New research into the economic and health benefits generated by waterways in the Wimmera Southern Mallee is about to enter its second stage.

The socio-economic research by Street Ryan plans to repeat its assessment each year up to 2020. Last year’s research revealed the mental health benefits and economic income generated from rivers, weir pools and lakes to Victorians across the region. The report, which may provide a benchmark for other research across the state, found that water provides a critical outlet for physical and mental relaxation, improving the overall health and wellbeing of residents and visitors – more important than ever during times of drought.

Last year’s research commissioned by Wimmera Development Association (WDA) and funded by the Andrews Labor Government found that participation in recreational water activities in the region saw a total cost saving of more than $8.5 million dollars to both the health and mental health sectors in 2016-17. The study highlighted that more than 437,000 locals and visitors visited the 24 waterways analysed in the Wimmera Southern Mallee region in 2017 with a total economic benefit of $27.5 million.

Water for Victoria, recognises the recreational value of water to communities and the role water plays in helping sustain resilient, strong and healthy communities. New water legislation champions the requirement for water managers to consider the benefit and values of recreational water to communities. As part of this recognition, we have recently committed to fund works at Green Lake at Sea Lake so the whole community can gain from the benefits recreational water brings.

The Labor Government is also strongly supporting recreational fishing through our Target One Million plan.

This year’s study will go into more depth to understand the health benefits of the region’s waterways. The project will undertake surveys and collect data from across the region at locations where individuals and groups enjoy our lakes, rivers and weir-pools for recreational activity. It will also assess some waterways not previously included such as Lake Toolondo. Online interviews will be able to be completed by the community from January 1st to March 31st via the Wimmera Development Association website (www.wda.org.au).

This project involves a cooperative effort with local government and local community groups to catalogue the various benefits recreational and environmental water in rivers, weir pools and lakes provide to towns in the region and try and quantify them in terms of social and economic benefits. For example the Jeparit Fishing Competition brings substantial financial benefits with visitors coming from around Victoria. Various camp grounds adjoining lakes attract campers and fishers from both within and outside the region.

This research will help understand where investment to develop infrastructure and services associated with recreational water is needed.

To complete the survey  CLICK HERE

Media Contact:

 Mr Ralph Kenyon - Executive Director

 Wimmera Development Association

 (03) 5381 6500

 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday March 21, 2018

Wimmera River injects $4.75 million into local economy

A study into the value of water for the environment reveal the Wimmera River contributed $4.75 million to the economy in 2017 with fishing competitions providing major boosts.

Last year's Horsham Fishing Competition on the Labour Day weekend injected around $400,000 into the region and Jeparit’s Easter event, $144,000.

Horsham Fishing Competition committee president Adele Rohde, speaking after the successful 2018 event, said information in the report was critical to the sustainability of the annual event.

"As a mostly volunteer committee, we don't have the resources or expertise to undertake this kind of detailed research and having that data is critical to us being able to attract support for future fishing comps," she said. 

"This year's long weekend included a lot of events around the fishing comp, creating a carnival type atmosphere in the town, and it's fantastic to see the people coming here to enjoy our beautiful river and all that is on offer in Horsham."

Wimmera Development Association has released the figures after further analysis of 2017 results from the Wimmera Southern Mallee Socio-Economic Value Recreational and Environmental Water study.

Wimmera CMA chief executive David Brennan said this analysis provided valuable information about water for the environment, which plays a key role in maintaining river health so activities like fishing competitions can occur.

“Although this study is still in its infancy, it’s exciting to read through the results and hear it direct from the local community and visitors from afar what the Wimmera River means to them.”

The Wimmera River analysis gives researchers baseline evidence for comparison during the four-year life of the study. Analysis also shows:

• The river contributes over $2.5 million annually in physical and mental health benefits.
• Fishing is the most popular activity (23.8%) followed by attending events (17.7%) and just relaxing (17.6%).
• Walking, running and exercising along the river were the activities people participated in most frequently.
• Horsham, Dimboola and Jeparit river users exceed Australian Government recommendations of five hours physical activity each week, with a weekly total of 8.4 hours.

WDA executive director Ralph Kenyon said the findings provided critical data for future investment and development of Wimmera River sites. One example is plans for a $3-million cycling-walking-camping trail, from Dimboola to Lake Albacutya near Rainbow.

“This study is giving us a better understanding of shared benefits from water for the environment including economic and social benefits,” Mr Kenyon said.

“It allows us to demonstrate the local and regional impacts water has in our region to help attract funding and other support for developing infrastructure and services. It also shows that previous investments such as the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline, which provides a secure supply of water for the environment, continue to reap many rewards.”

WDA is coordinating the socio-economic research of 24 waterways in partnership with Wimmera CMA, GWMWater and six Wimmera Southern Mallee councils. The project is largely funded through the Victorian Government’s Water for Victoria initiative with contributions from councils and GWM water.

2017 findings estimate the 24 surveyed waterways provide a total annual economic contribution of $27.5 million, attracting more than 437,000 visitors.

• WDA encourages people to contribute to Stage 2 of the project by visiting

https://wda.org.au/ and completing the online survey before March 31.

• Download the full report of the Socio-Economic Value of Environmental Water, Wimmera River Sites 2016-17 here: Wimmera River Economic Value

End of release

More than 110,000 people live in Western Victoria, with only limited access to passenger train travel.

A further 60,000 people living in south east South Australia could also benefit from improved connectivity through Victoria to provincial and capital cities.

Regional Councils have recognised the need for improved public passenger services for many years. A recent detailed study commissioned by eight Western Victorian Councils proved there is significant demand for improved public transport and linkages to Ballarat and Melbourne.

The Western Rail Project is seeking:

• More passenger rail services between Ararat and Melbourne
• The return of passenger rail services to other parts of Western Victoria, including Horsham and Hamilton
• Extra coach services to improve connections between road and rail services
• Upgrades to all operating rail stations in Western Victoria to ensure they are accessible to disabled and elderly people.

For more information CLICK HERE

Wimmera health agencies are confident a new video promoting the uniqueness of the region will help to attract health workers from all corners of the globe.

The four health agencies of the Wimmera Southern-Mallee Health Alliance (WSMHA) launched the video release on Wednesday at the Regional Best Practice and Innovation Forum at Goroke Community Health Centre.

The video clip takes a brief look at the range of people from different backgrounds that have made the move to the region to work and encourages people to consider the Wimmera and Southern-Mallee as a great step for career and lifestyle.

The health services will use the clip on their individual websites, job advertising platforms and social media networks in the hope to highlight the positives of living and working in the region.

WSMHA Spokesperson, Mark Knights, said the video was impressive and would help attract a varied range of health professionals.

“When people look for work in health professional roles, they look at the entire region and its opportunities” Mr Knights said.

“The clip will help show the opportunities for both career progression and great work-life balance in the Wimmera and Southern-Mallee” he said.

“We believe the passion we have and our people have for this region comes across in the clip and will help promote the Wimmera and Southern-Mallee as a great destination for a range of people across the health sector.

It is up to us as a region to convince everyone else what we know is great about everything on our doorstep, this is one way we can do this.”

The video clip, produced by Horsham videographer Lynton Brown, can be viewed on YouTube using the link https://youtu.be/WXKElh6QehI

Wimmera Development Association is excited by the news that the Wimmera Weather Radar project has been successful in gaining funding from both State and Federal Governments.

WDA has been advocating for the regions’ agriculture sector to gain access to this technology for over 10 years.  A submission was written in 2011 to support the sector and a business case including regional case studies completed in 2015 by WDA. 

Recently a delegation comprising of WDA, Wimmera Southern Mallee CEO’s and Mayors travelled to Canberra to discuss regional priorities including the radar.

WDA would like to thank and acknowledge all who have been involved in the project over many years including regional producers and support agencies, farming networks, RM Consulting Group, WSM councils and local members for their support.

The Weekly Advertiser article – Wimmera Weather Radar Confirmed 6/4/16

Wimmera Mail Times article – Wimmera to receive $5m Weather Radar Station

ABC News article - Weather radar announced for Victorian grain belt, ending 10-year farmer campaign

Official Media Release - Andrews Labour Government puts Wimmera on the Radar

Background

The Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Plan identifies in “Strategic Direction 1: Strengthening the Farming Sector’s Capacity to Prosper in a Changing Climate” that farmers need ‘localized and accurate weather information to enable decisions to be made as seasons unfold’. A priority area for action in the plan is to advocate for ‘weather watch radar in the Wimmera Southern Mallee to enable more timely and effective on-farm operations’.

In November 2016, the Labor Government provided a $15,000 grant for the Wimmera Development Association to establish a business case to have a real-time radar in the local regional area.

This study has now been successfully completed and the Labor Government announced that the weather radar will be one of the first funded projects under the Agriculture Infrastructure and Jobs Fund.

The Labor Government has committed up to $5 million towards capital costs whilst the Federal Government will cover commissioning costs of $3.25 million, along with all annual operating and maintenance costs for the next 15 years, which will cover the life of the station.

The Wimmera and Southern Mallee areas are major food and fibre producing regions and the Wimmera Doppler Weather Radar Project has the potential to deliver significant economic benefits to the region.