Ararat Rural City Council

Ararat Rural City Council is subdividing a 30 hectare parcel of land five kilometres east of Ararat, as part of its vision to create a world standard Ararat Renewable Energy Park.

It is anticipated that the site, which is adjacent to the Ararat airport, will soon be the location for a cluster of component manufacturers in the renewable energy industry.

Chief Executive Officer Stephen Chapple said Council chose to pursue the development of the site when renewable energy and wind energy first emerged as a viable green energy solution a number of years ago.

“We believe that the Ararat Renewable Energy Park could potentially inject millions of dollars into the local and state economy, bringing component manufacturing here to Australia from overseas,” he said.

“Ararat is the ideal location for a manufacturing hub of this kind. Not only is the town centrally located within southeastern Australia’s prime wind resource, it is at the junction of Victoria’s key road and rail transport routes and close to New South Wales and South Australia.”

Council recently awarded the road construction contract for the subdivision road works and construction will soon begin on the new turning lanes off the Western Highway into the site.

Development of the site is expected to be strongly influenced by environmental sustainability, so water catchment and reuse for toilets and other needs will be strongly encouraged among tenants.

As part of the initial infrastructure development, Council has identified the opportunity to install a reed bed treatment facility for waste water, rather than installation of septic tanks or a connection to sewer.

Stephen Chapple said Council was currently in positive discussions with a number of possible tenants.

“Council is also taking a lead role in working with the State and Federal Governments to encourage Australian manufacturing opportunities to service local renewable energy projects,” he said.

A brighter future for oval

A state of the art lighting upgrade at Ararat’s Alexandra Oval means that State, or even national level sporting events can now be held in the municipality.

Last year Council installed four, 25 metre lighting towers with 24 2000 watt lamps, raising the facility’s lighting to 100 lux, the Australian standard for club football.

The new lighting was funded using $100,000 of the State Government’s $300,000 Local Works Infrastructure Program funding for drought affected communities.

Council is now in the process of delivering on stage two of the project, by installing two more lighting towers, at a cost of $80,000.

Council will split the cost with Ararat Community Enterprise, an independent organisation that has chosen the Alexandra Oval Master Plan as its major community project. Ararat Community Enterprise operates as a Telco retailer, pouring profits back into community projects.

Mayor Councillor Gwenda Allgood said the lighting upgrade was a major achievement for all involved, including the Alexandra Oval Committee of Management.

“This project means that Alexandra Oval will have the highest level of lighting of any sporting ground in the Wimmera Grampians region,” she said.

“Not only will our local sporting clubs enjoy this major facility upgrade, we’ll be increasing our chances of hosting major sporting events in Ararat, which is fantastic on many levels.”

Municipal investment boom

The Ararat municipality has enjoyed a sustained period of growth over the past decade. The initial growth was underpinned by the expansion of existing businesses and the foresight of the local community to invest in new opportunities and meet gaps in the market.

Major success stories include that of AF Gasons Pty Ltd, which was established in 1945 and is now one of the largest manufacturers of wood heaters and farm machinery in the southern hemisphere.

Australia’s leading supplier of electrical harness, power and signal distribution systems – AME Systems – has more than doubled its staff during the past 10 years, while Grampians Event Hire, a local startup business that began a decade ago, now employs 10 people and is expected to turn over $1 million this financial year.

In Ararat, big players such as supermarket chains Aldi and Coles recently set up shop, giving local competitor Safeway some healthy competition. Caltex has also established a truck stop on the outskirts of town, reaping the business of locals and travellers.

Towns across the municipality are also thriving, with businesses such as Gorst Rural Supplies of Lake Bolac meeting the needs of smaller communities.

Mayor Councillor Gwenda Allgood said despite the current global financial crisis, the municipality’s economy continued to prosper.

“In addition to these larger businesses, there has been private investment in boutique clothing shops, cafés, restaurants and an organic produce outlet,” Councillor Allgood said. “A number of professional services have also relocated or opened in Ararat.

“The conversion of the historic Astor Cinema into an impressive multiplex and Council’s own million dollar Barkly Street upgrade – which complements the iconic grapevines planted along the street – just adds more and more value to the town’s economy and lifestyle.”

The Mayor added that a number of local entrepreneurs were also developing exciting products for local industry.