Budget boost for fast-growing fringe
Peri Urban Councils Victoria (PUCV) has welcomed the release of the Albanese Government's 2023-2024 budget, which includes new initiatives to target the cost of living across peri urban communities.
PUCV Chair Cr Michael Leaney said the fast-growing outer suburbs were the traditional ‘mortgage belt’ suburbs where the current cost of living crisis was felt deeply.
“Peri Urban Councils Victoria welcomes the relief for those in our communities struggling with cost of living pressures” Cr Leaney said.
“The peri urban region is also one of the fastest growing areas in the country so we welcome the news that the Government is also developing a national urban policy to address challenges of growth that are impacting our local government areas,” Cr Leaney explained.
Key initiatives announced that are important to the peri urban region include:
Urban Policy
National Urban Policy to address urgent challenges facing our major cities – from equitable access to jobs, homes and services, to climate impacts and decarbonisation;
$200 million for the new Thriving Suburbs Program over two years from 2024-25 to provide merit-based and locally driven grants that address shortfalls in priority community infrastructure in urban and suburban communities; and
$150 million Urban Precincts and Partnerships Program will support transformative investment in urban Australia based on the principles of unifying urban places, growing economies and serving communities.
Note: programs are eligible for parts not all of the peri urban communities.
Regional Programs
New Regional Investment Framework to establish a regional development forum for Australian Government agencies to better inform government decisions across 4 key areas: investing in services, people, places and industry; and
$600 million for the Growing Regions Program (Round 1) (announced in the 2022-23 Budget - funding available in July 2023).
Note: programs are eligible for parts not all of the peri urban communities.
Roads
$250 million for the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Fund (totalling $500m for Phase 4 announced on 3 May 2023 - funding available from July 2023);
$85 million per annum for the Bridges Renewal Program;
$500 million for the Roads to Recovery Program;
$110 million per year to maintain the Black Spot Program to improve road safety; and
$976.7 million to continue delivery of the Road Safety Program across 2023-24 and 2024-25.
Arts
$11.8 million over 4 years from 2023-24 to pilot long-term loans of National Gallery of Australia works to regional and suburban cultural institutions (announced as part of the Revive strategy); and
$8.5 million over 4 years from 2023–24 (and $2.2 million per year ongoing) to increase funding for the Regional Arts Fund (announced as part of the Revive strategy).
Regional Health (specific to the regions)
$358 million over 5 years to deliver Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, including an additional 8 clinics for regional communities and outer suburbs to access a GP; and
$79.5 million over 4 years to double the Regional Pharmacy Maintenance Allowance to assist community pharmacies in regional Australia.
Regional Housing
Expanding the Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee to any two eligible borrowers such as friends and siblings and making it available to non-first home buyers if they haven’t owned a property in Australia in the last 10 years.
Migration
Allocating around 70 per cent of places in the 2023-24 permanent Migration Program to skilled migrants;
Providing an extra 2 years of post-study work rights to Temporary Graduate visa holders with select degrees to improve the pipeline of skilled labour in key sectors;
Providing additional training places for Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme workers in priority sectors.
Note: not regional specific.
Natural Disasters
$200 million per year to support disaster risk reduction projects in regional Australia, under the Disaster Ready Fund;
$236 million over 10 years to improve flood forecasting and warnings; and
Creating a new National Messaging Service to provide real-time information to mobile phones during an emergency.
Education
$146 million over 4 years to increase Commonwealth Grant Scheme funding for regional university campuses by 3.5 per cent a year;
$48.8 million over 4 years to establish new partnerships between regional universities and other higher education providers and industry for research; and
$17.1 million over 4 years to provide demand-driven Commonwealth Supported Places to eligible higher education providers for First Nations students from a regional area.
Skills and Employment
$26.3 million over 5 years from 2022-23 to boost employment services and trial a new regional employment service.
“Proactive budget investment in the peri urban region is essential to manage urban sprawl and maintain the lifestyle and character of these growing communities,” Cr Leaney said.
“Peri Urban Councils Victoria greatly appreciates the positive direction from the Albanese Government to support our expanding community need for improved public infrastructure and services,” Cr Leaney concluded.