Pyramid Hill success story

Published on 31 March 2016

Pyramid Hill is a township preparing for future growth.

At a time when rural communities are fighting against population decline, Pyramid Hill is bucking the trend.

Information provided by Loddon Shire Council, reveals shops in the township are fully occupied, residential development is on the rise and Pyramid Hill’s two schools are defying the enrolment decline experienced in many rural townships.

Loddon Shire Council Terrick Ward Councillor Cheryl McKinnon said much of the growth was due to the Filipino community “putting down roots” in the town.

“Kia-ora Piggery played an integral role in the town’s development by recruiting a number of Filipinos to its worforce.

“It really started there, and now Council is working with the community to prepare for future growth as the security found within the growing Filipino community draws more to the township, which also benefits from a passenger rail service between Bendigo and Swan Hill.”

A cursory glance at statistical information released as far back as the 2011 Australian Census is suggestive of growing migrant numbers and healthy full time employment rates in Pyramid Hill.

At that time, 59 percent of Pyramid Hill residents aged over 15 years were engaged in full-time employment, which was on a par with the Victorian rate of 59.2 percent.

Pyramid Hill was also experiencing an influx of residents speaking a language other than English, including Tagalog, Filipino, Madarin, Afrikaans and Greek.

Loddon Shire Council Economic Development Manager Bryan McEwan said the 2011 figures were indicative of a positive trend and Council expected to see strong growth when the 2016 Australian Census was released later this year.

“Council is working on several fronts to meet the needs of the township which is an absolute success story in its own right.

“We’ve allocated $500,000 towards the Pyramid Hill Streetscape Redevelopment and are currently working to secure the balance of funding for the major project from external sources.

“We’re also continuing to upgrade Kelly Street Park, with $45,000 invested in a half- court basketball court, irrigation and new turf late last year, and a further $115,000 allocated for a proposed adventure playground with landscaping and floodlighting.”

Mr McEwan said while a date for this year’s Pyramid Hill Fiesta was yet to be set, Council’s tourism department was working closely with the local progress association, Lions and senior citizens’ clubs, historical society and both schools to broaden the event to have a real multicultural focus.

“The Fiesta is designed to bring communities within the larger community together, respecting Pyramid Hill’s history and celebrating the shifting cultural landscape which represents such a bright future for all who live and work there.”