Growing the City of Whittlesea's agriculture sector is an important part of our economic strategy, with 70% of our sprawling municipality being rural and having direct freeway links to airports, docks and central Melbourne.
For more information about our projects or to arrange an on-site visit, contact our industry development officer, agri-food at agribusiness@whittlesea.vic.gov.au or call 03 9217 2170.
The City of Whittlesea Agri-Food Plan 2023-2026 provides direction for investment attraction and growth in the local agri-food sector. The plan's objective is to grow and strengthen the sector to increase value-add, innovation, local employment and future readiness.
Download our Agri-Food Plan(PDF, 11MB)
Expanding agricultural land use and production is critical to creating new jobs and providing equal access to locally produced food and products for our diverse and growing community. Our Agribusiness Prospectus can assist you to make a well-informed decision about agricultural investment opportunities in the City of Whittlesea.
Download our Agribusiness Prospectus
Agribusiness Prospectus - accessible(DOCX, 747KB)
Agribusiness Prospectus(PDF, 7MB)
We have partnered with Deakin University for a project looking at regenerative agriculture and its potential to support peri-urban agriculture for greater climate resilience of surrounding cities and regional centres.
The project involves:
- identifying key characteristics of regenerative agriculture enterprises in Victoria
- describing the sector size in both area and economic return across the state
- assessing the potential of regenerative agriculture for building climate resilience and mitigation through soil carbon sequestration.
The City of Whittlesea will use the project's findings to drive change and reinvigorate agriculture in the municipality after many years of urban development, drought, bushfire and other pressures degrading the sector.
Regenerative farming case studies
Read the experiences of five regenerative farmers from a range of industries.
Download the case studies
We are supporting Melbourne Polytechnic, Whittlesea Community Connections and Yarra Valley Water to develop a mixed farming enterprise. The initiative will provide food for distribution into the local emergency relief network as well as volunteering, education and employment opportunities. It will demonstrate best practice sustainable agriculture systems for peri-urban areas.
Our vision for the project is to create a vibrant food hub that provides a place for the community to connect, learn and prosper.
The Wollert Community Farm and Whittlesea Food Collective is an integrated model that combines local food and farming, food distribution, sustainable resource use, agricultural education and capability building.
Once operational, the collective will:
- provide pathways from hardship to opportunity and employment
- improve health and wellbeing through access to nutrition and community engagement
- promote local inclusive economic participation through partnerships, procurement and enterprises
- facilitate and provide local education and training in agriculture, horticulture and conservation
- enhance onsite and regional cultural and natural heritage
- demonstrate leading practice in circular economy and sustainable peri-urban environments.
This project has received $1.5 million in funding. The funding is part of a $48.4 million investment in shovel-ready water projects under the Victorian Government’s new $2.7 billion Building Works package.
Download information about the Wollert Community Farm and Food Collective:
Agribusiness Prospectus - accessible(DOCX, 721KB)
Agribusiness Prospectus(PDF, 18MB)
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