Peri Urban Councils push case for fringe funding

Cr Michael Leaney Chair of Peri Urban Councils Victoria, Cr Moira Berry Deputy Chair Peri Urban Councils Victoria, Cr Brett Cunningham Mayor Golden Plains Shire Council on the steps of Parliament House.

Peri Urban Councils Victoria (PUCV) has made a pitch to the Federal Government for a bigger slice of the federal funding pie to avoid playing catch-up on essential community infrastructure.

Peri Urban Council board members have traversed the halls of Canberra this week meeting with Ministers, Shadow Ministers and local members of parliament to press the case for increased investment in the fast-growing fringe region.

PUCV Chair Cr Michael Leaney of Baw Baw Shire Council said “The peri urban region has a huge role to play in delivering solutions to Australia’s deepening housing crisis, however we need the enabling infrastructure to keep pace with growth.”

The peri urban councils adjacent to Melbourne and Geelong are some of the fastest growing in the country, with a population that is expected to increase by over 30% by 2036.

“Our roads are already clogged by 66,000 residents commuting to employment outside the region, plus we accommodate 10.5 million tourist visitors per year” Cr Leaney explained.

The PUCV Pre-Budget Submission 2023-24 makes the case that peri urban regions require critical investment in enabling infrastructure that is beyond the capacity of local government in a rate capped environment.

The PUCV Pre-Budget Submission 2023-24 calls for specific investment in the following areas:

1.     Placemaking: civic and cultural infrastructure to develop liveable communities;

2.     Job Creation- tourism assets: development of tourism assets for a stronger post-COVID recovery;

3.     Digital connectivity: to support the work from home movement and address connectivity gaps; and

4.     Transport connectivity: for inter and intra regional connectivity to allow regions to thrive.

“Because we are on the doorstep of both metro Melbourne and Victoria’s largest regional cities people rightfully expect a high standard of infrastructure and services, for both work and play,” Cr Leaney explained.

“Now is the time to learn from the mistakes of the past, and make sure the infrastructure investment matches the projected urban growth,” Cr Leaney concluded.