Huge win for RCV road maintenance advocacy

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13 July 2026

Regional Cities Victoria’s long-running campaign for greater investment in Victoria’s regional and rural roads has received significant recognition, with the Victorian Coalition today committing $5 billion over four years to road maintenance as part of its election platform.

For years, RCV has argued that Victoria’s road network has continued to deteriorate despite record maintenance spending, consistently calling for governments to move beyond short-term repairs and commit to the long-term investment needed to rebuild the state’s roads.

RCV Chair Cr Ben Blain said today’s announcement demonstrated that the condition of Victoria’s rural and regional roads had become one of the defining issues of the state election.

“For years we’ve been warning that our roads are going backwards despite record maintenance spending,” Cr Blain said.

“We’ve repeatedly said the current approach is like putting a band-aid over a bullet hole. You simply cannot patch your way out of decades of underinvestment.

“Today’s commitment is a significant acknowledgement of the case regional communities have been making for years.”

Cr Blain said safe and reliable roads underpinned every aspect of regional Victoria, from freight and agriculture to tourism, emergency services and everyday travel.

“Victorians are expected to drive roadworthy cars. The least government can do is provide car-worthy roads.”

RCV has consistently advocated that investment in roads should focus on rebuilding the network, not simply maintaining its decline, arguing that deteriorating roads are increasing costs for families, businesses and local government while undermining regional productivity and safety.

“RCV welcomes the fact that road investment has become a major election issue,” Cr Blain said.

“RCV has made road investment one of its signature advocacy priorities through election campaigns, ministerial meetings, regional roundtables and joint advocacy with industry and local government partners.

“We look forward to hearing how all parties intend to restore Victoria’s roads and deliver the long-term investment regional communities deserve.”

Media: Emily Broadbent
0413 133 627

Regional Victoria speaks with one voice on roads

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MEDIA RELEASE

Meeting attendees in photo L-R (looking at the photo from empty chair next to Minister Spence):

• Bradley Thomas, Rural Councils Victoria Secretary and CEO of Hepburn Shire Council
• Scott Young, Vice President Victorian Farmers Federation
• Charlie Thomas, CEO Victorian Farmers Federation
• Cr Ben Blain, Chair RCV and Mayor of Warrnambool
• Russell Borchard, President Livestock & Rural Transporters Association
• Alina Hawkins, Chief Operating Officer Livestock & Rural Transporters Association
• Lisa Patroni, CEO Victorian Tourism Industry Council

 

Today, Regional Cities Victoria, the Victorian Farmers Federation, Rural Councils Victoria, the Victorian Tourism Industry Council and the Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of Victoria delivered a united message to Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ros Spence, calling for long-term investment in Victoria’s regional and rural road network.

We met with the Minister to discuss the growing safety and economic impacts deteriorating roads are having on communities, businesses and industries across the state.

The meeting provided an opportunity for frank discussion about the state of the network, and we reinforced that the time has come to move from talking about the problem to investing in the solution.

Whether it’s delivering freight, getting stock to market, welcoming visitors, taking the kids to footy or simply driving to work, communities right across rural and regional Victoria depend on safe and reliable roads.

Poor road conditions are adding costs throughout the supply chain, increasing freight costs and ultimately putting further pressure on the budgets of Victorian households.

We presented a united front, making it clear that this issue extends beyond individual roads, isolated projects and won’t be fixed by year-to-year funding announcements.

Regional roads are critical economic infrastructure, and investment needs to reflect the long-term role they play in keeping communities connected and supporting the industries that drive Victoria’s economy.

One of the most encouraging aspects of today’s meeting was the determination to make a difference. Different sectors and different perspectives, but the same message: we need a long-term investment plan for safer and more reliable roads which are essential to supporting regional and rural communities, strengthening productivity and keeping the Victorian economy moving.

We welcomed the opportunity to continue working constructively with the Victorian Government and look forward to turning today’s discussions into meaningful action.

Importantly we were encouraged to report urgent road hazards to VicRoads hotline 13 11 70 to record dangerous conditions that require immediate attention, and share this number across our networks. For more information about reporting road hazards visit this link.

Media: Emily Broadbent 0413 133 627

 

IV findings back RCV call for urgent regional roads investment

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MEDIA RELEASE

19 May 2026

Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) says a new report released today by the Victorian Government’s independent infrastructure advisor has reinforced the urgent need for major investment in regional roads.

Infrastructure Victoria’s (IV) Warning Signs report warns that bushfires, floods and extreme heat will inflict worsening damage on Victoria’s transport network over coming decades and calls on the Government to begin upgrading infrastructure now to improve resilience. 

RCV Chair Ben Blain said the findings directly support RCV’s advocacy for a dedicated $2 billion regional roads package.

“We’ve been warning for years that the Government’s annual roads maintenance spend is not keeping pace with the deterioration of the regional network,” Cr Blain said.

“This report confirms what regional communities are already experiencing – our roads are under growing pressures compounded by underinvestment.”

RCV is calling for a $2bn regional roads package for an additional $500 million per year over four years above existing maintenance funding to stabilise and begin rebuilding regional roads.

Cr Blain said current funding levels are a Band-Aid on a bullet hole, while the condition of the network continues to worsen.

“The State is required to maintain roads. That’s not new investment, that’s basic responsibility – but we can’t keep patching roads that are structurally failing.

“The funding just hasn’t kept pace with the task, meanwhile billions have been absorbed by major metro transport blowouts.”

Cr Blain said the consequences were becoming increasingly serious.

“This report says what regional Victorians already know: You can’t climate-proof roads with pothole funding.”

“The Government’s own independent advisor is now saying we need to strengthen these roads for the future, and that the cost of delay will only grow.

“It’s no longer just about potholes and rough roads. Regional Victorians are driving on ageing infrastructure that is more at risk of deterioration and becoming more dangerous every year.”

 

New Local Infrastructure Fund a win for RCV advocacy

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MEDIA RELEASE

13 May 2026

Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) has welcomed the Albanese Government’s new $2 billion Local Infrastructure Fund – announced in the 2026-27 Federal Budget.

The fund, which includes $500 million dedicated to regional Australia, is a major win for RCV’s sustained advocacy to unlock more housing in the regions – securing investment in the essentials needed to deliver new homes including roads, lights, footpaths, sewerage, drainage, water and power.

RCV Chair Cr Ben Blain said the fund was recognition that regional Victoria cannot solve the housing crisis without serious infrastructure investment.

“Governments just can’t continue to focus on housing targets while ignoring the infrastructure we need to actually unlock housing supply.”

Cr Blain said RCV had consistently pushed for greater Commonwealth investment in enabling infrastructure through its federal budget advocacy and during the alliance’s Canberra delegation earlier this year.

“In March we took a clear message to Canberra, and we were obviously heard – regional Victoria is ready to help solve the housing crisis, but councils cannot keep footing the bill for growth alone,” Cr Blain said.

“Regional Victoria has the land and the ambition. What’s been missing is infrastructure investment that keeps pace with growth.”

Cr Blain said while the regional allocation was a positive start, he anticipated demand would far exceed available funding.

“Half a billion dollars across regional Australia over four years sounds significant until every growing regional council in the country lines up for a share of it. This will be a highly competitive national program.”

Budget investment initiatives – including new funding rounds for the Growing Regions and Stronger Communities programs – reflected growing recognition that regional cities can play a critical role in delivering the homes Australia needs, while supporting economic growth and easing pressure on capital cities.

“Housing affordability isn’t just about building homes faster – it’s about making sure regional communities have the infrastructure needed to grow sustainably and remain great places to live,” Cr Blain said.

 

RCV calls for “Eyes on Victoria” crime response

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MEDIA RELEASE

12 May 2026

RCV has called on the State to ensure regional communities don’t become an organised crime blind spot following today’s announcement of the new “Eyes on the City” crime crackdown for metropolitan Melbourne.

RCV Deputy Chair Cr Michael Gobel, Mayor of Wodonga, said the same criminal behaviour impacting Melbourne is also a threat to regional Victoria.

“Organised crime does not stop at the Calder or the Princes Freeway,” Cr Gobel said.

Cr Gobel said RCV supported stronger investment in surveillance and crime prevention infrastructure, but warned any response limited to Melbourne risked creating blind spots across the rest of the state.

“You cannot run a statewide crime strategy with half the state left off the map. If criminals know the cameras stop at the metro boundary, what does that mean for regional businesses?” Cr Gobel said.

RCV member councils have raised growing concerns around threats associated with the illicit tobacco trade and related criminal activity, including intimidation, property damage and organised criminal behaviour extending well beyond metropolitan Melbourne.

Cr Gobel said regional Victoria should either receive its own dedicated “Eyes on our Regions” surveillance and safety program, or regional businesses should be eligible to apply for support through the Victorian Government’s new $10 million Hospitality Security Fund.

“Regional Victorians pay taxes too. Their businesses help fund this program, so they deserve access to it,” Cr Gobel said.

“Crime doesn’t recognise postcodes and any government response to this crime wave shouldn’t either.”

RCV welcomed Victoria Police’s increasing focus on partnerships and safer communities under Chief Commissioner Mike Bush and said stronger collaboration between councils and police would be critical to tackling organised criminal activity across the state.

“We are encouraged by Victoria Police’s renewed focus on community partnerships and prevention. Regional cities stand ready to work alongside Victoria Police to strengthen local safety, improve intelligence sharing and help build more resilient communities,” Cr Gobel said.

“A camera network that only watches Melbourne is not a statewide solution – it’s a statewide vulnerability.”

 

Regional Victoria told to do more with less

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5 May 2026

Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) says the Victorian Government’s 2026–27 State Budget expects regional cities to meet the ambitions of the future without the investment to match.

With this budget handed down ahead of the November state election, RCV said regional Victorians were looking for a clear signal that government understands the scale of the challenge – particularly on roads, housing and regional economic development.

RCV Chair Cr Ben Blain said the budget continues a pattern of underinvestment in the regions.

“Every budget since the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund was scrapped, we’re seeing more of the same, while the challenges facing regional communities just keep getting bigger,” Cr Blain said.

“If this is a budget about priorities and ambitions of the government then it’s clear regional Victoria and sustainable regional municipalities are not part of either.

“There is little or no new investment beyond the status quo for better regional roads, for more affordable homes in the regions, and for transformative community infrastructure to support the liveability regional Victorians deserve.

“The budget is about what the government chooses to fund, and beyond basic obligations, regional Victoria has been forgotten.”

Roads funding still nowhere near enough

The billion-dollar allocation for road maintenance reflects existing spend rather than new investment and remains nowhere near enough to address the declining condition of regional roads.

Without a serious funding uplift – starting around $500 million more each year – regional roads will continue to fall behind.

RCV is calling for a $2 billion regional roads package over four years, on top of existing funding, to make roads safe and reliable.

Transport divide deepening cost-of-living pressures

The budget fails to address the growing gap between metropolitan and regional transport investment, with recent projects highlighting a clear imbalance. 

Billions for Melbourne’s tunnels and rail loops – but regional transport is still stuck in the past.Free public transport only eases cost of living pressures if you’ve got a public transport system that’s connected and has capacity – and that’s simply not the reality in regional Victoria. In some of our cities, bus networks haven’t been reviewed for decades. In some cases, passengers can’t even catch a local bus to the train station.

So regional Victorians remain heavily reliant on vehicles, leaving them exposed to rising fuel costs. And those costs don’t stop at the regional boundary – they flow through to every kitchen table, adding cost of living pressures to families right across Victoria.

Regional investment gap widening

Scrapping the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund (RJIF) in 2023 left a significant gap in regional economic policy, with major projects stalled and opportunities for Commonwealth co-investment drying up.

Projects that would create jobs, drive growth and improve liveability are simply not getting off the ground.

RCV is calling for a $1 billion Regional Fund to fill that gap – supporting enabling infrastructure to unlock housing, build the local workforce and deliver the liveability assets regional communities need.

Our cities are ready to help meet Victoria’s 2051 housing targets – but we can’t do it without investment in the basics.

That means roads, water, sewerage and power to unlock land, as well as the planners, engineers and builders needed to deliver new homes. It also means backing the projects communities deserve – sporting grounds, aquatic centres and community hubs that make Victoria’s regional cities great places to live.

Time to back regional Victoria

In the lead up to the state election RCV will continue its efforts to secure commitment to $3 billion regional investment, including the $1 billion Regional Fund and $2 billion regional roads package, to support growth, improve liveability and strengthen the state’s economy.

“The message from this budget to regional communities is do more with less,” Cr Blain said.

 

One new bus route for regional cities

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MEDIA RELEASE

28 April 2026

Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) says today’s $100 million announcement regarding statewide bus investment delivers just one new route across Victoria’s 10 regional cities – in Geelong – highlighting the need for a broader regional focus.

RCV Chair Cr Ben Blain said every new bus route was important, but warned that without serious investment in regional bus services, people had no choice but to rely on their cars regardless of how cheap public transport is.

“Currently, regional Victorians are effectively subsidising free public transport for Melbourne networks, while being left with services that are less reliable, less connected and underinvested,” Cr Blain said.

“For many people in regional areas, public transport simply isn’t a viable option for getting to work, school or daily life.

“Local bus networks in most regional cities have not been reviewed in more than 15 years, exacerbating the lack the coverage, frequency and integration needed to support growing populations and modern commuting patterns.”

With regional cities expected to accommodate significant population growth by 2051 as part of the Victorian Government’s housing targets, RCV has consistently called for a more demand-driven approach to planning local bus services, to ensure new and growing communities are supported with timely public transport.

“Regional Victoria has a critical role to play in the state’s future growth, and coordinated investment in transport and infrastructure will be essential to getting this right,” Cr Blain said.

RCV also noted the importance of aligning increased bus services with improvements to regional roads.

“Bus drivers and passengers rely on safe, well-maintained roads every day. As services expand, it’s important that road infrastructure keeps pace,” Cr Blain said.

Earlier this month, RCV launched its election campaign advocacy including a $2 billion regional roads package to restore the safety, reliability and productivity of the network.

Cr Blain said the proposed roads investment package is above and beyond existing funding, to deliver an additional $500 million per year over four years to properly address the backlog of roads maintenance and stabilise the regional network.

“Regional Victorians deserve bus services and roads that are fit for purpose.”

 

RCV: Nowhere near enough for regional roads fix

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MEDIA RELEASE

27 April 2026

Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) said the Victorian Government’s funds for roads maintenance in the 2026–27 State Budget reflects growing pressure to act on the deteriorating condition of regional roads.

RCV Chair Cr Ben Blain said the reported $1bn funding falls well short of what is needed to fix a network that is failing regional families, communities, businesses and industries every day.

“RCV has been pushing hard for a serious uplift in roads funding, and these reports show that pressure is being heard,” Cr Blain said.

“But let’s be clear: around $1 billion is just a band-aid on a bullet hole.”

The reported commitment, a slight increase from last year’s $976 million allocation, includes funding for resurfacing roads, fixing potholes, maintaining bridges and delivering emergency repairs, with around 70 per cent expected to be directed to regional Victoria.

Cr Blain said that while regional investment is welcome, the scale of the problem requires far more than another patch-up program.

“Most of our regional arterial roads are reaching the end of their design life. They don’t just need patching, they need rebuilding.

“This is what happens when you keep putting band-aids on roads that are structurally failing. It’s more expensive in the long run, and it’s putting safety and productivity at risk right now.”

Earlier this month, RCV launched its election campaign advocacy including a $2 billion regional roads package to restore the safety, reliability and productivity of the network.

Cr Blain said the proposed package is above and beyond existing funding, delivering an additional $500 million per year over four years to properly address the backlog and stabilise the network.

“This isn’t about small top ups to existing budgets, it’s about recognising the scale of the problem and funding it accordingly.

“And that’s just a start on the level of investment required to move from short-term fixes to long-term solutions.”

That call was reinforced through a Regional Roads Roundtable, bringing together leaders from freight, agriculture, tourism and local government, who collectively warned that the current state of regional roads is unsustainable.

Roundtable participants highlighted worsening safety risks, rising costs for freight and businesses, and growing impacts on regional communities and liveability.

“There is no debate anymore, every sector is saying the same thing. The network is under strain, and the consequences are being felt right across the economy,” Cr Blain said.

“Regional roads carry the freight that keeps Victoria moving. They connect workers to jobs, families to services, and visitors to destinations. When they fail, the whole state pays the price.”

Cr Blain said RCV would continue to work constructively with all parties in the lead up to the Victorian election, but would not back away from calling for the level of investment required over the next term of government.

“Regional Victoria deserves roads that are fit for purpose. We’ve seen hundreds of billions poured into metro transport projects while our regional roads deteriorate.

“It’s time to stop patching yesterday’s roads and start building tomorrow’s network right across our state.”