Peri Urban communities face funding gap

Peri Urban Councils Victoria has today been left with a growing funding hole with news that member councils are no longer eligible for the Victorian Government's Growing Suburbs Fund.
 
Guidelines for the fund were released at 3pm on Friday and show the fast-growing councils of Bass Coast Shire Council, Baw Baw Shire Council, Golden Plains Shire Council, Moorabool Shire Council and Surf Coast Shire Council were removed as eligible applicants without notice or consultation.
 
Peri Urban Councils Victoria Chair and Baw Baw Shire Councillor Michael Leaney said he and his fellow councillors were disappointed by the Government’s actions saying the decision would mean important funding required to support fast growing Peri Urban Councils had evaporated overnight.
 
“We call on the Victorian Government to explain to peri urban communities how things like community centres, libraries, pools, parks, childcare centres and sporting facilities can now be built without funding assistance from the State,” Cr Leaney said.
 
“Peri Urban Councils, just like all councils across the state are rate-capped, so local government is not in a position to fill this funding void,” Cr Leaney said.
 
“Federal grant programs also designed to support growing communities require contributions from other parties.”
 
“Normally State Government programs provide co-funding for Federal programs, so the removal of peri urban areas from this funding opportunity will create a growing infrastructure divide between the councils in our State who are all working hard to accommodate new growth.”
 
“Our members are unlikely to attract Federal funding without State support,” Cr Leaney said.
 
“There is no sign that COVID-fuelled growth is easing and if you add new immigration, which is set to rise to historic levels again, peri-urban towns will continue to be the front line for the ongoing wave of growth, increasing our population by as much as 40% over in the next 10 years,” Cr Leaney said.
 
“The Victorian Government would appear to not fully understand population growth in peri urban areas - unfortunately Peri Urban Councils, who have limited capacity to raise funds, have fallen through the cracks again and we fear there will be long-term damage from excluding Peri Urban Councils from the Growing Suburbs Fund,” Cr Leaney said.
 
“In light of this decision we are calling on the Government to closely consider the needs of peri urban communities as they design new programs announced as part of the cancelled Commonwealth Games package,” Cr Leaney added.
 
Cr Leaney concluded, “As a united group of Peri Urban Councils, we are always willing to work closely with the State Government and would strongly urge the Government to meet with us to discuss our concerns. 

"We seek a way forward to enable the funding assistance to deliver what is required for some of the fastest growing areas in the state.”