Drought leadership visits Mildura region

Dr Sara Hely, the new Director of the Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (Vic Hub) is in Mildura this week to better understand local challenges, develop relationships and help attract further investment in projects designed to enhance drought resilience in the region.

Dr Hely is attending the Mallee Regional Innovation Centre’s (MRIC) launch of two project reports – collaborative research on the management of blue green algae, and its latest round of drought consultations.

Find a link to Part 1 of the drought consultation report

MRIC leads the North-West Irrigated Horticulture Node of the Vic Hub, which receives funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

Dr Hely said her time in Mildura would have a similar focus to her first two months at the helm of the Vic Hub – listening, asking questions and identifying how to build on and support the valuable work underway in the region.

“We are currently in a critical phase where the Australian Government is reviewing all of the drought hubs around Australia, and we see that as a really valuable exercise to improve the good work that has happened to date and identify where we could grow,” she said.

“The Commonwealth recently committed $561.3 million to continue support for the hubs for a further eight years, allowing us to build on past successes, refine existing programs, and develop new initiatives.

“The Vic Hub remains focused on empowering our regional stakeholders to address the challenges of drought and climate variability with locally tailored solutions. Through careful listening and strategic action, we can help farmers and regional communities prepare for and become resilient through drought.”

Understanding drought context

Dr Hely said she was looking forward to celebrating the release of the two valuable reports MRIC has developed around drought resilience.

“In the context of drought, it is important to understand the breadth and scope of horticulture, and the Mallee Regional Innovation Centre has spent much time educating and building knowledge of horticulture generally and with key stakeholders,” she said.

“Horticulture is Australia’s third-largest agricultural industry, with a production value of $16.3 billion in 2032/23, according to the latest Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook from Hort Innovation. For every dollar of the value the horticulture sector generates, an additional 27.6 cents is created in the rest of the economy, amounting to $12.96b.

“North-west Victoria, which is Australia’s largest horticultural region, is projected to grow by 32% from $1.7b in 2020/21 to $2.2b in 2029/30.

“The future of the horticulture sector remains positive, and we want to help ensure that.”

ENDS

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