2022 Victorian Election Priorities

RCV launches State Election platform – The time is now – Embracing our regions

The time is now – Embracing our regions election priorities document calls for state-wide investment in Victoria’s regions, including:

• A $500 million investment to fund enabling infrastructure in regional cities to ensure key utilities and services are provided; accelerating developments and relieving critical land and housing shortages.
• Establish a ‘regional spend guarantee’, ensuring at least 20 per cent of public agency and government entity investments are regionally-based.
• Establish a new Regional Living Fund to invest in civic, community, and cultural infrastructure and open spaces to enhance the liveability of regional cities and boost the visitor economy.
  Chair

To download a copy of the RCV’s 2022 Victorian Election Priorities platform click here

Federal Election a chance to address funding imbalance for regional Victoria

Regional Victorian communities are calling for commitments to major infrastructure, roads and digital connectivity in the lead up to the Federal Election.

Regional Cities Victoria Chair Cr Kim O’Keeffe called on every political party and candidate to recognise the role of the regions in driving the national economy, and to commit to strategic regional investment.

“The message from regional Victoria is loud and clear. Any plan to recover and rebuild after the pandemic must include strategic investment in our regions,” Cr O’Keeffe said.

“We are seeing unprecedented population shifts into regional Victoria, and we need Commonwealth policy and funding that supports sustainable growth and ensures our regions are great places to work, live, and visit.”

Regional Cities Victoria comprises the 10 largest regional cities in Victoria – Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Horsham, Latrobe, Mildura, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Warrnambool, and Wodonga. Collectively, these cities are home to more than 800,000 Victorians.

“In many areas, our communities and businesses are still waiting for the basics; safe roads and reliable internet connections. That’s why we need to see major investment into the Building Better Regions Fund and the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, as well as increased investment in digital connectivity,” Cr O’Keeffe said.

“The lack of targeted investment in regional Victoria in the 2022/23 Federal Budget was highly disappointing. Regional Cities Victoria looks forward to seeing new commitments in the coming weeks that will ensure we get a fair share of funding.

“It’s critical governments invest in growing the regions – all regions – to ensure we all thrive.” 

The full Regional Cities Victoria Advocacy Strategy 2022-2025 is available here.

Download the media release here.

Federal Budget includes record spending for the regions… but Victoria misses out

Regional Cities Victoria has welcomed the Federal Government’s overall record investment in the regions in the 2022-23 Federal Budget, but says the lack of investment in regional Victoria is disappointing.

“After an incredibly challenging two years, investment in regional Victoria is critical to help our local economies rebuild and recover,” Chair of Regional Cities Victoria, Cr Kim O’Keeffe, said.

“Particularly as more and more people move to the regions, we need government investment to help us grow, and be great places to live, work, and visit.

“We welcome the Government’s funding for transport, community infrastructure, and digital connectivity, which will support jobs and enhance liveability across regional Australia – but, most of these will benefit regions in other states, not regional Victoria.”

Regional Cities Victoria comprises the 10 largest regional cities in Victoria – Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Horsham, Latrobe, Mildura, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Warrnambool, and Wodonga. Collectively, these cities are home to more than 600,000 Victorians.

Announcements in the 2022-23 Federal Budget that will benefit regional Victoria include:

• Regional Accelerator Program – $2 billion for regional manufacturing, education, supply chains, export opportunities and defence industry;
• Inland Rail – $3.1 billion for two new intermodal terminals and connecting infrastructure in Melbourne at Beveridge and Truganina, and $150 million to fund the construction of complementary infrastructure projects that will unlock benefits of inland rail for regional economies;
• Road safety projects – $180.1 million to establish the Regional Australia Level Crossing Safety Program; which includes $160 million for upgrades to level crossings;
• Enhancing freight supply chains – $880 million for the Roads of Strategic Importance initiative to improve road safety, enhance productivity and boost the resilience of freight network;
• Health – $66.0 million to expand access and reduce out-of-pocket costs to magnetic resonance imaging services in rural and remote areas; and
• $45 million for the Ballarat to Ouyen Road Corridor; $4.5 million for the Bendigo Airport Terminal Redevelopment; $83.2 million for the Albury Wodonga Regional Deal; and $600,000 for Foodshare in Shepparton.

In particular, Regional Cities Victoria welcomes the Government’s $501.7 million investment to help local Councils deliver priority projects.

“The Government says: ‘If small business is the engine room of the economy, then regional Australia is the backbone’. This is absolutely correct, and that’s why it’s critical governments invest in growing the regions – all regions – to ensure we all thrive,” Cr O’Keeffe said.

Download the media release here

Commonwealth Games would be a gold medal opportunity for Regional Victoria

Regional Cities Victoria is delighted the Victorian Government has announced it will submit a formal bid for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, with a strong focus on holding events in the regions.

“Regional Victoria is ready to welcome the Commonwealth Games”, RCV Chair and Mayor of Shepparton, Cr Kim O’Keeffe, said.

“Our regions are great places to live, work, and play … and to host major events.”

“The Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006 was a great success. A Victorian Commonwealth Games in 2026, that is hosted across the state, would truly be an event to remember, and will show the world what Victoria has to offer.”

Regional Cities Victoria has been in discussions with government and other stakeholders on this proposal for several years, and actively participated in the initial feasibility report.

“Bringing the Games to regional Victoria will not only boost our local economies through tourism and jobs and infrastructure investment; it will support the whole State’s economic recovery post-COVID,” Cr O’Keeffe said.

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

Download the media release here