Regional investment deserves budget transparency

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Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) has written to Premier Ben Carroll and Opposition Leader Jess Wilson calling for a dedicated Regional Budget Statement and the restoration of a regional economic development funding program in the first State Budget after November’s election.

The alliance includes the Mayors and CEOs representing the cities of Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Horsham, Latrobe, Mildura, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Warrnambool and Wodonga, and is meeting today in Warrnambool.

Meeting in Warrnambool today, RCV Chair Cr Ben Blain said regional Victorians deserved a clear picture of how much State Government investment was coming their way.

“It’s one thing to say there’s investment in regional Victoria, it’s another thing to actually prove it,” Cr Blain said.

Victoria previously published a dedicated Rural and Regional Budget Information Paper, but it was discontinued from the 2023-24 Budget – the same year the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund (RJIF) was scrapped.

The Parliamentary Budget Office found regional Victoria received just 12 per cent of asset investment in the 2025-26 Budget.

“We’ve had regional Budget reporting before. Let’s bring it back and see the promised investment on the books, in black and white,” Cr Blain said.

“This is about accountability. If governments say they’re investing in regional Victoria, regional Victorians should be able to see it and measure it.”

RCV acknowledged Labor’s recent Royalties for the Regions announcement, which would reinvest mineral royalties into regional Victoria, and the Coalition’s commitment to a 25 per cent Fair Share Guarantee for regional infrastructure spending. However, neither commitment establishes a dedicated, project-based funding program to support regional economic development, comparable to the former RJIF.

“Both major parties have recognised that regional Victoria needs greater investment, and that’s a no-brainer. But we still don’t have a commitment to a dedicated fund that gets important economic development projects off the ground,” Cr Blain said.

RCV is calling on both parties to commit to a $1 billion Regional Growth Fund over four years to deliver the essential infrastructure needed to unlock housing, deliver growth infrastructure, attract private investment and create regional jobs.

“Before the first light is flicked or toilet flushed in a new home, millions of dollars need to be invested in the infrastructure that makes it possible,” Cr Blain said.

“Victorians should be able to open the next State Budget and see what’s being spent in regional Victoria, whether it matches the promises and whether we are really getting our fair share.”

ENDS

Media: Emily Broadbent 0413 133 627

RACV report confirms network is broken

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Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) says RACV’s latest road report adds to mounting evidence that Victoria needs to stop patching its deteriorating regional roads and start properly rebuilding them.

RACV’s My Country Road 2026 survey received more than 10,000 requests for improvements, with 71 per cent identifying road surfaces and potholes as the major concern and 73 per cent calling for resurfacing. 

RCV Chair Cr Ben Blain said the findings closely reflected what regional councils had been telling the State Government.

“RACV, the Auditor-General, councils and now thousands of motorists are all telling us the same thing – our regional road network is broken,” Cr Blain said.

“Only weeks ago, RCV gave the Premier our priority roads for urgent attention. RACV motorists have independently identified some of those same roads among the worst in Victoria.

“The Western Highway, Princes Highway, Loddon Valley Highway and Murray Valley Highway are all on our list and feature prominently in RACV’s findings.” 

RACV ranked Princes Highway West between Colac and Camperdown first statewide, Loddon Valley Highway Bendigo–Kerang third, Western Highway Ballarat–Trawalla eighth and Murray Valley Highway Wodonga–Tallangatta ninth. 

Cr Blain said the Government’s additional $352 million for maintenance in 2026-27 should now translate into crews being deployed quickly to regional priorities.

“More maintenance funding is needed, but RACV’s message is pretty clear: people want roads resurfaced, not another patch and another reduced speed sign,” Cr Blain said.

“RCV is calling for an additional $2 billion over four years because this problem wasn’t created in one year and it won’t be fixed in one maintenance season.

“The evidence is overwhelming. RCV is calling on all parties to commit to fixing our regional roads properly.”

ENDS

Media: Emily Broadbent 0413 133 627

Auditor-General confirms what RCV has said all along

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The Victorian Auditor-General has confirmed what Regional Cities Victoria has been saying for years – Victoria cannot patch its way out of a deteriorating regional road network.

RCV Chair Cr Ben Blain said the Maintaining State Roads report provided independent confirmation that short-term, reactive repairs were no substitute for sustained investment in maintaining and renewing the state’s roads.

“The Auditor-General has put the evidence behind what regional communities have been telling government for years – our roads are deteriorating faster than we are fixing them,” Cr Blain said.

“Regional Victoria has 82 per cent of the state road network, and more than half of our state roads are now rated poor or very poor in terms of their remaining useful life.

“Potholes get the headlines, but the Auditor-General confirms the bigger problem is what is happening underneath them. We need to invest in the life of the road, not just the hole in the road.”

RCV has consistently called for a shift away from short-term road repair programs towards sustained investment in maintenance and renewal.

It is calling on all parties ahead of the November State Election to commit to a $2 billion Regional Roads Package over four years, providing an additional $500 million a year for regional roads.

“The Government’s additional $352 million this year is welcome, but the Auditor-General’s findings reinforce what we have said all along that one-off funding cannot solve a long-term problem,” Cr Blain said.

“We’re asking for $2 billion over four years – an additional $500 million a year to start turning our regional roads around. That’s a pretty measured ask when the Auditor-General’s report shows the Government’s own department estimates more than $3 billion is needed every year just to maintain pavement conditions and replace ageing assets.

“After years of neglect regional Victorians deserve a funded plan that means the network is getting better, not progressively worse.

“The Auditor-General has confirmed the obvious diagnosis, now we need a long-term treatment plan.”

ENDS

Media: Emily Broadbent 0413 133 627

30 of the state’s roads that need fixing now

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Regional Cities Victoria has written to Premier Ben Carroll outlining 30 priority roads across Victoria’s 10 largest regional cities that should be first in line for repairs under his additional $352 million road maintenance.

RCV Chair Cr Ben Blain said the Government’s acknowledgement that the condition of Victoria’s roads was “not good enough” would mean little unless additional funding translated quickly into crews on the ground fixing the state roads regional Victorians use every day.

“The Premier has acknowledged what regional Victorians have been saying for years – our road network is broken,” Cr Blain said.

“We’ve now given the Government a clear list of 30 state roads across our 10 regional cities that need urgent attention.

“If there is additional money available and more maintenance crews being deployed, we want these roads at the front of the queue.”

RCV members have each nominated three priority roads for urgent fixing:

City	Priority roads
Ballarat	Ballarat–Carngham Road; Western Highway; Western Highway and Brewery Tap Road intersection
Bendigo	Calder Highway; Midland Highway; Loddon Valley Highway
Geelong	Fellmongers Road / Boundary Road; Pioneer Road; Geelong Ring Road
Horsham	Horsham–Kalkee Road; Wimmera Highway; Natimuk–Hamilton Road
Latrobe	Hazelwood Road; Monash Way, Churchill; Moore Street, Moe and Shakespeare Street, Traralgon
Mildura	Benetook Avenue; Eleventh Street; Werrimull Road
Shepparton	Goulburn Valley Highway and Hume Freeway; Echuca Road to Murray Valley Highway; Tatura–Murchison Road
Wangaratta	Wangaratta–Whitfield Road; Greta Road; Murdoch Road
Warrnambool	Princes Highway; Hopkins Highway; Princes Highway, Allansford
Wodonga	Murray Valley Highway; Bandiana Link Road; Kiewa Valley Highway

Cr Blain said the additional $352 million was finally recognition of the scale of the problem, but it would not undo years of underinvestment in regional infrastructure.

“Postponing metropolitan projects so money can be spent fixing the infrastructure Victorians rely on every day is the right priority,” Cr Blain said.

“For too long, billions have continued to flow into major Melbourne projects while regional roads have deteriorated and dedicated regional investment has disappeared.

“The Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund was scrapped in 2023 and regional communities have been left without a dedicated fund to build the infrastructure that creates jobs, unlocks housing and supports growing communities.

“Fixing these 30 roads would be a good start, but Victoria needs to address the much bigger regional infrastructure deficit.”

RCV is calling on all parties contesting the November State Election to commit to a $2 billion Regional Roads Package over four years, providing an additional $500 million a year above business-as-usual maintenance funding to fix the regional road network.

It is also seeking a $1 billion Regional Growth Fund to invest in enabling infrastructure that unlocks new housing, creates jobs and drives economic growth across regional Victoria.

“Beyond the immediate repairs, regional Victoria needs a long-term investment plan that stops our roads and infrastructure reaching these conditions in the first place,” Cr Blain said.

“We have invited the Premier and Roads Minister Paul Hamer to join us in any of our 10 regional cities. We’re more than happy to show them first-hand where and why this investment is needed.”

Media: Emily Broadbent 0413 133 627

RCV welcomes pledge for country roads and bridges

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Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) has welcomed the Coalition’s commitment to reinstate the Country Roads and Bridges Program, saying it restores a proven model that trusts regional councils to identify local road priorities and get on with fixing them.

Under the commitment, eligible rural and regional councils receive $1.5 million annually to invest in local roads and bridges.

RCV Chair Cr Ben Blain said the Country Roads and Bridges Program worked because it trusted local councils to identify local problems and get on with fixing them.

“Dangerous intersections, ageing bridges and deteriorating roads could be addressed quickly and practically because the people making the decisions were the people who use those roads every day and know what needs to be done,” Cr Blain said.

“Local communities know their priorities better than anyone sitting behind a desk in Melbourne.

“What’s needed in Mildura isn’t necessarily what’s needed in Geelong, Warrnambool or Wodonga. A dedicated funding stream gives councils the ability to put the money where it will make the biggest difference in their community.

“That is why RCV has consistently called for the Country Roads and Bridges Program to be reinstated, and we welcome the Coalition committing to bring it back.

“If we’re serious about rebuilding our regional road network, programs that empower local action have to be part of the solution.”

Cr Blain said the program should complement, rather than replace, the significant additional investment required in Victoria’s state-managed regional road network.

“Councils can fix the local roads and bridges they manage, but they can’t fix the highways and arterial roads that are the State Government’s responsibility. That’s why RCV is continuing to call for an additional $2 billion over four years for regional road maintenance and upgrades, above existing road maintenance funding.”

Cr Blain said regional Victoria needs both sustained investment in our state road network and direct funding that empowers councils to fix the local roads and bridges their communities rely on every day.

“RCV welcomes this commitment and wants to see all parties recognise that rebuilding regional Victoria’s road network requires long-term, dedicated investment informed by local advice.”

Media: Emily Broadbent 0413 133 627

Statement from RCV Chair Cr Ben Blain: Roads funding

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Today’s $352 million toward further road maintenance is a long overdue acknowledgement by the Victorian Government that the condition of our road network is simply not good enough.

Victoria did not get into this position overnight and we will not patch our way out of it in one summer.

Years of chronic underinvestment have left too many regional roads at the point where they need rebuilding, not simply another temporary repair.

RCV will continue to call for a $2 billion Regional Roads Package over four years – an additional $500 million every year above existing road maintenance funding – to begin the long-term task of restoring the state’s regional road network.

For years, regional Victorians have watched billions in cost overruns absorbed by Melbourne’s Big Build while the roads connecting our communities, farms, businesses and freight networks have continued to deteriorate.

What regional Victoria now needs is a sustained, long-term commitment to rebuilding safer roads that are fit for the people and industries that rely on them.

Media: Emily Broadbent 0413 133 627

100 days to go: Bring Parliament back to regional Victoria

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20 August 2026

With 100 days until the Victorian election, Regional Cities Victoria is calling on all political parties to commit to holding regional sittings of Parliament at least twice a year.

RCV Chair Cr Ben Blain said regional sittings of Parliament are more than a symbolic or costly gesture – they are an investment in regional communities and a demonstration that Victoria’s regions matter to the people who govern them.

“Please don’t tell regional Victorians that bringing Parliament to us twice a year is too expensive while asking us to help pay for a $200 billion railway that will never come anywhere near us.”

Cr Blain said regional communities had seen too many commitments disappear while billions continued to flow into Melbourne.

“We were promised the Commonwealth Games. They disappeared. The Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund was scrapped. Our roads have deteriorated while Melbourne has had its Big Build,” he said.

“That’s why we’re calling for a $1 billion Regional Fund to create jobs, unlock more homes and invest in the infrastructure our growing cities need, and a $2 billion Regional Roads Package to finally fix our broken roads. 

“These are investments in the future of Victoria, but too often the decisions about our future are made without regional Victoria in the room.

“Government is very good at connecting things to regional Victoria – like transmission lines for renewables to power the state’s future. It hasn’t been nearly as good at staying connected to regional Victorians. Distance from Spring Street has too often meant distance from the decisions that shape our future.

“Regional Victorians are constantly coming to Parliament House to make our case. We travel to Melbourne, knock on doors, request meetings and compete for 15 minutes in diaries because decisions made in Spring Street have enormous consequences for our communities.”

The last time both Houses of Parliament sat in regional Victoria was in 2012, when the Legislative Assembly travelled to Ballarat and the Legislative Council sat in Bendigo.

“Regional sittings also support local accommodation, hospitality and businesses, open Parliament to regional students and residents, and give MPs from across Victoria an opportunity to experience the communities affected by their decisions.

“After years of regional communities being forced to go to Melbourne to be heard, it’s time the Parliament of Victoria came back to listen.”

ENDS

Media: Emily Broadbent
0413 133 627

BACKGROUND

The last regional sitting was the Legislative Council in Echuca on 18 April 2024, held in recognition of communities recovering from the 2022 floods. Before that, the Legislative Council sat in Bright in 2021 after the bushfires.

A regional sitting must originate as a motion from the House and the Governor must issue a proclamation to enable the house to meet outside Parliament House.

The last time both Houses of the Victorian Parliament sat in regional Victoria was 6 September 2012, when the Legislative Assembly sat in Ballarat and the Legislative Council in Bendigo. 

Regional sittings originated under the Bracks Government in 2001. 

Scrap the SRL? Invest $3 billion in regional Victoria

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12 August 2026

Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) says billions earmarked for Melbourne’s Suburban Rail Loop could be redirected to regional roads, housing, infrastructure and jobs, declaring it is time to rebalance Victoria’s infrastructure priorities.

RCV Chair Cr Ben Blain, speaking at Parliament House today,  said regional communities had watched billions flow into major metropolitan projects while regional roads deteriorated, the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund was scrapped and councils were asked to shoulder increasing costs.

“People want to live in regional Victoria. The opportunity is already there – what we are missing is the investment to match it,” Cr Blain said.

“If the Suburban Rail Loop is abandoned, I can tell the next government exactly where to start with some of those billions.

“Give regional Victoria $2 billion over four years to fix our roads and $1 billion toward infrastructure to unlock housing and kick-start job-creating precincts.

“That $3 billion that could start changing regional communities immediately.”

RCV is calling on all parties contesting the November state election to commit to:

• an additional $2 billion Regional Roads Package over four years to address the deteriorating condition of regional roads; and
• a $1 billion Regional Fund to unlock enabling infrastructure, housing, investment and jobs across regional Victoria.
  

Cr Blain said the state election presented an opportunity to reset the relationship between Spring Street and regional Victoria after years of frustration over the balance of government investment.

“We watched the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund disappear while enormous investments continued to be made in Melbourne,” Cr Blain said.

“We’ve watched our roads get worse, and new costs imposed on our communities through things like the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund, and too often regional Victorians feel their concerns aren’t being heard.

“The next government has the opportunity to right those wrongs.

“Regional Victoria is growing. People want to live there. Businesses want to invest there. But we need roads, housing and enabling infrastructure to turn that demand into long-term prosperity.

“Regional Victoria isn’t asking to be saved. We’re asking government to stop making growth harder than it needs to be.

“If there are billions of dollars freed up from the Suburban Rail Loop, regional Victoria is ready with a plan for more homes and more jobs,” Cr Blain said.

“And unlike the SRL, you won’t have to wait decades to see the difference.”

ENDS

Media: Emily Broadbent
0413 133 627