The strategy is built upon a solid foundation of regional economic data that justifies a push for increased investment. According to GDILG chair Matt Gleeson, Gippsland’s 1,028 dairy farms consistently produce 1.9 billion litres of milk annually, a volume that represents roughly 23% of national dairy production. This high output translates into a significant regional economic impact, contributing a stable A$4 billion annually to economic growth. The dairy industry is also the biggest employment provider in Gippsland, directly employing more than 6,000 people—with 2,800 on-farm and 3,600 in manufacturing and processing.

The ten-year strategy outlines critical priorities across five core themes designed to support long-term prosperity. These themes include: improving workforce access to skills development and career progression; enhancing economic resilience at farm, processor, and community levels; supporting the adoption of innovation and productive technologies; maintaining best-practice environmental management; and proactively addressing social expectations of the industry as a community partner. This holistic approach aims to align dairy goals with broader community and government targets for resource management and emissions mitigation.

A major focus of the strategy is on attracting new and expanded milk processing and food manufacturing facilities to the region. Gleeson argues that Gippsland’s reliable and diverse milk supply—backed by its ability to balance output across different farming conditions (rain-fed, irrigated, coastal, and inland)—makes it a compelling investment case. The strategy is designed to be a “shovel-ready document” for councils and government agencies to use, complete with underlying data, to leverage federal funding opportunities and ensure the next piece of dairy infrastructure is built locally.