This is the date and time that this news article was published.
SouthWest Victoria Alliance has welcomed the Victorian Government’s announcement of a new $21 million Future Regions program in today’s State Budget but says the initiative does not provide the scale or certainty of investment required to meet growing demand across the region.
The Future Regions program, which will support enabling infrastructure, upgrades to community facilities and attract private investment, represents a positive step. However, the Alliance said the overall Budget continues to fall short of addressing the long-term infrastructure, service and housing pressures facing communities in south west Victoria.
While the Budget includes a small number of initiatives that will reach into regional Victoria, SouthWest Victoria Alliance said south west communities are again missing out on sustained, place-based investment that reflects their contribution to the state and the challenges they face.
Chair of SouthWest Victoria Alliance, Cr Dennis Heslin, said the region continues to deliver strongly for Victoria’s economy but too often receives little in return from government.
“South-west Victoria plays a critical role in the state’s prosperity, from food and fibre production through to energy generation, manufacturing, tourism and freight,” Cr Heslin said.
“But once again, the Budget does not match that contribution with the level of investment our communities need to keep pace with growth, rising costs and increasing demand for infrastructure and services.”
Cr Heslin said councils across the region are grappling with mounting pressure on local roads, community facilities, housing supply and essential services, while facing escalating construction and delivery costs.
“Small, short-term programs cannot keep up with the scale of challenges facing regional communities,” he said.
“What south west Victoria requires is coordinated, long-term investment that provides certainty for councils, supports economic growth and ensures people in regional areas have access to the infrastructure and services they need to live and work locally.”
SouthWest Victoria continues to experience significant infrastructure backlogs in transport, health, education, childcare and housing. The Alliance said this puts increasing pressure on councils that are already stretched in their capacity to deliver and maintain essential community assets.
“Communities across the south west are feeling the impacts every day,” Cr Heslin said.
“Whether it is access to housing, suitable community facilities, safe transport networks or reliable services, the gaps are widening because investment is not keeping pace with demand.”
SouthWest Victoria Alliance is calling on the State Government to work more closely with regional councils to develop a long-term investment framework for south west Victoria that reflects real costs, supports growth and delivers equitable outcomes for regional communities.
“Our region does not need one-off announcements,” Cr Heslin said.
“We need a clear commitment to sustained investment that recognises our role in the state’s future and ensures south west communities are not left behind.”