“The Southern Mallee District Council has a heavy reliance on traditional broadacre agriculture. More recently irrigated horticulture has become a growth industry, although its potential is somewhat limited by a lack of infrastructure (housing, social services, local training) in towns adjacent to the new ventures, although the region is well serviced by amenities such as golf courses, community halls and national parks. The problem of retaining young families in the region (particularly those with trade skills) has been exacerbated by the attractiveness of jobs in Roxby Downs, with the result that skill shortages are becoming even more critical. Community development funds have been established to encourage business development, and there are opportunities to use this model to develop greater interest in innovations that diversify the economic base of the area.” KPPM/DPD, SEIR REPORT, January 2007

INVESTMENT IDEAS AND OPPORTUNITIES

TOURISM

• National Parks/4 wheel drive guided tours potential.
• Tourist facilities for “Grey Nomads”.
• Caravan Park and Winnebago facilities.
• Develop Mallee Tourist Trail linking rural activities and locations to attract family and retired travelers.
• Day trip tourism ( experience the real Australia).
• Bed and Breakfast/Farm Stay Tourism.

HOUSING

• Sub-division of Rural Living Blocks to realize capital investment and assist population growth and economic diversity.
• Affordable housing for young people.

INTENSIVE ANIMAL PRODUCTION - HORTICULTURE

• Horticulture expansion and irrigated cropping supported by underground water supply.
• Change from broad acre to horticulture.
• Value adding on potato industry – vodka, biofuels.
• Intensive dairy expansion.

MANUFACTURING - INDUSTRY

• Trade support through incubator/trade centre modeled on the Victoria building at Pinnaroo.
• Intensive animal production and horticulture.
• Food processing – value add agriculture/horticulture.
• Community owned bio-diesel plant.
• Intensive dairying to augment horticulture.

RETIREMENT & RECREATION

• Aged care, retirement, recreation expansion.
• Retirement/recreation centre development.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY – WATER RE-USE

• Biofuels, agro-forestry, solar power, associated industries.
• Water re-use – town & industry; horticulture expansion.

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