Funding for jobs and regional infrastructure axed in 2023-24 Victorian Budget

Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) has called on the Victorian Government to outline how regional Victorians will access State Government funding for infrastructure in growing communities and new job-creating projects following the discontinuation of the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund (RJIF).

Councils and regional businesses have had access to more than $100m each year through this grants
program since it was established by the Bracks Government more than two decades ago.

RCV spokesperson Cr Shane Sali said the RJIF has been used to create jobs, help business relocate to
regional cities, build community centres, and make regional Victoria a better place to live, work and visit.

“It is incredibly disappointing that this funding has not been continued and there is no support available for local infrastructure projects in our growing regional cities. RCV is seeking an assurance from the Victorian Government that regional Councils will be able to access State Government funding via other means,” he said.

“Without access to Victorian Government funding, Councils will find it even harder to secure Federal
Government funding, due to co-contribution requirements.”

RCV welcomed a series of 2023-24 Budget announcements, including:

• Significant investment in the regional rail network:

• $190 million towards capping regional rail fares at metro prices (which began on 31 March).
• $601 million to deliver 23 new Victorian-made VLocity trains.
• $111 million to support the regional rail network operations, reliability and punctuality.
• $3.5 million to maintain the Mode Shift Incentive Scheme, encouraging the transfer of freight from road to rail.

• $677 million in ongoing flood recovery

• And outdoor recreation initiatives such as:

• $32 million for the Go Fishing Victoria program
• $16 million for recreational boating infrastructure
• $2.5 million for the Country Football and Netball Program.

Cr Sali added that while RCV is looking forward to working with the Government to support planning
legislative reform to increase housing supply, regional councils had hoped there would be support for
enabling infrastructure in this budget.

“We would also like more information on plans to capitalise on 2026 Commonwealth Games for all regional areas in future budgets, not just the cities hosting the sports events.”

RCV is a regional leadership group dedicated to building a sustainable Victoria by providing strategic advice, coordination and advocacy to State and Federal Governments to support policies which enable Victoria’s regional centres to grow and develop.

Comprising Mayors and CEOs of the 10 largest cities in regional Victoria – Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Horsham, Latrobe, Mildura, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Warrnambool and Wodonga – RCV is focused on achieving real change in regional Victoria through policy development and active implementation of those policies.

Regional Cities Victoria comprises the 10 largest regional cities in Victoria – Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong,
Horsham, Latrobe, Mildura, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Warrnambool and Wodonga.

Download a copy of the media release here.

Regional Cities Victoria applauds 2023-24 Federal Budget tackling cost of living
pressures, but regional Victoria misses out on funding

Regional Cities Victoria today congratulates Treasurer Jim Chalmers on delivering the 2023-24 Budget,
providing much-needed relief for households struggling with cost-of-living increases.

Key items in the 2023-24 Budget such as energy bill relief, increases in JobSeeker payments and the $5.7
billion committed to strengthening Medicare will benefit all Victorians and investments in clean energy will help secure our path towards net zero.

RCV also acknowledges the new Regional Investment Framework outlined in the 2023-24 Budget that will
establish a regional development forum for Australian Government agencies. Under the framework, all
regional investments must meet standards of merit and integrity.

RCV welcomed particular announcements complementing the ongoing Growing Regions Program,
including:

• Committing a further $4 billion to the renewable energy superpower plan
• $2 billion to make Australia a world leading hydrogen producer
• $400 million over 4 years to support reduction of direct and indirect emissions at existing industrial facilities, or clean energy development, in regional Australia.

However, Chair of Regional Cities Victoria, Cr Andrea Metcalf, said RCV had hoped to see more targeted
funding for regional Victoria.

“Investment in regional Victoria is critical for our local economies, especially as we prepare to welcome
visitors from around the world to the Commonwealth Games in 2026,” she said.

“We welcome the Government’s funding for clean energy and cost-of-living relief, however we would have liked to see regional Victoria secure more targeted funding for much-needed projects.”

Prior to the budget, RCV called on the Federal Government to:

• Match the $165 million ‘road repair blitz’ provided by the Victorian Government;
• Provide $10 million to develop a Regional Transport Plan for Victoria that will design ways to improve inter-city transport connectivity and safe and fast transport links between regional cities;
• Introduce ‘improved resilience’ as an objective for the rebuilding and repair of community infrastructure following a natural disaster and provide the additional funding necessary to ensure communities can ‘build back better’;
• Ensure regional Victoria receives its fair share of funding under the Better Connectivity Plan; and to commit to the continuation of funding for the Plan.

Download RCV’s media release here.