Vol. 20 18 No. No. 11 27 Vol.
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Wednesday, January 13, Wednesday, September 13, 2016 2017
RHYME TIME: From left, Mitch Mills, Jorja Clode, Aaqib Khan, Lucas Pumpa and Charlie Arnts are among Horsham Primary School students preparing to perform in No Rhyme or Reason next week. Story, page 7. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Targets critical Horsham District football and netball grand final previews
Sport
IN THIS ISSUE
A
BY DEAN LAWSON
prominent regional development leader has spoken of a need for Wimmera communities to establish clear directions and formalised growth targets. Regional Development Australia Grampians chairman Stuart Benjamin, busy attending various assemblies and think-tank gatherings in western Victoria, said planning for growth was essential. He said people had been talking about attracting industry and people to, and promoting the benefits of, the region for decades for little result. “A major question that needs to be asked and discussed in places like Horsham is ‘do we really want growth?’ Do
we want to start talking about Horsham as a 50,000-population town? If we do, let’s set that as a target and go for it. It could be really exciting,” he said. “But if the community doesn’t want that, then let’s not waste everyone’s time. We must have that conversation.” Mr Benjamin, who has embedded himself in regional gatherings to gain as much insight as possible, runs several businesses from his base in Ballarat. In his role as RDA Grampians chairman he oversees a development area that covers the Central Highlands, Wimmera and southern Mallee. The committee he leads is an independent advisory body involving community, business and local government representatives that report to federal and state governments.
Mr Benjamin said while promoting the benefits of living and working in the Wimmera was important, the region had to explore different approaches. He stressed that much of what was needed was about creating business environments that demanded a workforce. “Yes it’s about jobs but it’s not about relocating jobs here. It’s about the region creating work,” he said. “The big opportunity is going to be in value-adding products that we currently export – all the products we currently send away in semi-trailers to Melbourne for processing. “We need to understand that the Wimmera provides only 0.6 percent of the state’s GDP – that’s not a lot and sends a message to us that we need to do more at home to become more relevant.
• Skills, transport, key forum issues • HDFNL vote count • Football-netball finals action
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“We need to generate wealth at home in our communities and consider how we can value-add, taking into the consideration of a need for energy. The greatest example we have of this is Nectar Farms in Northern Grampians Shire.” Nectar Farms has joined forces with Neoen renewable energy company to establish Bulgana Green Power Hub near Great Western. The hub involves a horticultural greenhouse farm that uses power generated and stored on site. Mr Benjamin agreed that regional Victoria and the Wimmera, southern Mallee and Grampians had plenty to offer but the development message needed to be clear. Continued page 3
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