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Our strategic direction is guided by the Great South Cost Food and Fibre Action Plan and is intrinsically aligned with the Great South Coast Economic Futures Report 2020. In 2020-21 and beyond, we will focus our resources on optimising impact and unlocking the opportunities to grow the value and capacity of the Great South Coast’s food and fibre industry. We will do so by concentrating on four Strategic Platforms to foster regional growth and capacity.
Click here to view the full report.
This plan is managed by the Great South Coast Food & Fibre Council for the entire Great South Coast Region with reach across 5 shires from the SA border to Colac and from the Grampians to the coast.
The plan is propelled by the economic imperative of needing to continue to grow food & fibre output from the region’s businesses. The region today is a food and fibre powerhouse for the State of Victoria and Australia, with over $2.4 billion of farmgate value produced annually. Growing this engine has a dramatic impact on the economy of the region, as well as exports from Victoria. Building and continuing year on year growth will deliver prosperity, jobs and better communities. The region has vibrant food producing sectors in red meat, grains and cropping, forestry, wool and dairying with integrated downstream industries in milk, meat and aquaculture.
While the plan targets increases in the value across and up the region’s supply chains, just as importantly, the plan also targets the removal of capacity constraints that are impediments to growth and investment. Allied with this, the plan sets out to provide capacity into the future through targeted affirmative action in such areas as: providing a skilled workforce, career pathways in food & fibre for our young people, the right policy settings that support growth of our sectors, public investment in the region, and regulations that are fit for purpose for the region. These settings and capacity building will enable the Great South Coast to attract investors and enhance investment possibilities.
According to ABS statitics, agriculture, forestry and fishing (including first stage processing) is the largest sector (21.6% of regional employment) of the Great South Coast economy and occupies 72% of the land area.
• The largest commodity sectors (by value) are dairy, cattle and calves, sheep meat and wool.
• Food processing is also a major industry in the Great South Coast – particularly meat and dairy processing.
• The region boasts a key bulk handling port (Portland) which transports agricultural produce of bulk grain, live animals and forestry products from surrounding regions and employs 400 people.
Click on a region to see it on the map
Population: 16,125
Area: 665,196ha
Pop’n employed in agriculture, forestry & fishing: 20.3%
Gross Regional Product: $0.91bn
Predominantly Meat and Wool – produces 15% of Australia’s wool clip
Population: 16,794
Area: 547,803ha
Pop’n employed in agriculture, forestry & fishing: 26.2%
Gross Regional Product: Predominantly Dairy, Red Meat and Fisheries
Population: 34,571
Area: 12,076ha
Predominantly processing of dairy and meat products as well as providing services to the surrounding agricultural area
Population: 16,212
Area: 440,731ha
Pop’n employed in agriculture, forestry & fishing: 30.8%
Gross Regional Product: $1.08bn
Predominantly Dairy, Dairy Processing, Red Meat
Population: 19,695
Area: 621,471ha
Pop’n employed in agriculture, forestry & fishing: 13.9%
Gross Regional Product: $0.99bn – has experienced 9.1% growth over the past year
Predominantly Fisheries, Forestry and Red Meat
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Are you looking to reduce energy costs, improve energy efficiency and explore renewable energy options? On-Farm Energy Assessments: Available free of charge for eligible businesses under the AEIP to assist farmers in identifying where they may reduce energy costs. Applications for on-farm energy assessments will close on 15 July 2021.
keep readingFriday 23 April 2021 MEDIA RELEASE FOOD & FIBRE SHIFTS THE FOCUS TO SUCCESSION PLANNING Food and Fibre Great South Coast today laid the foundation for the ongoing success of the region at the inaugural Succession Planning Event held at Deakin University, Warrnambool, with around 50 guests in attendance. The event was proudly supported by […]
keep readingFriday 23 April 2021 MEDIA RELEASE FOOD AND FIBRE KICKS OFF BOLD STRATEGY TO GROW OUR REGIONAL FUTURES Food and Fibre Great South Coast today launched ‘Growing Our Regional Futures’, a strategic roadmap to realise the future prosperity of the Great South Coast. This roadmap looks beyond just food, and focuses more broadly on all […]
keep readingComplete your details below to receive the Great South Coast Food & Fibre E-prospectus which will be available in July 2019
