VICTORIAN population growth means Gippsland needs to act to protect farming resources and secure local jobs.
This was the message from Alex Arbuthnot, chairman of not-for-profit organisation Agribusiness Gippsland Inc (AGI).
The Outer Suburban Interface Services and Development Parliamentary Committee heard from the agriculture group at a meeting last week.
The group has recommended that agricultural land be protected by developing permanent zoning, a Gippsland food plan and an agri-tourism plan.
Opportunities for expansion using Gippsland recycled water were also recommended as well as a business plan being developed by South East Water for the Eastern Irrigation extension using water from the Eastern Treatment Plant.
The expected Victorian population growth of one million over the next 10 years will have a particularly strong impact in areas of the Kooweerup Swamp and the Devon Meadows area in the local government areas of Casey, Cardinia and Mornington Peninsula.
With nearly 25 per cent of Australia’s food and fibre coming from Victoria, Gippsland is set to continue as a major Victorian regional food production area, with the capacity to expand, provided its resources are preserved, Mr Arbuthnot said.
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