Mildura Regional Hub

The Mildura Regional Hub is located in Mildura in the North West of Victoria at the Mallee Regional Innovation Centre (MRIC). This Hub is strategically located in an area with a presence of Federal and State Government agencies, an office of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and the Murray-Darling Inspector-General of Water Resources Southern Basin office, headquarters for peak horticultural industry bodies and home of SuniTAFE’s Smart Farm. Research organisations with a regional presence include the MRIC’s partners of the University of Melbourne and La Trobe University.

The Mildura Hub covers the Victorian Council areas of Mildura Rural City Council, Swan Hill Rural City Council and in New South Wales the Wentworth Shire Council government area. The region has a heavy dependence on water resources (availability and security of supply of good-quality water) for both the environment and key industries like horticulture, which in turn support service industries of the region. The economic health and wellbeing of the region is directly linked to water. The region is also home to the confluence of the Murray River and the Darling River at Wentworth.

The Mildura Regional Hub provides the opportunity for local communities, business, industry and governments to understand key vulnerabilities of the region in detail and provide the information and knowledge to support the community to identify targeted solutions to adapting to the impacts of climate change. In particular the Hub focuses on the adaptation of communities and the agricultural sector to reduced water availability and water demands due to increased evapotranspiration and increased temperature extremes and greater climatic variability.

The combined economic output of the Mildura Rural City, Swan Hill Rural City and Wentworth Shire Council regions is $10.666 billion. Crops in the Mallee catchment area include almonds, table grapes, wine grapes, field crops, citrus, olives, potatoes, carrots, stone fruit, dried grapes and vegetables. The region’s natural assets include waterways, wetlands and billabongs with rich flora and fauna. The region is a significant tourist destination with a reputation as a clean green food bowl with acclaimed restaurants, wineries, distilleries, craft brewing and a vibrant arts and cultural scene. The region is also culturally significant and a recognised gateway to the Mungo National Park and Ramsar listed sites like the Hattah-Kulkyne Lakes.

The Mildura Regional Hub works closely with all the other Regional Hubs, but in particular with the Loxton Hub on shared cross-border issues and solutions. This will include issues and solutions related to viticulture, almonds, citrus and dried fruit, industries which are important to both areas. This collaboration is an important mechanism for overcoming cross-border barriers related to climate adaption of communities and lead to shared learning by the communities.

Contact

To find out more about this hub or become a partner in the CRC, contact
Mildura Regional Hub Lead – Rebecca Wells E: rebecca.wells1@unimelb.edu.au