for the agricultural sector.

Urban Centres

The municipality’s urban focus is provided by Swan Hill regional centre and Robinvale which serves the northern part of the municipality. Swan Hill is a major regional centre for population, employment, retail, business, industrial, government, educational and health- medical services. Robinvale’s role as a sub-regional centre is growing. It is now estimated that the district (10 km from Robinvale) has a population of 3,917 persons. Smaller centres such as Lake Boga, Woorinen, Nyah-Nyah West, Boundary Bend, Manangatang, Ultima, and Piangil serve local needs. The declining level of services in the municipality’s smaller towns is an important issue.

Transport and Infrastructure

The livelihood of the municipality depends upon efficient transport corridors especially the Loddon and Murray Valley Highways which provide regional connections to Bendigo and Mildura. The local road network is an important road infrastructure that needs to be maintained and improved especially for all weather access. New urban development needs to be integrated with land use and road based transport planning, including public transport. Airports of regional significance are located at Swan Hill and Robinvale. There are limited public transport services between Swan Hill and other regional centre and between centres in the municipality. Water supply is available via the River Murray system and the Torrumbarry Irrigation System. Maintaining water quality of the Murray River is therefore of vital importance for Swan Hill’s future water supply. Reticulated sewerage is available in Swan Hill, Robinvale and the towns of Lake Boga and Nyah/Nyah West. Irrigation districts served by large pumping stations are located at Robinvale, Nyah and Tresco. The Northern Mallee Pipeline is nearing completion and will deliver stock and domestic water from the Murray River to dryland farms and towns.

Heritage

The heritage places within the Rural City of Swan Hill provide tangible links with the past for the local community and they enrich the experience of tourists and other visitors. Heritage places are throughout the municipality along the Murray River Corridor and Mallee. The significance of local Aboriginal heritage and heritage from post settlement needs to be recognised; and sites, buildings and places protected. A Heritage Study for the municipality was completed in 2001. The Heritage Overlay schedule lists over 200 places of individual heritage significance throughout the municipality. Three heritage overlay areas have also been identified, which contain both individually significant and contributory buildings. Established in the late 1840s, the Swan Hill regional centre is by far the oldest settlement in the municipality. However, very little physical evidence now remains of those first few

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decades of the town’s development. The considerable expansion that took place in the late nineteenth century has left its imprint on parts of the town centre, but the bulk of the urban area developed during the first half of the twentieth century. Robinvale was first surveyed as a township in 1883, but serious development did not commence until the Soldier Settlement era of the early 1920s, when the railway line was extended to the town. Repeated crop failure saw the town’s development stagnate until the late 1940s, when returned soldiers and immigrants took up horticultural activities in the area. Much of the built fabric of the township, as it currently exists, dates from the post- World War II period. Lake Boga’s military heritage offers a particularly unique opportunity for tourism. Nyah West, with its unique row of inter-War shops, creates a distinctive township which also has potential for cultural tourism. Future use of obsolete commercial and residential buildings in the municipality’s towns is a concern. Many of these are culturally significant in their own right, as they provide evidence of the early development of respective townships. Numerous individual buildings of this type are included on the Heritage Overlay schedule, and two entire town centres, at Ultima and Nyah West, have been designated as Heritage Overlay precincts.

Tourism

Tourism in the municipality is founded on natural assets, Koori history and cultural heritage of the Mallee and Murray River. The municipality’s location in relation to the Murray River and the Murray Valley Highway between Echuca and Mildura is an advantage in terms of attracting more tourists for stopovers and longer stays. Tourism attractions based on the Murray River, the river towns, recreational opportunities at places like Lake Boga and the Swan Hill Pioneer Settlement are important components of the municipality’s tourism role. Horticultural industries and product and special regional events are becoming important components of local and regional tourism.

Natural Environment

Features of the natural environment include the Murray River and its floodplain, Vinifera and Nyah Forests, Beveridge Island, Speewa Island, Pental Island, Lake Boga, Lake Powell and Carpul, Heywoods Lake, Belsar Island, Lalbert Creek and Lake Timboram, as well as important vegetation communities including Black Box and Cypress Pine woodland and areas of Mallee. Natural assets in the municipality such as forests, the river, lakes, flora and fauna have potential for ecotourism opportunities.

Murray River

The Murray River forms the eastern and northern boundary of the municipality. The Murray River and its floodplain are an environmental and cultural resource of State and National significance. It is an important source of water for urban and rural residents. Protecting the Murray River’s water quality and riverine habitat are major issues for all Murray River Corridor municipal councils. In addition to its significance as a natural resource, the Murray River is important for its historical role in the economic, social and recreational development of Swan Hill, Robinvale and other riverside settlements. A number of riverside places, such as bridges, weir markers, wharf ruins and pumping stations, have been included on the Heritage Overlay schedule. These places need to be preserved, maintained and interpreted.

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