RCV appointment to drought taskforce
STATEMENT FROM THE CHAIR CR SHANE SALI, MAYOR OF GREATER SHEPPARTON
RCV has been appointed to the Victorian Government’s drought taskforce.
RCV is the trusted voice to government for the regions, their cities and the rural communities they support.
Our leadership group – led by the Mayors and CEOs of the 10 largest cities in regional Victoria – has provided strategic advice to government, ministers and industry stakeholders for the last 25 years.
When we are at the table, we are a direct report for our communities, our businesses and the industries that the state’s economy relies on.
I have called an extraordinary meeting of RCV Mayors for Monday to discuss the priorities we will take to next week’s inaugural taskforce meeting.
We’re all facing this challenge together, no regional city is immune from the consequences of drought.
While we acknowledge today’s announcements from the Victorian Government including the $37.7 million statewide drought package and the ESVF reprieve for primary producers, we are acutely aware of impacts from current policies for rural and regional Victoria.
Right now, we need to support our farming communities in drought, but we also need to see a broader reset on government investment priorities to capitalise on the economic opportunities the regions offer.
This is why we continue to advocate for the return of the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund – a guaranteed $100m investment every year that our cities, industry and businesses could rely on to back projects that support growth.
Strengthening the Victorian economy will depend on genuine consideration of the regional and rural context.
MEDIA:
Emily Broadbent
0400 390 008
