Review the Draft Agribusiness Audit Report – Your Input Matters!

The Draft Agribusiness Audit Report has been completed following a range of research and engagement activities conducted during 2024-25. More than 330 rural landowners, farmers, food businesses, industry representatives and community leaders informed the Audit. The report aims to provide a clear picture of the current state of the Food and Agriculture sector within Cardinia Shire; it’s challenges and opportunities for the future. We invite you to read the draft carefully and share your comments. Your feedback will help refine the final report and ensure it reflects the issues and needs of our community and industries.

The Audit lays the foundation for our future Food and Agribusiness Strategy. The engagement process will further explore the opportunities identified through the Audit and will focus on developing the Food and Agribusiness Strategy.

If you are passionate about shaping the future of food and agribusiness and contributing to meaningful decisions, consider joining the Food and Agribusiness Advisory Committee. This is a great opportunity to collaborate, provide insights, and make a real impact. You can find more details about the Advisory Committee in the Terms of Reference document, available in the Document Library. To express your interest please complete the form in the link below.

Have your say:

• Read the Draft Agribusiness Audit Report in the 'Document Library'
• Leave your comments and suggestions on the Audit below
• Talk with us at one of the community engagement pop ups listed in the timeline
• Express your interest in joining the Advisory Committee via this link

Together, we can make informed decisions and build a stronger, more sustainable food future.

Council has commenced the Cardinia Agribusiness Audit project, aimed at producing a comprehensive agricultural audit of the shire. The Audit will identify growth opportunities and challenges faced by the local agribusiness industry. Project objectives include understanding the current state and future potential of our industry; and formulating strategic actions to develop a sustainable and thriving local agribusiness community. The Farming and Food Futures Workshops are an important stakeholder consultation activity to gain industry insights and perspectives.

Two important Agribusiness Audit Activities for industry consultation were undertaken.

• Surveys
  • Farmer/Rural Landowner Surveys
  • Food Business - Accessing Local Produce Survey
  • Agribusiness Future Survey
• Workshops
  • Workshops took place between 7-14 May 2024 and were held in Koo Wee Rup, Gembrook and online. The surveys closed on 16 June 2024. The data is currently being analysed and the results will enable actions to be identified to better support agribusiness. Thank you for your feedback, advice and support for creating a more dynamic local farming, food and agribusiness environment.

Purpose: To identify important issues impacting the local industry, individual business viability and to better quantify general production and the economic operating environment.

For Who: Farmers, share farmers, property leasees, agritourism businesses, all property owners with available land to conduct farming and associated activities.

This has been emailed or mailed out to all farm rated property owners (receiving the Farmland, Primary Production or Single Farm Enterprise rate levies) registered with Cardinia Shire Council.

Other unidentified rural property owners who may be full-time or part-time farmers or have vacant rural land and are interested in farming or share farming, could access the farming/property use survey from this site.

Purpose: to identify the current status, challenges and opportunities for accessing local produce across the value chain in Cardinia Shire.

For Who: Food users, processors, buyers, manufacturers (food/beverage) and value adders and the food service industry (hospitality, cafes, restaurant, retail) and all interested individuals. This has also been emailed or mailed out to all business premises registed with Cardinia Shire Council.

Purpose: To gather feedback from others interested in farming and food.

For Who: Contractors/suppliers (i.e. input, fertiliser, seed, machinery, equipment, farm fencing, soil management, hay/fodder production, logistics export, wholesale) advisors, consultants, service providers, employees of a farming or associated agribusinesses, industry associations or environment-based groups relating to farming and community members.

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Cardinia Shire Council privacy collection statement

Personal information collected by Council, its external service providers or contractors, is used for municipal purposes as specified in the Local Government Act 2020. The personal information will be held securely and used solely by Council for these purposes and/or directly related purposes. Council may disclose this information to other organisations if required or permitted by legislation, and who are bound by substantially similar obligations. The applicant understands that the personal information provided is for the above purpose and that he or she may apply to Council for access to and/or amendment of the information. Requests for access and/or correction should be made to Council’s Privacy Officer on 1300 787 624 or mail@cardinia.vic.gov.au