Vol. 20 18 No. No. 13 27 Vol.
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Wednesday, January 13, Wednesday, September 27, 2016 2017
Benefits of water S
a project steering group would meet later this year to assess whether to extend study areas beyond the 24 survey waterways. “This will help us gain an even greater comprehensive picture of the benefits of having water across the region,” he said. “This study has been a co-operative effort with local government and community groups to catalogue and quantify the various social and economic benefits recreational and environmental water in rivers, pools and lakes provide to towns in the region. “The study reports on a series of surveys and data collected from across the region at locations where individuals and groups enjoy our lakes, rivers and weirpools for recreational activity. “It’s important the information we have is used for the betterment of the region. “It certainly gives us information to justify water allocations and also provides support when applying for infrastructure grants to improve facilities.” Wimmera Catchment Management Authority, keen to gain a clearer picture of the value of recreation and environmental water in the region, approached the association to undertake the study. The association prepared a brief for consultant Street Ryan, which administered the prepared the research project. Data shows on average over the past 12 months there were 196,000 ‘visitor nights’ to the survey waterways and a high rate of active and passive participation. Continued page 3
BY DEAN LAWSON
ocio-economic research results have added weight to long-held beliefs that recreation and environmental water pumps millions of dollars into the Wimmera and southern Mallee economy every year.
It has also highlighted the extent of waterway attraction, with hundreds of thousands of people visiting the region’s various lakes, waterways, wetlands and weir pools. The study has also identified considerable regional community health benefits associated with people having access to recreational and environmental water. Study results, based on the first year of a four-year annual examination, cover Buloke, Hindmarsh, Horsham, Northern Grampians, West Wimmera and Yarriambiack municipalities and areas on the fringe of the region. Key findings based on 2017 figures show that an estimated 437,000 people are visiting one or more of the 24 water bodies included in the survey over 12-month periods, generating $27.5-million for the regional economy. Wimmera Development Association, Wimmera Catchment Management Authority, GWMWater and municipal councils are project partners involved in the Wimmera Southern Mallee SocioEconomic Value of Recreation and Environmental Water 2017 study. Community and recreational sporting groups across the region have for many years used anecdotal socio-economic observations about specific waterways to lobby for recreational water allocations or facilities. They, as well as government agencies, now have access to fresh data that will expand in the next three years. Wimmera Development Association executive director Ralph Kenyon said
IN THIS ISSUE
GIDDY UP, CHAPS! Darrell Jeffries shows off the full clobber on his historic 1911 BSA motorcycle at Glen Logan in Horsham during an annual Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride between Horsham and Natimuk. Participants in ride projects raised $11,000 for men’s health support and prostate cancer research. Mick Payne of Natimuk was the fourth highest fundraiser in Australia and 13th highest out of almost 90,000 registered riders worldwide. The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride for 2017 doubled as financial support for men’s mental health on behalf of the Movember Foundation. The ride is designed to build community awareness of men’s health issues. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
• AgLife • Wimmera football and netball grand final action and souvenir posters
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