ADDING VALUE
The Greater Hamilton is ideally placed to meet growing worldwide demand for farm products and services.
The region has embraced nationwide food production targets by increasing diversification and pursuing value-adding opportunities. New research and development is also paving the way for increased production with a smaller environmental footprint and improved quality assurance.
The focus is on long-term sustainability. More intensive use of land with new enterprises like horticulture, viticulture, and plantation timber continues to enhance the region’s economy and improve job prospects.
For new and existing producers, vertical integration is being expanded, with a growing number overseeing the complete paddock-to-plate process.
The potential for new agricultural manufacturing industries is equally as exciting, with the widespread availability of development-ready industrial land linked to 3-phase power, high pressure gas and water supply.
EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES
The expression ‘riding on the sheep’s back’ was coined for this corner of the nation, with Greater Hamilton historically referred to as the wool capital of the world.
Today, it’s the land of plenty, as producers harness the ultimate combination of climate and location.
The diversification from livestock to broadacre cropping has triggered one of the most significant landscape changes in history, enhanced by the early adoption of new technology and innovation. Greater Hamilton has now positioned itself as one of the most rapidly expanding grain growing areas in Australia courtesy of revolutionary raised bed cropping that improves crop yields and profitability. The broader region is also poised to become the flaxseed capital of Australia due to its optimum growing conditions featuring a cool, temperate climate over the spring-summer period. Niche production areas for the culinary market are also capturing national attention.
Hemp production in Australia is only in it’s infancy with Waltanna Farms among many innovating with legal hemp, with the opportunity to expand into medicinal in the future.
However Greater Hamilton’s grassroots success with livestock also endures; more than 1,000,000 sheep and 50,000 cattle are sold each year at the Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange.
HAMILTON REGIONAL LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE
The Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange is one of Australia’s busiest with approximately one million sheep and 50,000 cattle being sold annually. The Livestock Exchange is leading Australia with the latest technology as part of the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) and is accredited under the National Saleyards Quality Assurance (NSQA) and European Union (EU).
Sale dates and times, together with more information can be found here.
WEST WIMMERA RURAL WATER SUPPLY FEASIBILITY PROJECT
Southern Grampians Shire Council is greatly supportive of the West Wimmera Rural Water Supply Project – Feasibility Study as water infrastructure, such as this could unlock the potential for greater agricultural diversification and value added opportunities, generating economic and population growth for the region.
The project is particularly important for the area to the north of the shire around Balmoral, which is expected to benefit from the project. Our land suitability mapping has indicated that the area around Balmoral is well suited to horticultral production should water be avaliable.
Preliminary estimates are between $75-80 million, with contributions sought from Land Holders, Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water and Government
For further information visit www.gwmwater.org.au/wwrp