Case Studies

Background

Campaspe Shire is located in northern Victoria, positioned along the Murray River with strong connections to surrounding centres including Bendigo and Greater Shepparton. Anchored by Echuca and supported by a network of service towns and rural communities, the Shire plays a key role in regional supply chains, particularly in agriculture, food processing, manufacturing, and population-serving industries. Its economy is shaped by cross-border activity, established freight networks, and evolving trends such as workforce change and supply chain pressures. To support future economic development, Campaspe Shire Council engaged REMPLAN to deliver an evidence-based assessment of the local economy, identifying key strengths, challenges, and opportunities to inform strategic planning and investment aligned with Council’s long-term priorities.

Project Goals

The project was undertaken to establish a clear, evidence-based understanding of Campaspe Shire’s current economic condition and emerging opportunities within a changing regional context. The study aimed to identify priority industry sectors, supply chain gaps, and regional capabilities. A key objective was to translate this analysis into practical insights that can guide economic development initiatives, inform investment attraction, and support the implementation of Council’s strategic frameworks.

REMPLAN’s Involvement

REMPLAN was commissioned by Campaspe Shire Council to deliver an Economic Development Opportunities Study to support evidence-based economic planning and investment decision-making. REMPLAN undertook a comprehensive desktop analysis, combining policy and data review with its economic and demographic modelling platform to assess the Shire’s economic structure, industry performance, and regional linkages. The findings were synthesised into a clear and actionable evidence base, designed to inform Council’s strategic priorities, guide investment attraction, and support the implementation of key frameworks including the Economic Development and Tourism Strategy 2024 and the Council and Wellbeing Plan 2025-2029.

Results

The analysis found that Campaspe Shire has a strong and productive regional economy, generating $3.1 billion in gross regional product and supporting over 17,000 jobs. Key industries such as agriculture and food manufacturing underpin export performance, contributing more than $1.4 billion in combined exports, while construction and service sectors have driven recent growth. The study also identified significant supply chain gaps, highlighting opportunities to strengthen local value-adding and reduce leakage. Overall, the findings confirm Campaspe’s role as a major agrifood and processing hub within the region, with future growth opportunities focused on building on existing strengths, improving supply chain resilience, and addressing workforce and infrastructure constraints.