The Brumby Labor Government is supporting the formation of the Buloke Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Cluster with a $20,000 grant announced today in Birchip by the Member for Northern Victoria Region, Candy Broad.
Ms Broad said establishing a formal structure for the cluster and implementing its initial work program to develop machinery and equipment applications for sustainable soil management would provide the critical mass to help the participating businesses achieve cost-efficiencies, diversify and tackle new innovations they could not undertake on their own.
“In 2006, the Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia (TMA) developed an action plan for the Victorian Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Industry, which proposed a range of strategic initiatives for the industry,” Ms Broad said.
“A group of businesses mainly from Buloke Shire have been progressing some of the initiatives in the action plan through leadership and support provided by Buloke Shire Council and the TMA.
“Five of the businesses participated in a trade mission to Argentina last year to assess manufacturing methods, identify new and innovative products, and build international relationships.
“The mission consolidated a strong appreciation of the opportunities for the companies to work together with selected international businesses in generating new local business activities and value adding, which would not be possible for the companies to achieve individually.
“The level of activity has reached the point where the group is ready to formalise a structure as a cluster and implement a work program.
“The immediate and highest priority is to develop machinery and equipment applications for sustainable soil management for broadacre grain sector applications in the Wimmera and Mallee.
“Other long term activities being considered are a second-hand equipment distribution centre and a Buloke Shire-based collaborative to assemble, distribute and sell to the Victorian, South Australian and southern NSW markets.”
Ms Broad said the $20,000 grant for the $44,000 project to implement the Buloke Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Cluster was being provided to the Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia (TMA) through Regional Development Victoria’s Living Regions Living Suburbs Program.
“Living Regions Living Suburbs is helping to deliver on the Brumby Labor Government’s commitment to provide communities with greater opportunities for growth by supporting community and economic development,” Ms Broad said.