Great South Coast Agriculture, Food and Fibre Prospectus

Food - Fibre - Water - Energy - Secure

Agriculture, Food and Fibre Prospectus Great South Coast Victoria

Acknowledgement of country Food and Fibre Great South Coast pays our respects to and acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where we live and work - the Gunditjmara and Eastern Maar peoples, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

We recognise and respect their cultural heritage and continuing connection to land, water and community, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

In our Agricultural, food and fibre pursuits, we are committed to continuing the sustainable custodianship of the Great South Coast’s natural resources.

Contents Welcome to the Great South Coast Victoria! ......................... 5 What makes us GREAT! ............................................................ 7 Great South Coast Agricultural Powerhouse .................... 8 Our Agricultural, Food & Fibre Industries .......................... 10 A Great Future .......................................................................... 12 Great Region, Great People …............................................... 14 Research & Innovation .......................................................... 16 Committed to a Green Future ............................................. 17 Regenerative Ecosystems ...................................................... 18 Smart Farm Innovation .......................................................... 19 Water Security .......................................................................... 20 Transport & Logistics ............................................................... 22 Connectivity .............................................................................. 23 Government Investment & Support for Agriculture....... 24 Investment Opportunities ...................................................... 25 GREAT reasons to relocate to the Great South Coast ...... 38 Regional Lifestyle .................................................................... 40 Find out more ........................................................................... 42

Welcome to the Great South Coast

It is with great pride and pleasure that Food and Fibre Great South Coast is showcasing and representing Australia’s number one region for investment in agriculture.

The region prides itself in not only being the largest food and fibre-producing region, producing an average of $4.14B in agricultural output annually over the past five years; it is also a key centre of manufacturing. It is also a valued education hub, as we are endowed with many education facilities and the renowned Deakin University Warrnambool Campus, the latter offering a global education on a local scale. Our regional infrastructure within the Great South Coast region is now said to outperform city infrastructure, which, when combined with regional home and land packages available, offers key employees great incentives to relocate to the region.

Food and Fibre industries (agriculture, fisheries, and forestry) underpin our regional economy, accounting for 16.8 per cent of the region’s GVA, generating 16.3 per cent of total jobs. Agriculture and related food production industries make the Great South Coast an unequivocal rival when exploring relocation or business development opportunities.

The Great South Coast region has a temperate climate, with mild to warm summers and cold winters. Summer average maximum temperatures are around 22 to 24°C near the coast and in elevated areas and 25 to 27°C inland. Winter average maximum temperatures are around 12 to 14°C. The Great South Coast is the most reliable rainfall region in Victoria with the pasture growing season extending nine months of the year. Rainfall occurs mainly in winter and spring and is generally the result of rain-bearing weather systems coming from the west.

The area around Hamilton and Warrnambool receives around 600–700 mm of rain annually, the primary resource sustaining our thriving agricultural sector.

The Great South Coast is a world-class tourism destination with a strong domestic and international visitor economy expected to grow significantly over the next decade. It is home to the world’s most scenic and breathtaking coastal drives, with the iconic Twelve Apostles attracting nearly three million visitors annually. The city of Warrnambool and the towns of Camperdown, Port Campbell, Hamilton, Portland and Port Fairy not only are a mecca for tourists, but also offering outstanding livability to their local populations and viable economic base to regional farming communities.

Food and Fibre Great South Coast and our regional partners, Deakin University, Wannon Water, Local Government and Regional Development Australia Barwon South West, welcome you to our region.

We are delighted to offer you the opportunity to engage with us to better understand and explore the business opportunities, considering the lifestyle options and residential benefits that the Great South Coast in Southwest Victoria can offer you, your business, and your employees.

Regards,

Oonagh Kilpatrick Oonagh Kilpatrick Chair, Food Fibre Great South Coast

GRE AT SOU TH COAST VICTORIA

5

What makes us Great!

It is my pleasure to welcome you to this prospectus and the exciting opportunities ahead for all of us.

The Great South Coast Economic Futures report identified several high value economic development pathways for the region. These pathways will be transformative for the local economy and beyond. Food and Fibre is one of these outstanding opportunities.

As highlighted in this prospectus, the Great South Coast Food and Fibre sector is very strong, innovative and incredibly well positioned to leverage this further. The region is committed to net zero emissions and through our local renewable energy production, already makes an important contribution to assisting the nation achieving its targets. We are becoming a location of choice with our plentiful water supply and rapid transition to clean and green food and fibre provenance. The Great South Coast is leading work on developing the new green transport sector through our Hycel Technology Hub at Deakin University Warrnambool.

The Great South Coast is a very strategic and collaborative community. It has ambition and an effective network of community leaders and organisations aligned to a shared vision. Bringing together new investment, business, government and communities will be an important enabler in creating the future for the region we all want.

The Great South Coast Economic Futures Project Steering Group is committed to being a part of the solution to achieve the outcomes and success the region is striving for. We look forward to working with you all to progress these exciting opportunities in Food and Fibre across the Great South Coast.

Grant Sutherland

Research & Innovation

Renewables

Resources

Regenerative Ecosystem

Grant Sutherland Chair, Great South Coast Economic Futures Project Steering Group

Investment Ready

GRE AT SOU TH COAST VICTORIA

7

What makes us Great!

Great South Coast Agricultural Powerhouse

7.7B 7,856

over

ANNUAL OUTPUT JOBS

GVA ($M)

% of Total

Jobs

Sheep, Grains, Beef & Dairy Cattle

1,091.6

14.2%

6,863

Poultry & Other Livestock

15.3

0.2%

77

Other Agriculture

43.8

0.6%

246

Aquaculture

9.2

0.1%

57

Forestry, Fishing & Hunting

11.7

0.2%

56

Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing Support Services

43.2

0.6%

557

Agricultural Output

Source: Remplan 2023

$

% 5 .

9 2 of V

ef

s be

ia’ ictor

33.0% of Victoria’s milk

32.4%

Source: ABS Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia 2020-21

of Vic toria meat ’s sheep & wo ol

AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHING

16.8%

of the region’s GVA Source: Agriculture Victoria, 2018

generating 16.3 per cent of total jobs.

The $16.3 billion red meat sector in Australia has the potential to expand to $22.2 billion by 2030 (Protein: A Roadmap for unlocking technology-led growth opportunities for Australia, CSIRO 2022)

Our Region The Great South Coast Regional Partnership consists of five municipalities extending from the Shipwreck Coast to the South Australian border.

Southern Grampians (S) Casterton

Coleraine Hamilton

Glenelg (S)

Moyne (S)

Portland

Mortlake

Corangamite (S)

Terang Camperdown Koroit Port Fairy Dennington Allansford Cobden Warrnambool

Warrnambool (C)

GRE AT SOU TH COAST VICTORIA

9

What makes us Great!

Our Agriculture, Food & Fibre Industries Beef VICTORIA'S TOTAL 29.5% OF PRODUCTION VALUE The Great South Coast contributes to 29.5% of Victoria’s beef production and represents 26.4% of the Great South Coast’s overall agricultural output value.

The strong growth in demand for grass fed beef, combined with rising demand from Asia as they adopt more western style diets – especially high protein ones – suggest strong prospects for the Great South Coast beef industry.

Dairy VICTORIA'S TOTAL 33.0% OF PRODUCTION VALUE The Great South Coast’s dairy farms contribute to 33.0% of Victoria’s milk production and represents 32.7% of the Great South Coast’s overall agricultural output value.

Companies operating within the region have been able to take advantage of both economies of scale and density of production to strengthen their production offering.

Meat was Victoria’s second largest export industry in 2022 with sheep meat the second largest product by value ($4.3B) and up 44% on the previous year.

The favorable climate, reliable rainfall and fertile soil conditions are some of the key driving forces behind the region’s strength in dairy, offering stability of supply.

Sheep

Food Processing

VICTORIA'S TOTAL 32.4% OF PRODUCTION VALUE

FOOD MANUFACTURING $319M GVA IN THE GREAT SOUTH COAST

21.7% Of the Great South Coast’s value of agricultural production is sheep meat, and 7.6% is wool.

The gross value add of food product manufacturing in the Great South Coast is $319 million.

Research undertaken at the Red Meat Innovation Centre in Hamilton drives innovation in this area.

Current research into sheep focuses on new technologies and practices to increase lamb production and productivity.

The main types of food processing in the Great South Coast are dairy, meat, seafood and grain.

Great South Coast is able to take advantage of a clean and green image alongside biosecurity benefits in this export-orientated market.

The production of sheep meat provides the region with an opportunity to capitalize on changing diets in emerging Asian economies.

10

G R E AT S O U T H COAST V I CTO R I A

The main food processing locations in the Great South Coast are Warrnambool, Camperdown, Cobden, Portland, Hamilton and Koroit.

Regional exports:

68%

of Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing Output

LGAs

Southern Grampians

Glenelg

Corangamite

Moyne

Warrnambool

POPULATION

16,393

20,041

15,993

17,470

35,559

% AG EMPLOYMENT

21.8%

15.4%

31.9%

33.7%

1.4%

GRP

$1.3bn

$1.4bn

$1.4bn

$1.2bn

$2.9n

AG GVA

$285.0m

$223.0m

$377.2m

$368.2m

$39.8m

Source: Remplan 2023

What makes us Great!

A Great Future!

TO MILDURA

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Casterton

Coleraine

TO ADELAIDE

Hamilton Mount Gambier

Koroit Portland Livestock Dairy Mixed farming (Grains, Horticulture, Specialised crops) Henty & Grampians Wine regions Green Triangle Forestry Region Green Energy and Value Add Production AgriTourism – Boutique Artisans Organic Food Bowl Aquaculture & Seaweed

Port Fairy Warrnambool

The Great South Coast embraces regenerative economic development principles with the aim to grow the value of our region’s food and fibre production to improve the prosperity, well-being, and resilience of all, serving our local, national and international communities.

Our Value Proposition: • Value-add processing of dairy and red meat products and by-products for use in highvalue fortified nutrition, supplements, and pharmaceuticals • Value-add processing of timber by-products for biofuel, biochar and fertilisers. Additive manufacturing utilising timber by-products for application in environmentally sustainable packaging, construction, aviation, automotive and medical sectors • Production and value-add processing of organic grains, seeds, pulses, dairy, meat, specialised crops, herbs, spices, superfoods, native food, and medicinal plants • The production of Pinot Noir and other coldregion grapes and wines

Mortlake Terang Allansford

Camperdown Cobden TO MELBOURNE

• Irrigation and value-add processing of suitable high-value horticultural opportunities: olive oil, nuts, avocados, flowers and wholesale nurseries • The biowaste to energy production precinct: solid waste management, green energy, and supply chain options to value-producing agribusinesses • Transport logistics and export finance guarantees to support small and mediumsized agribusinesses • Production and value-add processing of aquaculture and seaweed • The application of research in biotechnology, genetics, seaweed, hydrogen, and related technologies • Boutique artisan value-add production for farmgate sales and exports.

GRE AT SOU TH COAST VICTORIA

13

Great Region, Great People… + Waltanna Farms + Grange Garlic + Maneroo Farms

MANEROO FARMS Prime Lamb & Beef Producer

Georgina Gubbins, managing director of Maneroo Farms runs a 3000 sheep and 800 Angus cattle operation at Heywood, Great South Coast, producing high value beef for the restaurant and lamb for the domestic trade.

As former Chair of Food & Fibre Great South Coast, Georgina is a great advocate for the region, she generously shares her experience as a successful farmer.

“People don’t realise that the southwest is the number one producing region in Victoria, and we have consistently been in the top three nationally and that’s how important we are to the Australian economy.

We optimise the impact and unlock the value and capacity of the region’s food and fibre industry.”

“I farmed in South West Queensland and appreciate the reliability of rainfall in the Great South Coast region. There is more money and less stress in mud than dust…”

- Georgina Gubbins, Maneroo Farms

14

GR E AT S O U T H COAST V I CTOR I A

WALTANNA FARMS “There is no better place in Australia than the greater Hamilton region to embrace innovation and experimentation with crops and value add…”

- Mike Nagorcka, Waltanna Farms

GRANGE GARLIC “Garlic wants to grow in the Hamilton Region, and the returns per hectare are significantly more than broadacre cropping or grazing” - Wayne & Tracey Schild

Grange Garlic is a family farming business based at Croxton East, 20 minutes east of Hamilton in the Western District of Victoria.

“We are a vertically integrated business, linking the worlds of horticulture and food processing to create a proudly 100% Australian product. We produce the only fresh minced garlic available in Australia. Significant opportunities for export to the rest of the world exist, as there is a rise in the market for healthy food. Australia’s reputation for producing healthy and safe food is widely acknowledged. We are very proud of our award– winning fresh minced garlic. It is an all-Australian product that naturally captures the health-giving properties that garlic has to offer! ”

Waltanna Farms is based in Hamilton, a pristine pocket of the South-West Victorian farming region in the fertile basalt plains at the foothills of the Grampians.

“Having identified the value of growing chemically free produce early on, we were ahead of our time when some of the Waltanna Farms paddocks became certifiably organic as early as 1998” Mike Nagorcka conveys his generational story of early adoption and innovation …

Waltanna Farms operates a unique gate-to-plate quality management system. It is an ever-evolving production system enabling the delivery of consistently high-quality products. The non-chemical crop management solutions include companion planting, regular crop rotation and sowing seeds consistently close together to deter weeds.

“We proactively use existing farm assets for heat recovery, cooling and energy generation in our food production processes while striving for zero waste through the innovative use of our by-products and cover crops…”

Adaptive growing and processing techniques and decades of investment in science and research have enabled Waltanna Farms to build a reputation for accessible, palatable and nutritionally matchless products.

“Our production increased 10-fold over the last three years, delivering supplies to over 380 companies worldwide...”

Research and Innovation Deakin University’s Hycel is an industry- informed and led regional hub advancing Australia’s clean energy transition.

Hycel Technology Hub: Australia’s first hydrogen Fuel Cell Research, Prototyping, Fabrication, Education and Training Facility, Deakin University, Warrnambool Hycel connects Deakin’s hydrogen research and education capability with industry, government, and community partners.

At Hycel Deakin’s renowned research capability in advanced materials and manufacturing, engineering, energy systems, IT, artificial intelligence, technoeconomics and social sciences are complemented by world-leading infrastructure and equipment.

Mobility Optimising fuel cells and energy systems to support a transition from fossil fuels to hydrogen in hard-to-abate transport and beyond.

M M

Op pro co an hy an

ity

Committed to a green future Our research is approached holistically, tackling technological challenges in heavy vehicle mobility, and materials and manufacturing alongside developing solutions for education, training, and social licence.

Research and project teams work together to meet the needs of industry and partners.

Strategically located in Warrnambool, the Hycel Technology Hub is adjacent to key transport corridor connecting industries, communities and resources.

As a regional hub for testing hydrogen technologies at scale, Hycel is building momentum for the region to capitalise on the increasing national and global demand for hydrogen, whilst also supporting the local economy to attract further investment.

gand fuel cells and pport a support a ort tems a to fuels to fuels to from ls to fossil abate te n hard-to-abate d. beyond. and

Education Education Education

Developing hydrogen education Developing hydrogen Developing education hydrogen education training pathways in the andand training pathways and training in the pathways in the school, vocational, tertiary, school, vocational, school, tertiary, vocational, andand tertiary, and professional sectors to sectors prepareto prepare professional sectors professional to prepare Australia for the ofthe the future.

Australia for the Australia jobsjobs offor the future. jobs of the future.

Materials and and Materials Materials and Manufacturing Manufacturing Manufacturing

Optimising materials Optimising materials Optimising for for materials for production, storage, storage, production, storage, production, containment and purification, containment and containment purification, and purification, green chemicals to supportto support andand green chemicals and green to support chemicals hydrogen distribution, usage hydrogen distribution, hydrogenusage distribution, usage infrastructure. andand infrastructure. and infrastructure.

Social licencelicence Social licence Social

Understanding Understanding Understanding andand and implementing practice implementing implementing bestbest practice best practice approaches to social licence that approaches toapproaches social licence to that social licence that build awareness and acceptance build awareness build and awareness acceptance and acceptance of hydrogen’s role in the role in the of hydrogen’s of role hydrogen’s in the transition to zero emissions transition to zero emissions transition to zero emissions energy. energy. energy.

GRE AT SOU TH COAST VICTORIA

17

Regenerative Ecosystems Integration of Resources, Energy, Water and Ecosystems

“Agriculture plays a key role in our regional economic development, for a continuous level of farm surplus is one of the wellsprings of technological and commercial growth…

Our farming and forestry communities are committed to building a regenerative economy that supports biodiversity, climate resilience and thriving soils capable of growing healthy livestock and bountiful crops.

With our partners and farming community, we are leading the transition towards a secure future…”

- Food & Fibre Great South Coast

18

GR E AT S O U T H COAST V I CTOR I A

Smart Farm Innovation The Hamilton Smart Farm is focused on the delivery of transformational impact in forage innovations and high rainfall production systems.

Dairy, red meat and grains productivity.

Initiatives Protecting Biosecurity – tracing of stock movement • Traceability • Exotic diseases • Invasive plants and animals

Emissions reduction – measuring and managing carbonOFFICIAL emissionsOFFICIAL

• Know your number – On-Farm Emissions Action Plan Pilot

Adapting to climate change • New genetics • Evaluation of forages for climate adaptation in the projects

Reducing Reducing Emissions Emissions - Decarbonisation - Decarbonisation OFFICIAL• New beef-dairy systems, mixed

OFFICIAL

• Measuring nitrous oxide emissions in cropping systems OFFICIAL

species swards

Adapting tomethane Climate • Measuring production in Change cing Emissions -Agriculture Decarbonisation operations Agriculture is the fourth-largest is the fourth-largest source of source of Digital management of farm

• New industries, for example, Industrial Hemp and solar energy

animal • Field and greenhouse evaluation of 17% 17% Adapting to Climate Change • Solar water pumping stations emissions inemissions Victoriaare in Victoria • Carbon sequestration – elite forage germplasm managed via sensors and switches

agroforestry, industrial hemp

rgest source of that provide real-time information asuring Emissions Measuring Emissions • Energy efficiency – agrivoltaics, toria • Greenfeed Smartfeeder OFFICIAL Know your • number Know your – On-Farm numberEmissions – On-FarmAction Emissions Plan Pilot Actionlighthouses Plan PilotOFFICIAL New

17%

New Systems New Adapting to Climate Change Adapting to Climate Change Systems

• Sensors to measure pasture • Feed supplements and forage Measuring • nitrous Measuring oxide nitrous emissions oxide inemissions cropping systems in cropping systems production and quality Genetics systems to mitigate methane OFFICIAL New Action Plan Pilot• Smart Feeder to monitor feed AGRICULTURE IS THE Measuring • methane Measuring production methane in production animals in animals OFFICIAL OFFICIAL Genetics intake ping systems FOURTH-LARGEST on - Upskilling Agriculture SOURCE OF EMISSIONS • Real-time monitoring of soil OFFICIALChange missions -moisture Decarbonisation Adapting to Climate DairyFeedbase accumulation Portable accumulation chambers chambe Know Your Number Know Your NumberINPortable VICTORIA and temperature gation Mitigation

Climate Change Newfor climate uation of forages New Newadaptation in the Adapting toNew Genetics ments digital technology to improve Systems Systems cts Genetics forages for climate adaptation in lighthouses the ce of efficiency Energy Energy – agrivoltaics, efficiency – agrivoltaics, lighthouses long-term viability of farming trial hemp• Smarts New New asture New New Intercropping Lighthouses Feed Agrivoltaics Alternative Systems Genetics Genetics Systems Feed supplements • Feed supplements and forage systems and forage to mitigate systemsmethane to mitigate methane sesilient DairyFeedbase Forages Conversion Legumes marts DairyFeedbase Greenfeed Smartfeeder Evaluation of forages for climate adaptation in the mitigate oragemethane Value Index ofFutures DairyFeedbase Evaluation forages for climate adaptation in the projects Forages DairyFeedbase

New DairyFeedbase Carbon sequestration • Carbon sequestration – agroforestry, – agroforestry, industrial industrialPortable hemp accumulation chambers Know Your Number hemp

sors Pilot and switches that provide

New Ne Industries Ind

Source: Hamilton Smart Farm

New Industrial Industries Hemp

New Indust

Evaluation of forages for climate adaptation in the

projects Evaluation of forages projects for climate adaptation in the •luePasture IndexSmarts Futures • Pasture Smarts projects ms • Resilient Forages • PastureDairyBio Smarts • Resilient Forages uality • Pasture Smarts • Forage Value Index Futures • Resilient Forages • Forage Value Index Futures

• Resilient Forages of elite forage ield and greenhouse evaluation DairyBio • Forage• Value Index Futures Forage Value Index Futures DairyBio ermplasm DairyBioof elite • Field and greenhouse evaluation of elite forage erature greenhouse evaluation forage

Intercropping Alternative Legumes Species mixes Intercropping Portable accumulation chambers Know Your Number of elite Alternative Legumes Intercropping germplasm Species mixes • Field and greenhouse evaluation forage Intercropping DairyBio 8 Industrial Hemp Alternative Legumes DairyBio m germplasm Legumes mixes Species mixes 8 Agrivoltaics Farm forestry Farm seedforestry orchard seedSpecies orchard • Field andGreenfed greenhouse evaluation of elite Alternative forage OFFICIAL OFFICIAL Intercropping Agrivoltaics Energy efficient Energy lighthouse efficient lighthouse Farm Forestry Measuring Dairy-beef Energy Resilient Animal feed conversion Animal feed conversion • Field and greenhouse evaluation of elite forage Agrivoltaics Farm forestry seed orchard OFFICIAL Alternative Legumes Intercropping germplasm l feed conversionSeed Orchard Species mixes Smartfeeder EmissionsUGV with sensors OptionsIndustrial Hemp Forages Alternative Legumes Systems germplasm Species mixes FICIAL Industrial He

thane

Industr

lling Agriculture UAV with red edge camera Crossing Tents

chnology to improve ity of farming

PRG Nursery

Resilient forages Mixed Species swards OFFICIAL

Dairy-beef systems

9 PRG Nursery Measuring greenhouse emissions forages Resilient foragesgasResilient Dairy-beef systems Dairy-beef systems Mixed 8Species swards PRG Nursery ssing Tents Mixed Species swards OFFICIAL Greenfeed Smartfeeder Agrivoltaics Farm forestry seed orchard OFFICIAL OFFICIAL

Crossing Tents

OFFICIAL

PRG Nursery Crossing Tents

Energy options 7

Energy 7op Energy options

Water Security How is water managed in our region?

A range of key agencies work together to manage water resources, each organisation with a different role and providing different services to the community.

Wannon Water manages drinking water, recycled water and sewage/ trade waste.

Southern Rural Water is the licensing authority and regulator for groundwater and river water access.

Local councils manage urban stormwater.

Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) manage river health and environmental water.

Wannon Water's service area encompasses a variety of catchments accessing a diverse range of surface and groundwater supplies.

These water sources have proven to be reliable and very secure even during extended periods of drought. The catchments are managed by the Corangamite CMA and the Glenelg Hopkins CMA. Wannon Water services a wide range of communities and customers and is committed to enabling economic development in the Great South Coast.

“We see the connection to helping our communities flourish more broadly. We have a long history of managing water supply assets, and have a network of bores, treatment systems and skilled operators familiar with the region’s unique resources” – Wannon Water.

Rainfall in the Great South Coast is winter-dominant, and the growing season extends eight to nine months.

The median annual rainfall in Hamilton was 619 mm measured between 1983 and 2023; it increases towards the coast, with the Portland median being 840 mm per annum over the same period (Bureau of Meteorology).

Groundwater is a significant resource source supporting agricultural industries in the Great South Coast.

Currently, groundwater provides 50 percent of the total water used for farming, industry and potable water supplies for cities and towns in the region.

The South West Limestone aquifer is the primary agricultural groundwater source for the Great South Coast, located between Port Campbell and the Victoria and South Australian border.

619 mm median annual rainfall

Groundwater licences can be issued for a maximum 15-year term before requiring renewal.

Licence holders must apply for licence renewal. All licences due for renewal in 21/22, were approved.

Currently, the groundwater use across the region is below 50% of entitlement. Water entitlements can be increased through trade with other existing licence holders. Carry over of unused entitlement is allowed up to 30% of entitlement per year.

120GL

total groundwater currently licenced

50GL

of groundwater used per year

1000+

groundwater licences

The deeper Dilwyn aquifer is a climate-resilient supply source with a large volume of unallocated water.

Wannon Water has existing bores with unused licence capacity that could provide expanded access to this resource.

South West Limestone Aquifer Annual Trade Summary 3000 2500 Trade volume (mL)

Aquifiers in the south west region

2000 1500 1000 500 0

2018

2019

Permanent trade

2020

2021

2022

Temporary trade

Source: Southern Rural Water

GRE AT SOU TH COAST VICTORIA

21

Transport & Logistics The Great South Coast is serviced by the Port of Portland, the Port of Geelong and the Port of Melbourne via the Princes Highway and the south west rail line.

Birchip

Within the Great South Coast, the Port of Portland enables direct access to national and international markets, ensuring efficient exports of agricultural produce from the region.

The port services the region’s rich agricultural industry, particularly logs, woodchips, timber products, aluminium ingots, grains, cattle and sheep, and has the capacity for live exports. The recent completion of a 107,000-square-foot cold storage facility enables processed food exports.

The Port of Portland enables direct access to national and international markets, ensuring efficient exports of agricultural produce from the region.

30+ countries currently importing and exporting to/from Portland

Forestry

Charlton

Donald

Grain

Horsham

Dunolly

Ararat

Livestock & Dairy

Carlton Casterton Hamilton Mount Gambier

Heywood Portland

GREEN TRIANGLE Global gateway to the Green T riangle Region.

Aluminium Warrnambool

L

Fertiliser

Mineral Sands

Aquaculture & Seafood Horticulture

Imports

Exports Imports and Exports

Connectivity Transport and energy infrastructure • 2 railway corridors: Warrnambool, Geelong, Melbourne; Maroona, Portland • 5 major highway corridors: Princes, Hamilton, Glenelg, Henty and Hopkins • Major highway linkages with metropolitan Melbourne to the east, Ballarat and the Wimmera Mallee to the north, and Adelaide in the west • Major aiports: Melbourne Tullamarine provides an international gateway to the Great South Coast

• Regional airports located at Cobden, Warrnambool, Portland and Hamilton, and proximity to Avalon airport in Geelong

Melbourne → Adelaide - 734 km

• Wind farms located along the coastal region and hinterlands

Melbourne → Portland - 351 km

• Portland high voltage powerline supplying electricity from Victoria’s national grid

Adelaide → Portland - 540 km

Melbourne → Hamilton - 311 km Melbourne → Warrnambool - 257km Adelaide → Warrnambool - 600 km Adelaide → Hamilton - 500 km

• Broadband network, including satellite, fixed wireless and fixed line services throughout Great South Coast.

• 3 Major ports: The Port of Melbourne, Geelong and Portland.

The Port of Portland, has a naturally deep-water port and is one of Australia’s busiest ports

Mildura

Adelaide Ouyen

Speed

Sea Lake

Ultima Regional roads

Woomelang

Main highways

Quambatook

Railway lines

Birchip Boort

Donald

Flights

Charlton Bendigo

Horsham

Dunolly Maryborough Ararat

Carlton Casterton Mount Gambier

Ballarat

Hamilton

Melbourne

Heywood Geelong Portland Warrnambool Source: Value Add GSC, 2023.

Cobden

Lorne

23

Government Investment & Support for Agriculture

Key Worker Housing investment Led by the Department of Families Fairness & Housing (DFFH) and Regional Development Victoria (RDV)

Agriculture Victoria

• A new $1 billion Regional Housing Fund to deliver more than 1300 new homes across regional Victoria – led by DFFH.

• The Victorian Government has committed $43 million of EAD funding to help prepare for an emergency animal disease event.

• A new $150 million Regional Worker Accommodation Fund to provide new housing options for regional communities where key workers are struggling to find affordable places to live.

• AgRIN (2020-24) $15m to support a vibrant, globally competitive Victorian AgTech industry.

Regional investment Led by RDV and Aboriginal Economic Development

• Victoria invested $28 million in the SVBS Program to support the transformation of Victoria’s biosecurity system.

• $31.2 million for Victorian Grown, Distillery Door grants and farmer health and wellbeing.

• The $5 million Pathways to Export program is supporting small-scale and emerging agri-food businesses to develop export capability, access to international markets and grow.

• A new $20 million Aboriginal Economic Development Fund will support Aboriginal business and employment programs and support Aboriginal cultural tourism initiatives – led by Aboriginal Economic Development.

• Vic House is a permanent trade pavilion in Shanghai that has contributed more than $15 million in export growth for Victorian companies.

• A $20 million has been allocated to Tiny Towns to deliver more projects that will provide better public places and spaces to Victoria’s smaller cities – led by RDV.

Department of Transport & Planning

• A new $25 million Council Support Package will help councils deliver their planned revitalisation and other projects for the benefit of locals – led by RDV.

• $1.1 billion has been allocated to upgrade regional rail and road infrastructure.

Department of Home Affairs • Designated area migration agreement (DAMA) for the Great South Coast provides access to more overseas workers than the standard skilled migration program.

DAMAs operate under an agreement-based framework, providing flexibility for regions to respond to our region's unique economic and labour market conditions.

The DAMA program in Great South Coast endorsed 140 (50% of total) positions within the agricultural sector for the following occupations: agricultural technicians, dairy cattle farm operators, agricultural & horticultural mobile plant operators, beef cattle farmers and senior dairy cattle farm workers.

24

GR E AT S O U T H COAST V I CTOR I A

$1 billion Regional Housing Fund to deliver more than 1300 new homes across regional Victoria.

Investment opportunities

Dairy

Great South Coast is one of Australia’s leading dairy farming regions, contributing to 33.0% of Victoria's milk production and represents 32.7% of the Great South Coast’s overall agricultural output value.

Companies operating within the region have been able to take advantage of both economies of scale and density of production to strengthen their product offering. The favourable climate, reliable rainfall and fertile soil conditions are some of the key driving forces behind the region’s strength in dairy, offering stability of supply.

Glenelg Cattle & calves Sheep & lambs Milk

$118.8m $73.8m $43.3m

Opportunities in the dairy sector include:

Southern Grampians Sheep & lambs $315.9m Cattle & calves $95.5m Milk $10.1m

Moyne Milk Cattle & calves Sheep & lambs

Warrnambool Milk Cattle & calves Sheep & lambs

$15.4m $8.3m $0.3m

Corangamite Milk Cattle & calves Sheep & lambs

Data Source: ABS Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia–2020-21 Please note production is measured in terms of gross value

• Automation & carbon reduction of farm operations $410.0m $289.9m $146.5m

$455.7m $216.8m $61.0m

• Value add products focused on Health & Wellness Market • Low-volume, high-value products in the pharmaceutical industry, for example, Lactalbumin, lactoferrin, colostrum, antibiotics, probiotics, etc • Whey products for the export market. Whey products designed for use in the vegetarian fortified food market in India have high growth potential • A rising number of local artisans produce products for farmers’ markets and farm gate sales to a strong and vibrant international and local tourist market.

Key Stats:

33%

OF VICTORIA'S MILK PRODUCTION

Victoria produces 61% of Australia’s milk Victoria produces 73% of Australia’s dairy exports

Investment Opportunities

Red Meat

The Great South Coast is a significant beef and lamb producer, accounting for 29.5% and 33.1% of Victoria's total beef and sheep meat production, respectively, amounting to $1.39 billion in Gross Value.

Reliable rainfall provides an unparalleled season of nine months for pasture growing and successful meat production.

Australia's food and fibre exports by state value (%)

The Great South Coast takes advantage of a clean and green image alongside biosecurity benefits and commitment to net-zero emissions providing a competitive edge in an export-oriented market.

2%

The production of sheep meat allows the region to capitalise on changing diets in emerging Asian economies. CSIRO’s Protein Roadmap for Australia forecasts the potential of red meat integrity systems for exports and for red meat for health and wellness markets to expand from $16.3 billion to 22.2 billion by 2030.

Investment Opportunities in the sector include:

• Integrity systems in the red meat sector to help verify the origin of production, support compliance, prevent risks and support research • Expanding Australian red meat exports into new geographic markets • Turning lesser cuts of red meat into value-added protein powders and nutraceuticals • Precision fermentation • Cultivated meats.

7%

TAS

OTHER

11%

26% VIC

SA

16% QLD

20%

18%

NSW

WA

#2

VICTORIA IS THE NATION'S SECOND LARGEST EXPORTER OF RED MEAT (BY VALUE).

Data Source: ABS Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia– 2020-21. Please note production is measured in terms of gross value

Key Stats:

44%

OF AUSTRALIA'S SHEEP PRODUCTION

Victoria is Australia’s largest sheep meat producer Victoria is Australias leading food and fibre exporter at 26%

27

Organic Food Bowl

The Australian Organic Market Report 2021 (the Market Report) shows Australians are buying more organic products than ever.

According to the Australian Organic Market Report, 80% of shoppers purchased an organic product in the past 12 months, equating to approximately 9 million households.

Household penetration of organic products grew by 3.6% to 92%.

Due to the lack of regulatory compliance in the organic food production industry, the demand for certified organic produce increased sharply over the past five years. The demand for organic food products is currently double what is produced.

Ibisworld reports organic farming revenue in Australia is expected to expand at an annualised 8.4% over the past five years – including an anticipated growth of 9.0% in the current year – to total $2.8 billion in 2023-24, with profit margins estimated to reach 25.4%.

The region offers substantial knowledge and expertise to farmers or investors interested in entering this market.

Certified organic farm management expertise and market access are available to farmers interested in diversifying from grazing to producing organic crops in the Southern Grampians region.

CSIRO’s economic analysis finds that opportunities identified in the 2017 Food and Agribusiness Roadmap focused on the health and wellness sector could be worth $25 billion by 2030.

Southern Grampians-based organic farmers produce, process and package Certified Organic cereal crops, oils, flowers, and seeds. The region currently produces 1200 tons of flaxseeds and 2,500 oats, barley, and plant-based proteins, sold to companies in the health food industry to be processed.

Key Stats:

$2.8B

2023-24 REVENUE IN AUSTRALIA

80% of shoppers purchased an organic product in the past 12 months

Investment Opportunities

Biowaste to Energy and Value Add Food Production The proposed Camperdown Industrial Precinct is an Environmentally Sustainable Industrial Waste Treatment Plant to realise a future investment in agricultural value-add processing in the region.

The Corangamite Council seeks investment in biowaste to energy solutions for the Camperdown Production Precinct to realise long-term growth and investment for the region and its stakeholders.

Significant opportunities for synergy and shared value exist through:

The aim is to establish a net-zero industrial precinct – moving from consumer to net energy generator, aligning with net-zero wastewater treatment, Carbon Neutrality Plan 2030, shared circular economy, and Waste to Energy initiatives to support the national target of 80% average resource recovery rate from all waste streams.

• Precinct Operational Entity participation – own/operate energy cooperative.

Key Stats:

$4–7.8 billion

POTENTIAL NEW INVESTMENT IN AUSTRALIA BY 2025

• Renewable energy generation (solar or biogas/ biosolids), and

indicative diagram

Potential creation of up to 9,000 construction jobs as well as 2,600 indirect, and 1,400 direct and ongoing jobs in regional and rural areas.

29

Boutique Artisans

Artisan and small niche producers play an important role in increasing the connection between consumers and industry sustainability practices.

Local producers can take advantage of the large and growing tourism markets travelling through the region, leveraging the high-quality agricultural produce and the region’s pristine environment and natural assets. Worldclass agritourism experiences such as Cheese World near Warrnambool, the 12 Apostles Gourmet Trail and The Port Fairy Taste Trail provide visitors with opportunities to immerse themselves in local production and processing.

Several of these operations are multifaceted and embrace agritourism and education, producing with local produce and embedded sustainable business practices.

Recognising their important role in contributing to and building the Great South Coast regional brand awareness, government support for the sector through grant schemes encourages investment in the production of value-added products like gin, beer, wine, cheese, ice cream, chocolate, and much more…

If you are interested in trade opportunities with our Artisans, see our local produce supplier list on www.12apostlesfoodartisans.com.au and portfairyaustralia.com.au/taste-trail

Key Stats:

$97 Billion

REGIONAL VICTORIAN SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC OUTPUT

Victoria exports 36% of Australia’s prepared food exports $16.4B Total domestic spend in regional Victoria

Investment Opportunities

Forestry

The timber industry (forestry and logging) in the Great South Coast is a key plantation and wood products region for Australia, with the Great South Coast encompassing much of the Victorian side of the Green Triangle Forestry Region that straddles South Australia.

The Green Triangle is a significant forestry region, containing over 334,000 hectares of Tasmanian blue gum and Pinus radiata plantations – much of which is in Victoria’s Great South Coast. The Victorian plantation estate produces $338 million in flow on economic activity, supporting nearly 2,110 jobs with a 4.6% share of the regional economy.

Forest & Wood Products Australia identified the following investment opportunities:

2030+

5-10yrs

End uses

Agriculture & horticulture

• Metadata & Supply Chain Management in the Forestry Sector • Heavy vehicle transition to hydrogen

Packaging

• Automation & robotics in data collection, harvesting and transportation • Research & development on genetics, crop quality and yield • Use of forestry byproducts in the production of biofuel and biochar

LVL / CLT / GLT

• Use of forestry byproducts to produce cellulose and nano-composite packaging (intelligent packaging to prolong the longevity of food, food safety, recyclability and self-healing abilities)

Housing

Renewable energy

Biomass Pulp

Tissue/printing/packaging/specialty paper

• Additive manufacturing & 3D Printing using by-products for application in packaging, construction, aviation, automotive and medical sectors.

Exports

Source: https://fwpa.com.au & Green Triangle Forest Industry Hub

Key Stats: By 2030, Green Triangle local processing can rise to:

95%

UP FROM 41% IN 2020.

By 2030, Gross regional value of the Green Triangle can lift to:

$1.5bil

INCREASE OF 60% FROM 2020.

By 2030, Green Triangle can decrease raw wood exports by:

90%

Ensuring local product for local economies.

31

Olive Oil

The global olive oil market was valued at $14.20 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow from $14.64 billion in 2023 to $18.42 billion by 2030.

Australian olive oil sales reached $121.6m, a 14.9% increase from the previous year (FY22: $105.8m). With the Mediterranean olive oil supply under pressure after hot and dry conditions, the olive oil sales outlook remains positive, benefiting from a global shortage of olive oil and record high global prices of European olive oil flowing through to Australia and the USA. 50% of olive oil sold in Australia is imported, with the opportunity to grow future export demand.

Geelong Region Olives (GROC) is a national award-winning producer aspiring to grow and be a significant producer of boutique olive oils with an expressed interest in the Great South Coast Region. The unique approach focuses on the product’s provenance and not on the aggregation of the oil under one brand. GROC is seeking investment in further expansion of groves and a local processing plant with farmgate retail and a restaurant.

There is a keen interest from GROC to engage in agricultural research, innovation, and technology, achieving efficiencies in operation. Examples mentioned were: • Olive groves managed using state of the art smart farming technology integrating farm machinery and sensors, autonomous scouting rovers, and drones along with satellite data into a 360-degree cloud-based AI enabled management system to drive efficiency gains, reduce costs, grow productivity, and improve worker safety.

• Eco-regenerative methods to improve the natural environment, soil fruit quality and yield. The vision for groves is to be established with support for inter-row nitrogen-fixing plantings (e.g. Lucerne) and buffered by plantations of native and indigenous trees to build environments for flora and fauna such as birds and bees.

• Provision of a state-of-the-art olive mill and table fruit processing plant, warehouse and packaging facility. The site would be designed with the potential to develop an upmarket tourism establishment.

Key Stats:

$121.6m

AUSTRALIAN OLIVE OIL SALES

50% of olive oil sold in Australia is imported Global olive oil market to reach $18.42b by 2030

Investment Opportunities

Wine

Great South Coast is home to the Grampians and Henty Wine Regions The landscape of the Grampians wine region is renowned for its natural beauty and produces wines with a rare combination of elegance, beauty and power. Vineyards were first planted in 1867 and included rare grape varieties that have defied all attempts at identification and are probably the sole surviving examples in the world.

Viticulture was pioneered in Henty in 1964 by Karl Seppelt, who accurately perceived it as an ideal cool region for the production of sparkling and delicate, aromatic wines. The sought after Drumborg, Crawford River and Hochkirch Vineyards make the most of the varieties of climate and rich volcanic soils producing Australia’s renowned and highly valued cool-climate wines. Current cool region varieties cultivated include Shiraz, Sparkling Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling; Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Dolcetto.

In the picturesque backdrop of the Grampians, the pristine tourist town of Port Fairy and breathtaking Cape Bridgewater beaches, upmarket opportunities in the Henty & Grampians regions await the distinguished wine growers and makers alike…

www.australianwine.com A great resource for investors, farmers and wine makers.

Key Stats:

1.32 million tonnes OF GRAPES WORTH $983M IN 2023

Victoria's contribution to the national crush was 13%

WINEGRAPE PURCHASE PRICE $642 AVE INCREASED BY PER TONNE

2 PER CENT

33

Specialised Crops

Investment in the processing of specialised crops such as poppies for pharmaceutical use, medicinal cannabis, industrial hemp or hops align with the region’s advantages and positions the region well for new and emerging crops.

Agriculture Victoria Research is licensed by the Australian Government to undertake medicinal cannabis research.

Technical and research services offered to growers and manufacturers: • Commercial licensing of its proprietary medicinal cannabis strains • Provision of advisory services • Provision of technical services, including cultivation, extraction, manufacture, and comprehensive compositional analysis of medicinal cannabis • Collaborative and industry-sponsored research and innovation in medicinal cannabis systems biology and accelerated precision breeding of medicinal cannabis

Victoria’s industry will aim to supply half of Australia’s market for medicinal cannabis. This is an ambitious goal, but would mean that by 2028, Victoria could provide medicinal cannabis products to 83,000 of the 166,000 potential patients across Australia, with the potential to expand to export markets.

The Great South Coast has the ability to support high-yield outdoor horticulture with more reliable rainfall compared to the rest of Victoria.

With an existing strong food processing base the Great South Coast is well positioned to diversify to high-value, high-growth specialised crops.

• Other technical and research services.

Key Stats: OF PATIENTS VICTORIA COULD PROVIDE FOR BY 2028 83,000 NUMBER

Victoria’s industry will aim to supply 50% of Australia’s market for medicinal cannabis

Investment Opportunities

AgTech

Victoria is home to several AgTech start-up incubators and accelerators such as SproutX, RocketSeeder, Startmate and Farmers2Founders.

Victoria has more than 3,200 startups/ technology-driven companies with an investment ecosystem worth over $91 billion.

Several grants and investment opportunities exist in the Great South Coast, facilitating the transition to efficient and intelligent farming systems.

Read more at Launchvic.org

Case Study: PHNXX Renewable Energy Microgrid on-farm PHNXX is a renewable energy start-up that is deploying smart, independent microgrids for renewable energy power generation and sustained energy efficiency.

The AgTech team is assisting with additional introductions to trial the system in large-scale dairies in Northern Victoria and also farmers in other sectors including horticulture.

PHNXX are piloting their systems on multiple dairy farms in South West Victoria to demonstrate the technology and targeting a 90% energy self-sufficiency rate.

PHNXX have applied for AgVic's AgTech grants program and seeking to also include a farm using the energy microgrid into an on-farm emissions action plan pilot.

Key Stats: VICTORIA'S INVESTMENT ECOSYSTEM IS WORTH OVER

$91 billion

Victoria's has more than 3,200 startups/tech-driven companies

35

Aquaculture

Salt water aquaculture is a rapidly growing area with an excellent opportunity for growth, given the region’s ideal environment for production.

Great South Coast has a unique and favourable environment for aquaculture production.

The stretch between Port Fairy and Portland is an ideal area for land-based aquaculture with its flat, low, deep ocean frontage and private coastal land ownership. This stretch is currently home to two abalone farms with capacity of up to 360 tonnes of annual production with a further 500 tonne farm proposed in Bolworra near Portland. There is currently strong global demand for seafood, which the region is well placed to benefit from.

Portland Aquaculture Fisheries Reserve (PAFR) The PAFR is a 200-ha rectangular 'greenfield’ fishing (seaweed and seafood) area, located in Portland Bay approximately 2.6 km offshore, north-east from Blacknose Point. The Victorian Government established the PAFR management plan to develop environmentally sustainable, economically viable and socially equitable marine aquaculture that contributes to a significant commercial supply of high-quality seafood.

Aquaculture licensing and Crown leasing arrangements can be applied for through the Victorian Fisheries Authority. https://vfa.vic.gov.au/aquaculture/licensing

Key Stats:

360 tonnes

CAPACITY OF ANNUAL ABALONE PRODUCTION BETWEEN PORT FAIRY AND PORTLAND

Portland Bay

Portland

Portland Aquaculture Fisheries Reserve

Investment Opportunities

Seaweed

Investment in Seaweed research is needed to further develop regional opportunities in collaboration with the private sector.

The DeakinSeaweed Research Group in the Deakin Marine Research and Innovation Centre has extensive experience in seaweed research; with nationally and internationally recognised expertise in seaweed biology and ecology and application in sustainable aquaculture production, habitat restoration and carbon mitigation/sequestration science.

This research is ongoing, with preliminary results extremely promising, and opportunities to expand to simultaneously support the development of a sustainable seaweed industry and cost-effective benefits to improving sustainability and future-proofing the Australian dairy, meat and livestock industries.

Moreover, our recent partnerships with the dairy industry have combined phycology (seaweed science), advanced analytical chemistry, microbiology, and agricultural science to examine the effects of supplementing dairy cow diets with a nutritionally formulated bespoke Australian mixed-species seaweed supplement and biochar, in isolation and combination, on the quality and production of milk, methane reduction, animal health and potential greenhouse gas emissions.

Key Stats: Asparagopsis seaweed is projected to feed at least 30% of Australia’s cattle herd by 2025.

$100 million+ opportunity for seaweed over the next five years, with the potential to scale to $1.5 billion over the next 20 years.

37

CONSIDERING FOOD PROCESSING?

Great reasons to relocate to the Great South Coast!

Affordability $100-$150/m2 compared to Melbourne’s $250-$670/m2

Land Availability Approximately 1000 ha zoned, developable land available with the full range of industrial & commercial services

Zoned Sites Ample supply of large and medium-scale sites zoned for heavy, medium and light industries

Renewable Energy Transitioning to renewable energy options, biowaste to energy integration

Specialised Skill Base Specialised renewable energy and marine engineering and logistics skill base

Connectivity In-region food processing with good accessibility to sea, road, rail and air transport

Industrial Sites Koroit

Hamilton

Portland

Township

Township Township

Cobden

Warrnambool

Camperdown

Township

Township Township

GRE AT SOU TH COAST VICTORIA

39

Regional Lifestyle Home to some of Australia’s most spectacular coastline, as well as forests, plains and ancient rock formation, the communities of the Great South Coast offer a fantastic rural and regional lifestyle.

The Great South Coast is the home of health and wellbeing.

The Victorian Budget 2022/23 provides $5.7 billion for regional initiatives, taking the Government’s total investment in regional Victoria to more than $36 billion since 2015.

Locals living in the Great South Coast will also benefit from improvements to the South West TAFE library and learning hub in Warrnambool, and upgrades at Baimbridge College in Hamilton, Terang College and Mortlake P-12 College and the Glenormiston agricultural training centre.

There’s also investment to develop the Budj Bim Master Plan, supporting sustainable tourism growth at this World Heritage site and funding to establish a new statutory authority to manage and protect the Great Ocean Road.

GRE AT SOU TH COAST VICTORIA

41

Find out more The Great South Coast Regional Partnership consists of five municipalities extending from the Shipwreck Coast to the South Australian border and was established in 2016 to embrace regional economic development initiatives.

The Great South Coast local governments’ Economic Futures program embraces a community and market-led approach to identify the most prospective future highproductivity and high-value opportunities in the region’s economy, seeking to facilitate investments and policy reforms to unlock better value from the region’s strengths.

Great South Coast Economic Future works in partnership with Food & Fibre Great South Coast to facilitate regional investment. If you are interested in any opportunities and would like to discuss them further, the Great South Coast Economic Futures or Food & Fibre Great South Coast are ready to take your call. We can facilitate discussions and put you in touch with the key council and government representatives to discuss investment opportunities.

For investment and economic development enquiries, please contact: Marlien Lourens - Program Manager Great South Coast Economic Futures Email: Mlourens@GSCeconomicfutures.onmicrosoft.com Mobile: 0416 644 431 Nicole Newman - CEO Food & Fibre Great South Coast Email: ceo@foodfibregsc.com.au Mobile: 0419 132 685 foodfibregsc.com.au

Food - Fibre - Water - Energy - Secure