Victoria’s thoroughbred industry has met with consistent success in the sales ring and on the track, and now thanks to collaboration between Strathbogie Shire Council and industry players, it has had a win in the State Government funding stakes.
Funding for the North East Thoroughbred Industry Alliance (NETIA) was recently secured through the Victorian Government’s Regional Innovations Clusters Program to identify skills and training needs for the industry, provide linkages between horse properties and key tourism and service industries, and conduct research to assist growth in exports.
“The funding will help to reestablish the North East’s reputation as a quality breeding region, and is also an important milestone for NETIA,” said the chair of NETIA, Bob Scarborough.
The equine industry has long been a prime economic driver for Strathbogie Shire, but after losing a number of high profile stallions to the Hunter Valley many Victorian mares were no longer being ‘covered’ in the State. To tackle the issue a group of North East breeders joined forces, aiming to boost the region’s breeding reputation.
“Proximity to Melbourne, good climate and soil, along with a breadth of ancillary equine services afford North East Victoria a strong competitive advantage,” Bob Scarborough said. “The challenge was to ensure the region achieved the recognition it deserves.”
Including the townships of Euroa, Nagambie and Avenel, Strathbogie Shire boasts a number of long established studs and broodmare farms. With such a concentration of equine players, Strathbogie was the obvious Local Government partner in the formation of an equine industry cluster.
Understanding that to reposition the region industry would need to work collaboratively across the full spectrum of equine activities, Strathbogie Shire Council was approached to help facilitate the development of an equine industry cluster.
Strathbogie Shire Council was instrumental in NETIA’s creation. In 2004 the alliance was incorporated with a charter to market North East Victoria’s thoroughbred industry, collate statistics to benchmark it against other regions and pursue industry development opportunities. With Strathbogie Shire the lead proponent, support was then enlisted from neighbouring North East Councils including City of Greater Shepparton, Benalla Rural City and the Murrindindi, Mansfield and Mitchell Shires.
Regional Development Victoria commenced working with NETIA in 2005 and thanks to recent funding, NETIA can now take the next steps in cluster development. The cluster will engage consultants to conduct a skills needs analysis and the compilation of economic and industry statistics.
“Presently, although we know the equine industry is worth millions to the local economy, we haven’t been able to accurately quantify its value,” Bob Scarborough said. “These projects will address that knowledge gap. And knowing and understanding the economic significance of the horse industry will enable us to build strong arguments for strategic planning around industry investment and development.”
In announcing the funding, Victorian Minister for State and Regional Development, John Brumby said that the skills needs analysis will help the industry and local education institutions review the skill needs of the industry and compile practical and interesting course structures to help attract and retain skilled staff.
“Gathering key industry statistics will provide an opportunity to increase exports, particularly to countries where thoroughbreds are an emerging industry,” the Minister said. “The cluster also intends forming strong links with businesses in the tourism sector, particularly food, wine and accommodation businesses, with the view to increasing the economic benefit to the North East region.”
This, combined with NETIA’s marketing initiatives, are making in-roads in positioning the region as Victoria’s thoroughbred homeland.
