About the Snowy Valleys Region

The Snowy Valleys Council region, located in the western foothills of the Snowy Mountains and bordered by the Kosciuszko National Park and Murray River, covers 8,960 square kilometres.

With a population of over 14,000, the Snowy Valleys is home to over 5,000 local jobs. Council plays an important role in facilitating, supporting and promoting business activity to develop and secure a sustainable employment base and a strong economic future for the region.

The Snowy Valleys has a diverse human resource base, a good climate, affordable quality housing, an abundance of water, exceptional community services and facilities, quality physical infrastructure and a supportive business environment. 

The agriculture and softwood timber industries, including Australia’s largest softwood processing mill, underpin the region’s economic base. Beef cattle farming (specialised) employs more working residents of the Snowy Valleys than any other industry. The softwood timber industry is the Snowy Valleys’ largest employer, centered around the Visy and AKD softwood processing mills in Tumut and the Hyne mill in Tumbarumba.

Other key industries include viticulture, retail, hydro-electricity generation and horticulture. The tourism industry also offers potential for growth while the Federal Government’s $2 billion expansion of the Snowy Hydro Scheme will provide an economic boost to the region.

Based on the region’s comparative and competitive advantages, emerging opportunities in the Snowy Valleys Council area include apple cider, premium cool climate wine, cool climate horticulture (such as chestnuts and blueberries), biomass energy using plantation timber residues, hydro-electricity generation, aged care and tourism.