Ovens Murray Regional Partnership Priorities

Transcription

1 Ovens Murray Regional Partnership 2017 Priorities

2 Regional Partnerships Background In August 2016, the Victorian Government established nine Regional Partnerships, bringing together representatives of the three tiers of government local, state and commonwealth and members of the region s business and community sectors to focus on region wide priorities. Councils are represented on Regional Partnerships by their CEOs, a departmental Deputy Secretary represents the Victorian Government and link to the commonwealth government is provided by a Hume Regional Development Australia (RDA) Committee representative. Further information about the Ovens Murray Regional Partnership, including member bios and links to the Ovens Murray Engage Regions website can be found on the Regional Partnership web page: 2

3 The Ovens Murray Region Strong visitor economy nature based and cycle tourism, arts and cultural heritage, snow sports, food and wine Nationally significant transport corridors Hume Freeway and Melbourne-Sydney rail Relatively high and growing workforce participation and relatively low unemployment Strong manufacturing, public administration and health / social services sectors Vibrant network of regional cities and centres Wangaratta, Wodonga and Benalla Highly productive agricultural land, four distinct seasons and access to water close to the source High value environmental assets biodiversity, natural habitat, national parks and waterways 3

4 Overview of Ovens Murray priorities Ovens Murray priorities were informed by existing plans, Regional Partnership member input and engagement with community members that included 308 pieces of online feedback. Priorities were further tested with community members at the Ovens Murray Regional Assembly in Benalla on 30 November This work provided the foundation for our top three priorities and other priorities for the region which are presented under the following themes: Educating and developing skills for future generations Improving transport connectivity Stimulating the region s digital economy and digital connectedness Further developing the regions key and emerging sectors food and fibre; manufacturing; transport, distribution and logistics (TDL); and tourism Supporting action on climate change and renewable energy Improving local amenity and infrastructure Addressing the region s health and wellbeing 4

5 Top three priorities The top three hero priorities for the Ovens Murray region are... Passenger Rail Transport hasten North East line infrastructure and service delivery improvements identified in Regional Network Development Plan (2016) and Hume Corridor Passenger Rail Study (2017). North East Victoria Cycle Optimisation rail trail, road cycling and mountain bike trail extensions and enhancements, promotion and private sector activation. Entrepreneurial Agenda create a generation of job creators not just job seekers and apply industry led solutions for education, training and apprenticeship pathways and skills development in agriculture, manufacturing and tourism. 5

6 Educating and Developing Skills for Future Generations Build young people s problem solving; critical and creative thinking; and collaboration skills Improve access to lifelong learning opportunities that support skills development now and into the future Create alternative learning development opportunities and pathways that target individual learner and workforce needs Established innovative education and industry sector partnerships Strong leadership at community level Challenges: Lowest higher education attainment in Victoria for all levels except Certificate Barriers to education pathways for young people and lifelong learning for older residents Workforce skill shortages in key areas Gaps in leadership at regional level 18% 29% School leavers enrolled in higher education Lowest enrolment rate in Victoria Residents over 15 years of age who hold a Bachelor degree or post-secondary qualification Lowest education attainment in Victoria Entrepreneurial Agenda focusing on: School-based social enterprise skill development Flexible and accessible VCAL pathways programs focusing on individual learner needs School based apprenticeship programs supporting career pathways in key sectors Regionally-based diploma2degree courses in key sectors agriculture and engineering Regional leadership development partnership between Alpine Valleys Community Leadership Program and Charles Sturt University Analysis of regional tourism workforce requirements 6

7 Improving Transport Connectivity An integrated transportation network that underpins regional sustainability and innovation Transport as an effective enabler for the region s industries, service providers and communities Transport systems that create jobs and sustain employment across the region Nationally significant transport corridor Hume Freeway / Melbourne-Sydney rail Freight transport, distribution and logistics capability Challenges: Poor passenger rail service, public transport connections and limited transport options Extensive local road networks and bridges that need to be maintained Connecting a dispersed population North-east passenger rail is the most unreliable in regional Victoria <92% North-east rail punctuality is under the compensation threshold of 93-99% Upgrade public transport services between Wodonga, Wangaratta, Benalla and Melbourne to basic standard in the immediate future and continue to build service quality over time reliability, frequency, scheduling, rolling stock, stations and shuttle connections Road improvements for north-south and east-west freight movement, including town bypasses Support for councils to improve local roads and bridges 77% Residents don t have access to public transport near where they live 7

8 Stimulating the Region s Digital Economy and Digital Connectedness Be a Smart Region attract talent, encourage innovation and create jobs and growth for the 21 st Century economy Digitally support the region s industries, service providers and communities Safe and connected communities supported by reliable communication systems Pockets of best practice across the region e.g. Northeast Health Wangaratta Telehealth Challenges: Patchy access to high speed broadband and NBN Mobile telephone black spots Poor take-up of digital technology by some population groups and industry sectors Northern Victoria region has the lowest level of digital inclusion in the State* ACCESS: Lowest internet access, internet technology and data allowance AFFORDABILITY: Lowest affordability and value for expenditure ABILITY: Lowest attitudes, basic skills and internet activities *2016 Australian Digital Inclusion Index (Northern Vic = Ovens Murray + Goulburn) Extend access to high speed internet and build strong digital capability by: showcasing regional best practice examples identifying digital gaps, barriers and opportunities working with stakeholders and government to harness opportunities Reduce mobile telephone black spots, particularly in key tourism locations and bushfire prone areas 8

9 Further Developing the Region s Key and Emerging Sectors Food and Fibre, Manufacturing, TDL and Tourism Key and emerging industries continue grow and expand, creating a prosperous and sustainable regional economy Regional jobs are created and retained Efficient and effective distribution of products and access to markets Highly productive agricultural land and access to water close to the source Major manufacturing and retail centres in Wodonga, Wangaratta and Benalla Strong TDL capability with access to four capital cities within 24 hours by road or rail Iconic tourism activities and destinations supporting a growing visitor economy Challenges: Structural changes in agriculture and manufacturing Workforce skills shortages in key areas Preparing for a new entrepreneurial economy % 0.69% Z score for regional community economic wellbeing economic prosperity, jobs and affordability 2 nd lowest economic wellbeing in Victoria 10 year average annual GRP growth rate is higher than regional Victoria average of 0.37% 10 year average annual jobs growth rate is less than regional Victoria average of 0.94% Develop and promote the region s iconic tourism activities and destinations, particularly nature based and cycle tourism Implement regionally based education initiatives targeting high priority regional skill requirements in agriculture and engineering (refer education theme) Improve value chain efficiency through bonded warehouse and localised food distribution outlets Support strengthening of localised food system(s) Expand opportunities to support jobs growth in SMEs Maximise alignment of environmental and economic considerations in land use planning schemes 7

10 Supporting Action on Climate Change and Renewable Energy Support climate change adaptation in the region Increase focus on renewable energy Better protect the natural environment High value environmental assets biodiversity, natural habitat, national parks and waterways Highly motivated local community taking innovative action in renewable energy Yackandandah Challenges: Building resilience and adapting to climate change impacts high temperatures, rainfall variability and extreme weather events Increasing wildfire risk Support local action that has broad application and promote innovative community based renewable energy initiatives Progress initiatives that secures low cost energy for agriculture and manufacturing Long term action to protect the natural environment given its high value as a regional, state and national resource, and contribution to the lifestyle, growth and economic value of the region Ovens Murray is ranked in top 10 most fire prone areas in the world 44.6% Regional land area is public land, which is one of the highest in Victoria In 2003, 2006, 2009 and 2013 regional communities were impacted and almost all of the region s public land was burnt by wildfire at least once 10

11 Improving Local Amenity and Infrastructure Improve the liveability, prosperity and resilience of communities through creating a sense of place Provide better local amenities and infrastructure for residents and visitors to the region Stimulate the visitor economy and increase number of visitors to the region Vibrant network of regional cities and centres supporting (and supported by) surrounding towns and villages Challenges: Ageing public infrastructure with limited access to capital Changing infrastructure and land use patterns residential, amenity, commercial and industrial At June 2016 Ovens Murray had an estimated population of 121, % Forecast 20 year average annual regional population growth is lower that the average annual growth rate of 1.17% for regional Victoria Lower than average population growth Support place based initiatives that assist to grow the region s population and create connected and resilient communities Renew central business district (CBD) infrastructure in regional cites and towns Provide improved local amenities and infrastructure to stimulate the region s economy 11

12 Addressing the Region s Health and Wellbeing Improve pathways/navigation to services and programs that support the region s disadvantaged and vulnerable families Increase capacity for the region s disadvantaged and vulnerable families to access mental health services and resilience building programs Tackle family violence Strong network of health and community services predominantly operating out of key service locations in Wangaratta and Wodonga Challenges: High rates of disadvantage, family violence, suicide and youth crime than state average in some areas Needs and opportunities of an ageing population Community capacity to access entry points and navigate complexities of the service system Agency capacity to service a dispersed population with limited public transport access Place based initiatives targeting locations with high levels of disadvantage and vulnerability Benalla, Wodonga and Wangaratta Strengthened hub and spoke service delivery models across the region Long term action on family violence, public housing renewal and health infrastructure >Av. 12.1% Benalla, Wodonga and Wangaratta Higher substantiated child abuse, children in out of home care, family violence reports and young offender crime rates than the state average Children assessed as developmentally vulnerable 3 rd highest developmental vulnerability in regional Victoria 12