Cr Daniel Meade tabled a motion at Moyne’s June meeting calling for council to adopt the Leadership Great South Coast Economic Migration Project Model.

The motion received unanimous support from his fellow councillors.

The project model was developed by a Leadership Great South Coast team, led by Carly Jordan.

Its goal is to bring secondary migrants, Australian citizens from other countries, who have lived in metropolitan areas for 10 years, to rural areas.

Cr Meade said the project model was the perfect fit for Moyne Shire.

“This is a great opportunity for the Moyne Shire, we need more people given the diminishing populations of our smaller towns,” he said.

“The more people we have in our communities, the better it will be for our schools, sporting clubs and other groups.

“There are also a lot of employee shortages which need to be filled.”

The project model has been successfully introduced to the Southern Grampians and Glenelg shires.

Three families, originally from Africa, have now set up home in Hamilton as part of the project, with the adult members finding gainful employment.

“A key criteria of the project is that before re-location to a rural area can happen, at least one adult member of the family has to have employment lined up,” Cr Meade said.  

“The families involved in this project so far have been large so that provides a significant influx to schools and communities. 

“These families originally came from the Great Lakes area in Africa so they have strong rural roots, which makes a move to the country areas very appealing.”

Members of the project leadership team addressed a Moyne Shire councillor workshop on June 5. 

At that workshop, councillors heard the aim was to have 10 families settled in Southern Grampians by the end of the year. 

Glenelg Shire has held community consultation sessions and has appointed an officer to progress the project.

Cr Meade said Moyne Shire’s economic development department will now work with the Great South Coast Leadership project team to advance the venture.