Grow Corangamite: Sustaining Our Agriculture Future

Project Overview 

Council has prepared an Agricultural Study to cement its position as a significant agricultural producer and food manufacturer into the future.  The Grow Corangamite: Sustaining our Agriculture Future project aims to provide:

• A comprehensive understanding of the physical, social, and economic attributes that underpin agriculture and the challenges and opportunities confronting the industry.
• An economic development and planning framework to support and grow agriculture into the future.

View the Strategy(PDF, 12MB)

Background 

Corangamite Shire is a large rural shire, located two hours south-west of Melbourne.  The municipality is approximately 4,400 square kilometres and stretches from the Great Ocean Road in the south to Skipton in the north and has a population base of approximately 16,000 people.  Corangamite townships include Camperdown, Terang, Timboon, Port Campbell, Cobden, Lismore, Derrinallum, Skipton, Princetown, Simpson, Noorat and Darlington.

Corangamite is a renown agricultural district producing a large percentage of Australia’s milk, as well as beef, lamb, grain, and wool.  Agriculture is the single largest sector of the Corangamite economy, generating $805 million of economic output in 2020/21 (30% of total output), and accounting for 2,442 jobs (32% of total employment).  Excellent soils, reliable rainfall and mild climate underpin the productivity and versatility of Corangamite’s agricultural sector.  The Shire’s success comes from skilled producers utilising modern technology to boost productivity and efficiency and achieve increasing levels of sustainability.

Food manufacturing is the second largest sector by economic output and the sixth largest employer in the Shire.  It generated $408 million of economic output in 2020/21 (15% of total output) and accounted for 483 jobs (6% of total employment).  Agriculture and food manufacturing drive a thriving service sector with benefits flowing to the construction, transport, warehousing, utility services and professional services sectors, and increasing links to local tourism with a growing reputation for its local produce and gourmet food experiences.

Corangamite Shire Council recognises the central role of agriculture in the prosperity and resilience of its community, and the industry is a key pillar of Grow and Prosper Corangamite, Council’s new approach to strategic economic development which seeks to capitalise more on our agricultural strengths to support tourism, research and innovation within the sector.

Corangamite's Agricultural Strategy

The Grow Corangamite: Sustaining our Agriculture Future (the Strategy) report was adopted by the Council at its ordinary meeting on 28 August 2024. 

Download the Strategy here(PDF, 12MB)

The Strategy is a long-term plan for the future use and development of agricultural land in Corangamite. It sets out the agricultural framework plan and planning policy recommendations to safeguard the Shire’s agricultural industry and manage competing land uses. It provides policy guidance to support and grow a strong agricultural economy.

The Strategy was developed with input from a broad range of stakeholders, including an Industry Project Reference Group and the broader community.

The Strategy

• Outlines a vision for agricultural land along with the land use and industry development outcomes to be achieved.
• Sets out objectives and strategies for agriculture.
• Sets out actions to implement the Strategy.
• Will be used by Council to guide future decision making by Council.

Vision 

Corangamite Shire is home to a prosperous agricultural sector, which underpins a thriving, connected and equitable community.

Mission statement

Corangamite’s Planning Scheme reflects the strategic significance of the Shire’s agricultural land and its role in food production locally and nationally.

The Shire is a preferred location for food and fibre industries and has a skilled local labour force well equipped to support the agricultural sector.

The agricultural sector is equipped to embrace technology and innovation and respond to a changing rural economy, including the impacts of climate change, renewable energy transition, competing land uses and challenges around worker attraction and retention.

The agricultural sector, and local rural activities in general, support a broad base of local community wealth and wellbeing.

Directions

Direction 1: Planning for Agriculture

• Protect the Shire’s strategically significant agricultural land.
• Avoid fragmentation of agricultural land.
• Avoid land use and development that may constrain operation of and investment in agricultural enterprises.

Direction 2: Future proofing the agricultural sector

• Increase access to affordable housing, with a focus on housing that meets the needs of the agricultural sector.
• Support and promote sustainable growth and innovation in agriculture.
• Build community capacity to participate in the project development, planning application process for renewable energy and transmission projects.

Direction 3: Strengthening the Shire’s thriving agricultural industry

• Develop and grow local value adding outcomes in the agricultural sector.
• Promote and develop agri-tourism opportunities.
• Assist the community to adapt to and leverage the opportunities from land use change.