Regional Victorians

"Victoria in The Future", a government report released in July, paints a bleak future for some rural areas expected to see population decline over the next couple of decades as our young people hike it to the cities for jobs. Globally this is not a unique phenomenon, but Australia does have a unique solution and it's not decentralisation. While decentralisation is bandied about like it's the holy grail, one must consider that bringing in departments from the city and typicall

Rural Victorians are calling on the Andrews Government to recognise the value in our waterways. Home to rare and threatened species of native birds - including those unique to our country - many people would view they should be sanctuaries, not shooting ranges. It's about allowing regional residents - far more of whom live near waterways now than in the 1950's- their rights to safe and peaceful enjoyment of their properties. It's about year-round opportunities for all to en

Australia's rarest waterbird, the Freckled Duck, picture Eleanor Dilley Posted: 01/07/2019; Regional Victorians Opposed to Duck Shooting Inc. Following our last blog about domestic overnight tourism trends, https://www.regionalvictoriansotds.com/single-post/2019/06/04/Domestic-Tourism-Results-NSW-Still-Ahead-Queensland-Closing-In, results just released show Victoria - including some regional areas - saw an increase in international tourists year ending March 2019. While Phill

Results released for the 2018 calendar year, show NSW is still ahead of the game with 34.6 million visitors and their $21.1 billion spend, (the latter up 13% on the previous year), while Victoria sits on 25.7 million visitors at $14.9 billion spend, (up 9%). But Queensland are quickly closing in with 24.1 million visitors and a whopping $18.3 billion spend, a huge 16% increase in spend on last year. A study for The Tourism and Transport Forum. "Unlocking the Great Outdoors" (

Any day now the Andrews government will announce what will or won't be, in terms of another native waterbird shooting season in 2019, at thousands of public waterways around Victoria often in close proximity to residents. For the sake of our struggling native waterbirds and the communities they (used to) frequent, let's hope our “new” Labor Government is indeed progressive, true to its word on protecting our unique wildlife and governing for all Victorians – majority of whom

The global theme for this year's World Habitat Day is waste management - a subject close to rural Victorian rate payers' hearts. Not only are many landowners actively caring for our environments 24 x 7 including through local landcare groups, councils also hold them to account. Many rural people pay astronomical amounts for elaborate waste treatment plants so as to protect nearby water quality. Yet sadly, the same rural people are often left post duck shooting season, to cont

Great to see the Andrews' Government launch their "Your Happy Space" campaign, encouraging Victorians to appreciate our regional backyards. Regional Victoria has much to offer to cater to the fast growing demand for nature based experiences. Aside from pure enjoyment, the health benefits of nature have been proven to be real, measurable and significant. The rise and rise of nature tourism - C'mon Victoria! New Tourism Research Australia data released in July 2018 shows domest

In the lead up to an election, we can expect sales pitches by politicians. But beware MP’s who call their opponents “city centric”. There is no doubt that small rural Victorian towns are in serious financial trouble and something needs to change, fast. From the Auditor General’s report and SGS Economics analysis which showed rural Victoria’s communities were faring worse than any other states’, to the Census data depicting 8 out of the 10 most disadvantaged areas in Victoria

Uncontrolled shooting & the prospect of decentralisation. Families living around tens of thousands of waterways can finally breathe a sigh of relief. The three month shooting of our native waterbirds dawn to dusk is over, for now. It was a surprise the season went ahead at all. Only months prior, Ministers had committed to animal welfare and regional development. There’s no doubt about the inhumane suffering of our native waterbirds caused by shotgun pellet spray (one reason

RURAL STAKEHOLDERS TURN TO TV TO BE HEARD. It's time to listen to the professional polls which say the vast majority of Victorians want duck shooting banned. It's time to heed thousands of letters and many tens of thousands of signatures on petitions from Victorians who want duck shooting banned. It's time to heed advice of independent experts in areas of ecoscience, animal welfare, birdlife and economics who advise duck shooting should be banned. It's time to concede that th