In summary:
- Ten largest regional Victorian cities join forces to boost investment.
- Focus on housing, jobs, infrastructure, and managing climate change.
- Mayors met in Shepparton to advocate for regional priorities.
- Cities aim to secure fair share of funding ahead of upcoming elections.
An advocacy alliance comprising the local governments of Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Horsham, Latrobe, Mildura, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Warrnambool and Wodonga; Regional Cities Victoria will work with Federal and State governments to address housing shortages, attract new industries to regional Victoria, and ensure services and infrastructure keep pace with the extraordinary population growth across Victoria’s major regional centres.
Mayors from each city met in Shepparton today, to continue their collective advocacy efforts and take the leadership group forward as Victoria’s trusted advisor to governments and other stakeholders on the issues most important to regional Victorians. Collectively, these cities are home to more than 800,000 people and contribute to approximately 10 per cent of Victoria’s economy.
RCV has become regional Victoria’s trusted voice to governments, industry, stakeholders and media. Its advocacy has seen an historic $600m boost to broadband and 5G mobile infrastructure across regional Victoria; first ever Commonwealth contributions to essential utilities, to unlock new housing and make homes more affordable; investment in regional tourism and events; and the attraction of new businesses and jobs to regional cities.
Ahead of next year’s Federal election and a State election in 2026, Regional Cities Victoria wants to ensure regional Victoria gets it fair share.
Comments attributable to Cr Shane Sali, RCV Chair and Mayor of Greater Shepparton:
“Now more than ever, Victoria’s regional cities must be heard. We need considered investment to underpin our long-term economic prosperity and ensure we can maintain everything we love about living in our regional cities.
“There is growing concern about a lack of future investment in community infrastructure and the services needed to accommodate the thousands of extra people coming to live in regional Victoria every year.
“We are committed to working with governments, on behalf of regional Victorians, to ensure our regional cities see the same kind of investment that Melbourne’s growth suburbs do.”
