The Goulburn Murray Irrigation District (GMID) is well recognised as the Food Bowl of Victoria.
The GMID covers 68,000km² and comprises two key areas: the Goulburn system which includes four discrete irrigation areas - Central Goulburn, Shepparton, Rochester-Campaspe and Pyramid-Boort - primarily supplied from Lake Eildon; and the Murray system which comprises two discrete irrigation areas - Murray Valley and Torrumbarry - supplied from the Murray River with diversions primarily at Yarrawonga and Torrumbarry weirs.
Modernisation of the GMID is a critical response to the challenges of climate change and will help secure the future of Victoria's Food Bowl region. This will also improve the standard of service assisting farmers with market competitiveness, as well as reducing system losses which allows more water to be used for productive and environmental purposes.
Under Moving Forward - Making Provincial Victoria the Best Place to Live, Work and Invest - the Victorian Government's major provincial economic statement, the New Investment Partnership Program will help capitalise on opportunities being generated by NVIRP. For more information on the initiative visit the Regional Development Victoria website.
High quality and secure supply of agricultural commodities from the region have underpinned the investment made by many of Australia's largest food processing companies such as:
- SPC Ardmona (now owned by Coca-Cola Amatil)
- Simplot Australia
- Cedenco Australia
- Unilever
- Heinz Watties
- Campbell Soups Australia
- Fonterra
- Murray Goulburn Co-Operative.
Northern Victorian food manufacturers are major contributors to the Australian food industry, particularly in the areas of fruit and vegetable processing, dairy products and wine production.