A Strong Commitment to regional Victoria
Since 1999, country Victoria has shown a new confidence driven by investment in infrastructure, job creation and population growth.
The State Labor Government has rebuilt services and attracted residents back to the regions, with provincial Victoria’s population now growing at a faster rate than the national average, and employment is at a record high. More than 100,000 jobs have been created in regional Victoria since 1999.
The economic success of country Victoria has been driven by the Government’s commitment to grow the whole of the State and make rural and regional Victoria a great place to live, work and raise a family. Investment in provincial Victoria is at a record high, with the Government facilitating more than 300 new investments outside Melbourne worth more than $5 billion over the last seven years. The value of regional building approvals is at an all-time high, reaching $3.8 billion in 2005.
The highly successful Regional Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) has been further extended, with an additional $200 million announced as part of the Moving Forward Provincial Statement to continue the economic development of country Victoria. RIDF has already contributed $318 million towards 111 infrastructure projects across provincial Victoria, including $70 million to extend natural gas to 34 towns.
"More than 100,000 jobs have been created in regional Victoria since 1999"The Government’s major road projects in country Victoria include the ongoing upgrade of the Calder Highway between Melbourne and Bendigo, constructing the $242 million Pakenham Bypass, upgrading the Calder-Tullamarine Freeway Interchange – a key interchange for both visitors from country Victoria and freight transport, building the 22 kilometre Geelong bypass and upgrades to the Bass, Midland and South Gippsland Highways and the Princes Highway in East Gippsland.
Funding where its needed
In the biggest upgrade of regional rail in 120 years, the Regional Fast Rail Project has provided upgraded tracks and signalling to allow new trains to travel more frequently, safely and reliably at higher speeds, better linking Melbourne and Victorian regional centres.
The 2005-06 State Budget announced an $89 million high speed, fibre optic broadband upgrade for every Government school in Victoria – an Australian first – providing benefits to country students as well as local businesses, families and whole communities.
We are rebuilding hospitals and aged care centres in Geelong, Rochester, Warracknabeal, Nhill and Echuca and building radiotherapy centres at Geelong and Latrobe Valley. Emergency departments are being rebuilt at Geelong, Bairnsdale and Shepparton.
Since 1999, the State Labor Government has revitalised primary industries and the regions of the State that depend on them. Last year, Victoria became the leading agricultural production state, overtaking New South Wales for the first time. We have invested record levels in research and service delivery to build our production base and have more than doubled our funding of biosecurity. We are helping rural communities deal with the worst drought in 100 years and moved our native forest industries towards a sustainable level.
Our plan for growth in provincial Victoria
The Brumby Government is committed to making Provincial Victoria the best place to live, work, invest and raise a family.
Since 1999, we have invested in restoring key services in health, education, community services and safety, while providing a massive boost to regional infrastructure and supporting the growth of local industries.
This commitment has seen strong employment growth in regional Victoria, building activity has more than doubled, and population growth and investment are at record levels. This strong growth is creating new opportunities but it also brings new challenges such as global competition, an ageing population, skills shortages, managing the impact of growth on country lifestyles and the ongoing need to rebuild our infrastructure to meet increasing demand for new services.
To respond to the challenges and build on the strong growth in Provincial Victoria we announced a $502 million action plan for further growth: Moving Forward. The centrepiece of Moving Forward is a $200 million renewal of the Regional Infrastructure Development Fund, and the creation of a $100 million Provincial Victoria Growth Fund. More than $70 million from the Provincial Victoria Growth Fund has already been allocated to projects including expanding the successful Community Regional Industry Skills Program (CRISP).
"This commitment has seen strong employment growth in regional Victoria"The Regional Infrastructure Development Fund – the first of its kind in Australia – will continue to directly fund and attract support for infrastructure projects across the regions, like the gas extensions to 34 regional communities, regional airport upgrades, arts and cultural facilities and stock underpasses.
Moving Forward will help attract people, jobs and investment to regional Victoria, deliver infrastructure and skills, support small towns and assist local councils manage growth.
Moving Forward contains $502 million worth of measures including:
- A new $100 million Provincial Victoria Growth Fund to drive economic and population growth across regional Victoria;
- A $200 million extension of the Regional Infrastructure Development Fund;
- A $27 million boost for tourism, including investment in regional marketing, tourism signage and tourism skills;
- $12 million to extend the Make It Happen in Provincial Victoria campaign;
- $36.6 million in support for small towns;
- $50.8 million for regional transport;
- $61.5 million for regional ports;
- Strategic Industry Development Packages worth $46 million to support growth and competitiveness in key primary industries, including an $11million dairy industry support package;
- $16.2 million to help local government manage population change;
- $20 million for improved freight and distribution infrastructure;
- $6 million for regional broadband improvements;
- $27 million for the energy and resources sector; and
- $6.3 million to support investment attraction and promote exports.