New Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show employment in the north-west region of Victoria, which includes the Wimmera, has increased by 4.5 per cent.

In the three months to July, the unemployment rate for the region was 5.8 per cent – lower than the average for regional Victoria, which is 6.5 per cent.

Treasurer Michael O’Brien said the State Government’s job-creating investments included money for the Australian Grains Genebank in Horsham, the Horsham Special School, the Wimmera Community Centre development, the MICA single responder unit in Horsham and upgrades to Stawell airport and Horsham College.

“These figures demonstrate that the State Government is supporting jobs growth and investment in regional Victoria,” he said.

“In addition, over the past three years, the Regional Growth Fund has invested almost $430 million to support 1500 projects, leveraging $1.7 billion in total investment.”

The State Government also announced this week it had invested $50,000 in a series of initiatives that focused on industry, training providers and students in the Wimmera.

Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty said the Wimmera Workforce Initiatives project would support the Regional Development Australia Grampians’ Regional Plan goal to increase the region’s human capital. 

Initiatives will include agriculture promotion, training needs analysis and showcasing Longerenong College student experiences to promote opportunities in agriculture and agribusiness.