Investor’s Information

lmw.vic.gov.au Our service region’s Our service region’s Our region has Rural Bulk Water Entitlement top produce for the highest Dried value agricultural Table production of any 90% Grapes region in 354,105 75% at $1.9 billion gross Pistachios Almonds Citrus ML 48% 24% value for 2012. 68%

• The potential impacts of climate change on OUR REGION settlements, including flood and bushfire, in a Our Lower Murray Water Service area is part of the naturally hazardous landscape Loddon Mallee North Region (LMNR) which comprises • Federal and state government policies are having the northern most parts of Victoria and the regional a significant impact on growth, particularly cities of and located on the Murray water reform, with the investment in significant River plus the surrounding smaller towns and infrastructure projects communities such as and .

With a ‘Mediterranean’ climate that is noticeably warmer Mildura and drier than the rest of the state, being both inland and within the ‘rain shadow’ of the Great Dividing Range. Agriculture, aquaculture, food and beverage The region has good soils and irrigation and Mildura is manufacturing are large export industries for Mildura, nearly as far north in latitude as . drawing on it’s location and surrounding quality irrigated and non-irrigated rural land. Mildura services Strategically located along important intrastate and surrounding agricultural areas and mining and resources interstate transport routes, putting it in a strong towns. It is a base for regional industry with an position to deliver products to port and leverage emerging solar energy industry. increasing global demand, particularly from , the region is recognised as being part of the Murray Current Statistics Darling food bowl. • Output (2014) - $2.3 billion Gross Regional Product • Regional Exports - $343.75 million Agricultural production in our region is diverse with • Employment - 1829 jobs irrigated horticulture, as well as large scale dryland • Population - Approx 54,666 cropping and grazing. The LMNR is the largest contributor to agricultural output in the State with the Gross value of Agricultural production for the region in 2012 was $1.9 billion, with fruit contributing OUR PROJECTS $867 million, almonds $650 million and cereals $666 million (Australian Bureau of Statistics). The Modernisation Project (SMP) is the Agriculture provides employment and agriculture biggest upgrade of irrigation infrastructure in the exports for the region. history of the region. The irrigation renewal project is being delivered by Lower Murray Water. It is a joint Key drivers of change in the region include: initiative between the Commonwealth and Victorian • Expanding the role of the regional State Governments and Lower Murray Water. as a hub for higher order services and road, rail and air transport, connecting the region via state capital The SMP modernises the irrigation systems in the cities to national and international markets Mildura, Red Cliffs and irrigation districts; • The continuing trend towards the concentration of allowing water to be delivered 365 days per year to population, employment and services into a few irrigators in more than two thirds of the Sunraysia larger urban centres that provide opportunities and District. It is creating an estimated 180 jobs in the access to education, health and transport local area and includes upgrading of pump stations, • The region becoming an attractive alternative given replacing sections of channels with pipelines, installing the relative affordability of housing compared to modern metering systems and upgrading regulators. and larger regional centres, combined with the regional lifestyle, amenity and culture • is the third busiest passenger Airport in Victoria with three airlines and flights to Melbourne, and Sydney • Freight – Local trucking companies with industry expertise and good access to markets and ports in Adelaide and Melbourne SMP2 Info to come > > Water Infrastructure > > • Access to Australia’s longest river - The Murray > • Significant investment into our irrigation > infrastructure with opportunity to diversify crops > • We offer access to upgraded irrigation assets with > 365 day supply for district customers for irrigation > and cropping > • Modernisation of large scale irrigation systems and > infrastructure > • Potable water and wastewater systems > • Irrigation drainage systems under our four irrigation > districts > • A State legislated right of ownership of water by > customers > • A licensing structure which provides a right to access > and use water from the river > > Manufacturing > > • The region has a history of agriculture-related > manufacturing including fruit and vegetables, dairy, > meat and grain processing and irrigation development. > The manufacturing sector is a significant economic > contributor in the Mildura region > • Food processing – Almonds, carrots and mushrooms > are processed in the region

Utility Infrastructure OUR STRENGTHS • Power The region has considerable strengths which • Telecoms and NBN (from 2016) can be built on to create continued growth • Natural Gas available in Mildura and prosperity. Health, Education and Employment Agribusiness • We have excellent secondary and tertiary • High number of sunlight hours educational facilities to strengthen communities, • Land available, zoned agricultural use business and industry • We have productive agricultural land and value • SuniTAFE and Latrobe University have courses adding farming practices which meet modern business and industry needs • Extensive farm service and farm supply businesses for the region • World’s best production systems for many crops • Hospital and medical centres • Skilled agricultural and trades workforce with Access to Markets/Transport Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing a top employment industry with 18% of total employment for the region • Extremely cost-effective for housing and services • We are the only region in Victoria with tri-state compared with metro centres access with road, rail and air connections to support business industry and people movement • Centralised location with Melbourne, Adelaide and Business, Industry and Services Sydney accessible within one day via road or air travel • Rail link – Freight rail line with recent approval for • Mildura and its regional centre of Swan Hill provide major upgrade to serve Victorian ports high order services • Large regional retail centre with major chains and Solar and Renewal Energy boutiques in Mildura • Access to affordable land • Large solar footprint can support and stimulate • We offer a high percentage of affordable housing solar and renewable industries with potential to and lower than average level of housing stress reduce energy costs

OPPORTUNITIES High Value Food Processing

The agricultural industry has the potential • Attract investment to the region to increase outputs to adapt and grow based on the many and build export capacity to generate the highest competitive advantages of the region, output in the state including magnitude of scale, aggregation of land, modernised irrigation, good soils and Transport Infrastructure Upgrades climate. • Upgrades to road, rail and air infrastructure to deliver Agribusiness Development improved productivity, safety and access to markets • Rail upgrades are underway with the Victorian • Land available within 30% of pumped areas (more Government Murray Basin Rail Project than 5,000 hectares) • Road upgrade projects such as the Mildura Heavy • Zoned agricultural use; suitable for multiple crops Vehicle Bypass Project will improve road access • Private diversion available directly from the Murray • Support for the proposed Transcontinental Rail Link River from to the South Australian border will assist in growing the region’s export capacity • Potential to diversify into agribusinesses such as almonds, pistachios, olives, citrus, persimmons, pomegranates, asparagus and broccoli Sustainable Growth

• With additional investment we can accommodate Water sustainable growth and attract further investment • New agribusiness global markets available with • $120m investment in the modernisation of our the Australia-China Free Trade Agreement, there irrigation infrastructure supports our farmers is opportunity to open up new major market to develop and adopt flexible, innovative farming opportunities options that will increase output and productivity • Established irrigation supply infrastructure in place with specialist utility supplier • Modernised system (pumps and pipes) • 365 days supplier / 24 hours for winter cropping or plant ‘cooling’ in summer • Certainty provided by Victoria’s allocation and regulatory systems • Irrigation water sources from Murray weir pools • Potential for development of ‘peaking’ dams • Benefit of irrigation water from separate river catchments

Support For Investors

Coordination of local and State agencies via inter-agency agreements including willingness to re-plan and re-engineer existing infrastructure • Mildura Rural City Council (Local Council) • Swan Hill Rural City Council (Local Council) • Lower Murray Water (Water Utility) • Mallee Catchment Management Authority (Environmental and allocation)

Planning and investment support • Irrigation system confidential advisory support • Local knowledge about land ownership and commercial funding contracts