A new strategy to support future population growth and planning will be backed by $58.9 million to guide the sustainable, prosperous economic and social growth of Victoria’s regions.
Premier John Brumby said regional cities, centres and small towns had a vital role to play in ensuring balanced, sustainable population growth across metropolitan and regional Victoria.
Population in regional Victoria is growing at its highest rate since 1982. By 2026 the population in regional Victoria is expected to grow to 1.7 million and to 2 million by 2048.
“Our Government is determined to support families living and working in rural and regional Victoria,” Mr Brumby said.
“We believe that there is an opportunity for a greater share of population growth to be linked to job and training opportunities in regional Victoria and understand how important it is to continuing growing our large regional centres sustainably.
“We also recognise the need to encourage a greater share of sustainable growth and development in some of our smaller regional centres and we want to strengthen thriving towns and help them to retain their character and important economic and social roles.
“This package sets out the policies, framework and investment to be driven through our close working relationship with regional and rural local councils to support the development and future growth of regional cities, plan for growth in towns and plan for the future of our coastal areas.”
The Victorian Government will take steps to formalise its strong working relationship with regional local governments through twice yearly forums with Regional Cities Victoria and Rural Councils Victoria.
These forums will set policy directions to take advantage of regional Victoria’s growing population and explore the best way to create new investment opportunities and jobs.
The Ready for Tomorrow $58.9 million package for new planning strategies includes:
- $17.2 million for a Regional Growth for the Future strategy to ensure future growth in regional centres is strategic, creates more jobs and preserves the lifestyles enjoyed by regional families. This initiative will support land use, planning, precinct planning, urban redevelopment and new growth areas in Geelong and
- $13.6 million for Coastal Settlements of the Future to manage challenges faced by coastal settlements at risk including new land use planning tools, assessments of the vulnerability of assets and an audit of current land use targeting coastal areas with the 90 Mile beach area, Queenscliff and Port Fairy;
- $6.3 million Frameworks for the Future to drive the implementation of Ready for Tomorrow and regional strategic plans across the state;
- $5.5 million towards the Planning for Tomorrow program for councils to undertake statutory planning work to achieve better planning outcomes such as land use planning and structural planning and manage growth across towns and communities;
- $7.8 million to build a Local Skills Partnerships program to build the economic development capability of local councils so that they can attract investment and jobs to their region including through traineeships, cadetships and workforce placements to strengthen skills and capacity within councils;
- $3.5 million to Rural Councils Victoria to strengthen Victoria’s network of rural councils so they can adapt to change and face future challenges. This initiative will facilitate collaboration and the sharing of resources between the state’s 38 rural councils; and
- $5 million to extend the Victorian Local Sustainability Accord to fast track local projects that will help communities adapt and adjust to climate change. More than 90 per cent of regional and rural councils have made a formal commitment to the Accord since 2005 and its next face will fund local councils to develop and implement climate adaptation strategies.
Minister for Regional and Rural Development Jacinta Allan said Ready for Tomorrow would help regional areas face future challenges, particularly climate change and rising sea levels.
“Ready for Tomorrow is a $631 million strategic investment by our Government to drive a new era of opportunity and prosperity in regional Victoria,” Ms Allan said.
“This blueprint will guide the way the Government works with regional communities, establishing a collaborative approach to regional planning and development.”
Planning Minister Justin Madden said the Victorian Government would continue to work with local government and communities to get policy settings right and develop a new planning framework to ensure local councils had the tools they need to accommodate sustainable growth.
“Eight leadership councils with representatives from local business, councils, Regional Development Australia committees and Regional Management Forums are developing tailored plans to respond to the unique challenges and priorities of their region,” Mr Madden said.
“We know that local knowledge and expertise is central to maintaining prosperous and sustainable regions which is why we want to harness that in the planning process.
“These committees are helping determine the long term future of their regions including the services and infrastructure needed now and in the future to cater for population growth.”