From left: Moorabool Shire Council CEO Derek Madden, Surf Coast Shire Council Government Relations Manager Darryn Chiller, PUCV Deputy Chair and Bass Coast Shire Council Deputy Mayor Cr Brett Tessari, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government and Member for Ballarat Catherine King, and Bass Coast Shire Council CEO Greg Box.

The town of Ballan, courtesy of Moorabool Shire Council.

Peri Urban Councils of Victoria (PUCV) have today welcomed a pre-election commitment from the Federal Liberal-National Coalition to allocate $5 billion to housing enabling infrastructure.

The program is aimed at unlocking 500,000 new homes across the country and will include direct funding for Local Government to get land development ready in communities like those in Victoria’s peri urban areas.

PUCV spokesperson and CEO of Baw Baw Shire, Mark Dupe said peri urban communities across the country were growing at a rapid rate due to their proximity to metropolitan centres, relaxed lifestyle and relative affordability.

“We have always known our communities are great places to live, but as the trend for remote work and higher housing prices in metropolitan areas has increased local demand, the secret is out,” Mr Dupe said.

A recent report from the Regional Australia Institute, Regional Movers Index (RMI) March 2024 quarter, identified Victoria’s peri urban local government areas among the fastest growing regions in Australia:

●       Moorabool Shire Council was the fourth most popular destination in Australia for people moving from capital cities;

●       Baw Baw Shire Council ranked 3rd in Victoria and 10th in the nation;

●       Bass Coast Shire Council ranked 5th in Victoria and 18th in the nation

●       Golden Plains Shire Council ranked 5th in people moving from other regions; and

●       Surf Coast Shire Council was ranked as the 5th top hotspots for growth in the nation.

“Peri urban councils struggle to meet the cost of getting land development ready in our communities due to smaller rate bases, limited borrowing capacity and more responsibility for essential infrastructure, challenges that metropolitan councils do not have,” Mr Dupe said.

“Peri Urban Council Victoria members are expected to need an additional 70,000 houses in the next 15 years which will become homes for about 180,000 new residents. This means growing our current communities by as much as 50 per cent,” Mr Dupe said.

“Peri Urban Councils Victoria members have forecasted an immediate need of $230 million for essential infrastructure like drainage, utilities and roads to enable 40,000 new homes to be built,” Mr Dupe said.

“We commend the Coalition for making this commitment to address the issue of housing supply in our communities and look forward to working with them on this policy, if they are to take government at the next election,” Mr Dupe concluded.

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