RCV advocacy pays off with Coalition’s LRCIP commitment

VIEW THE PDF

Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) welcomed today’s $1bn commitment from the Coalition for a revitalised Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program (LRCIP).

RCV has consistently advocated for more autonomy for councils to fix roads and invest in community infrastructure through non-competitive grants programs like the LRCIP.

“RCV’s persistence for greater, more flexible investment in regional Victoria in the lead up to the federal election is paying off,” RCV Chair Cr Shane Sali said today.

“Safer roads are a priority for RCV councils and the communities they support to ensure everyone gets home safely.”

Cr Sali said providing councils with a stream of funding for community infrastructure was vital for growing populations that rely on council-run facilities.

He said demand for services was placing an increasing burden on local government as population growth in regional cities outpaces all previous forecasts and the ability of councils to build and manage facilities – sporting, libraries, halls, parks, maternal health centres and kindergartens – was limited by revenue caps.

“Giving local councils the flexibility and the autonomy to direct funding where it’s urgently needed is the most efficient and effective way to improve liveability in our regional cities,” Cr Sali said.

“RCV’s vision is for prosperity and enhanced liveability through sustainable growth in regional Victoria, and we will continue to advocate for policies that invest in our economies to support the entire nation,” Cr Sali said.

State Priorities for 2025-26

VIEW THE PDF HERE

Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) is a leadership group dedicated to building a sustainable regional Australia by providing strategic advice, coordination, and advocacy to state and federal governments. We are pleased to submit our ideas and priorities for the 2025–26 Budget.

Comprising the Mayors and CEOs of the ten 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 implementation. We represent the more than 800,000 Australians that live in these municipalities.

Victoria’s regional cities underpin region-scale economies, liveability, and support the state’s economic growth. People living across regional Australia also rely on regional cities as ‘hubs’ for access to education, health, financial, transport and social services, as well as retail, sport and recreation, and cultural amenities.

Every single day, an extra 35 people call one of our regional cities home. Local governments are at the forefront of responding to this net population growth – in a tight fiscal environment coupled with cost-shifting and revenue caps – while maintaining the liveability for which regional Victoria is renowned.

Regional Cities Victoria’s vision is to develop and advocate for policies that invest equitably and sustainably in our regional cities to support a growing and prosperous Australia.

RCV’s federal priorities for May’s election 

VIEW THE PDF HERE

Addressing critical workforce shortages, upgrading local roads, and fast-tracking construction of more homes are priorities for Regional Cities Victoria heading into this year’s federal election.

RCV Chair Cr Shane Sali, Mayor of Greater Shepparton, said with the right investment and policy settings regional Victoria can house a greater proportion of the state’s population and contribute to the nation’s economic prosperity.

Cautious welcome for 2025-26 Federal Budget 

VIEW THE PDF HERE

Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) Chair Shane Sali has cautiously welcomed the cost-of living relief for taxpayers outlined in the 2025-26 Federal Budget but says broader investment is needed to help regional Victoria prosper.

Cr Sali welcomed budget initiatives for regional areas to deliver more homes, boost health, education and childcare, complete the NBN rollout, and secure greater accountability from banks and supermarkets, but noted Victoria’s share of big-ticket infrastructure investment included $2bn for a suburban railway station and $1bn for a suburban roads blitz.

Victoria’s regions warn of dire shortages in critical local roles

VIEW THE PDF HERE

Like much of Australia, regional Victoria has a shortage of houses. It’s making it harder for young people to buy a first home and stay in our regions, and harder to attract new people for jobs.

Our story is not unique. That’s why there’s a national push to build more houses and units – to make homes cheaper and rentals easier to find and afford.

But long before anyone puts the key in a door and unlocks the great Australian dream, we need things like pipes, poles and paths in the ground – and the experts to put them there.

Federal Priorities for 2025–26

VIEW THE PDF HERE

Regional Cities Victoria is a leadership group dedicated to building a sustainable regional Australia by providing strategic advice, coordination, and advocacy to state and federal governments.

Comprising the Mayors and CEOs of the ten largest cities in regional Victoria – Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Horsham, Latrobe, Mildura, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Warrnambool, and Wodonga – Regional Cities Victoria is focused on achieving real change in regional Victoria through policy development and implementation. We represent the more than 800,000 Australians that live in these municipalities.

Victoria’s regional cities underpin region-scale economies, liveability, and support the state’s economic growth. People living across regional Australia also rely on regional cities as ‘hubs’ for access to education, health, financial, transport and social services, as well as retail, sport and recreation, and cultural amenities.

Every single day, an extra 35 people call one of our regional cities home. Local government is at the forefront of responding to this net population growth and maintaining the liveability for which regional Victoria is renowned. Regional Cities Victoria’s vision is to develop and advocate for policies that invest equitably and sustainably in our regional cities to support a growing and prosperous Australia.

Still more to do to meet housing demand in regional Victoria

VIEW THE PDF HERE

Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) has welcomed the Allan Government’s announcement that land around some of our major regional centres will be protected for agricultural and industrial uses, but warned that major obstacles remain if Victoria is to meet its targets for new housing.

RCV had hoped Plan for Victoria would express a vision that put regional Victoria at the heart of the state’s growth strategy and encouraged a greater proportion of the population to live in our regional cities.

“Regional cities see an opportunity to attract the key workers we need in our regional hospitals, schools and local businesses, while easing the pressure on housing in Melbourne at the same time,” said Cr Shane Sali, RCV Chair.

RCV’s submission to the government called for a broad plan that would drive decisions and investment to attract more people to live and work in regional Victoria; better connect our regional cities to Melbourne and each other; coordinate housing growth with infrastructure investment; protect rural amenity and support resilient, healthy communities; increase housing choice and diversity; and address housing affordability for locals.

A New Plan for Victoria: Submission from RCV

VIEW THE PDF HERE

Victoria is changing. Over the next 30 years, our population is set to grow by around 320 people every day – to more than 10 million.

One in four people live outside of Melbourne. And around half of all regional Victorians – more than 800,000 people – live in one of our ten regional cities. These ratios haven’t changed in decades.

The new plan for Victoria is an opportunity to ensure that regional Victoria is part of the state’s growth strategy and home to a greater proportion of the population and economic prosperity.

As we imagine the future of our regional cities, the Victorian Government’s plan for Victoria must be more than a target for new dwellings. It must be a plan for growth and larger communities that supports the whole of Victoria and its economy. Success will depend on genuine consideration of the rural and regional context.

Each of our regions is unique. Some will house a significant portion of Victoria’s new residents. Others must be supported to ensure stable populations that service and underpin rural industries and regional economies.

Councils have invested significant resources and undertaken extensive community consultation and research to develop long-term housing and growth strategies that will better serve current and future residents, businesses, and visitors.

Our vision is a plan for Victoria that reflects these strategies and articulates clear actions that will drive decisions and investment to attract more people to live and work in regional Victoria; better connect our regional cities to Melbourne and each other; coordinate housing growth with infrastructure investment; protect rural amenity and support resilient, healthy communities; increase housing choice and diversity; and address housing affordability.

Transformative investment in regional cities can benefit the whole state.