RDA-Riverina region
Image Credit: Tiki Paton
The Riverina is an agricultural region of south-western New South Wales (NSW), which extends from the foothills of the Snowy Mountains north west through the Murrumbidgee River catchment area to the flat dry inland plains of Hay and Carrathool. The RDA Riverina region covers an area of 80,545 sq kms and services a population of 173,593 people. It comprises the regional cities of Wagga Wagga and Griffith and the local government areas of Bland, Carrathool, Coolamon, Cootamundra-Gundagai, Griffith, Hay, Junee, Leeton, Lockhart, Murrumbidgee, Narrandera, Snowy Valleys, Temora and Wagga Wagga.
Employment is primarily driven by healthcare, agriculture and manufacturing. RDA Riverina estimates that 87,833 people were employed in the Riverina region in December 2021 (National Skills Commission - Small area Labour Markets). The labour force participation rate for the Riverina is estimated at 63.9% (National Skills Commission - Small area Labour Markets and Australian Bureau of Statistics) with an unemployment rate of only 2.0% (December 2021). The Healthcare and Social Assistance sector is the Riverina's largest employing sector with almost 12,000 people employed (14.5% of the workforce), followed by Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing industry at just over 10,000 people, 12.6% of the workforce (REMPLAN Economy 2021 Release 1).
The Murrumbidgee River runs through the Riverina region and delivers water to major food producing areas of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA) and Coleambally Irrigation Area (CIA). These irrigation areas provide over one-quarter of all the fruit and vegetable production in NSW and are also one of Australia's largest exporters of bulk wines. Further growth in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing is being experienced in cotton, aquaculture and nut industries.
The Riverina's burgeoning food culture currently presents numerous opportunities for businesses. The diversity of the produce grown in the area is unmatched and has enhanced the attractiveness of the region.
It also home to a strong education base with Charles Sturt University, TAFE NSW, RAAF Base Forest Hill and Kapooka Army Base. All these facilities are vital in building the skills and confidence of all people (including Aboriginal & new immigrants) in the region.
The Riverina has a wealth of people with a proactive and entrepreneurial approach to business and life. Opportunities for development exist in the Riverina region in agriculture, aged care, defence, manufacturing, wood products, transport & logistics and education.
For further regional information, profiles by LGA or region visit:
Did you know?
The name ‘Wagga’ is derived from the local Wiradjuri Aboriginal language. For many years it was widely accepted that ‘Wagga’ meant ‘crow’ and to create the plural, the Wiradjuri people repeat the word. Thus ‘Wagga Wagga’ meant 'the place of many crows'. In recent years local Wiradjuri elders have corrected this misunderstanding. It is now understood that ‘Wagga’ means ‘dance’ and that ‘Wagga Wagga’ means ‘many dances and celebrations’.
Videos
An overview of some of the agricultural industries in the Riverina Region.
The Riverina Agricultural Education Alliance hosted the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA) Ag Inspirations camp in late 2014. This provided secondary school students with an insight into the various agricultural occupations within the MIA.