Around the Table - December 2022

Images: Peri Urban Councils Victoria Delegation Meetings with: Ms Michaela Settle MP, Ms Cindy McLeish MP, The Hon. Kristy McBain MP and Mr Richard Riordan MP

Our Board has had a busy few months engaging with stakeholders and working with the newly elected Federal Government to champion the needs of the Peri Urban region.

We had productive discussions with the Hon Kristy McBain MP Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories regarding the challenges facing local councils in high growth suburbs, and the infrastructure investment required to keep pace with growth.  

We were pleased to also meet with Senator the Hon Anthony Chisolm Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Assistant Minister for Education to discuss the unique funding challenges for peri urban councils, and the contribution that they make to the Victorian economy.

Recently, the PUCV Board met with Mr Peter Sagar, Acting CEO and Executive Director Regional Victoria & Commonwealth Games Support, Victoria Planning Authority to discuss the significant growth in the PUCV region and the work of the state planning authority in this regard.

Our Board also met with Mr Matthew Roper, First Assistant Secretary of Cities Division, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, and the Arts for a wide-ranging discussion on the policy and funding priorities across the peri urban region, particularly infrastructure, telecommunications and transport.

At a State level, we also met the Richard Riordan MP Shadow Minister for Local Government, Housing and Resources to discuss local issues in the Polwarth electorate and surrounding areas.

As part of the PUCV project to improve regional planning solutions, Hansen Partnership also engaged with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, the Victorian Planning Authority and Development Victoria.