With Melbourne’s population projected to reach nine million by 2051, there is a clear need to rethink urban planning and housing strategies and to redefine the opportunities to encourage growth and development in regional and rural Victoria. Greater Ballarat Alliance of Councils (GBAC) welcomes the opportunity to continue to consult on housing, infrastructure and service matters to ensure the Plan for Victoria will meet the needs and aspirations of our communities.

The financial implications for communities where the population density is low due to large and sparsely located rural properties is significant, and does need to be considered further. Councils do have high aspirations for service improvements and reforming waste management services and look forward to our continued partnership in achieving these goals.

Local government plays a vital role in delivering infrastructure and services that enable community wellbeing and participation. In this submission, the Greater Ballarat Allliance of Councils (GBAC) shares its insights into the the financial sustainability issues faced by regional, rural and remote local governments in Victoria.

The Greater Ballarat Alliance of Councils (GBAC) has provided its submission to the draft Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) Community Benefits Plan, that proposes initiatives to allocate funds to communities in areas hosting major transmission and renewable energy infrastructure by coordinating financial contributions from transmission, storage and generation projects.

GBAC has provided a submission to Victorian Parliament’s Legislative Council Economy and Infrastructure Committee. The Committee’s investigations into the effects of funding arrangements and revenue structures on local government financial sustainability is as timely as it is critical. There is a widening gap between the fiscal capacity of local government to fund an ever-growing portfolio of capital projects and services it is responsible for, and the needs and expectations of communities for high quality infrastructure and services which support positive local social, economic and environmental outcomes.

Greater Ballarat Alliance of Councils has provided its submission to the Regional Telecommunications Review Committee, who are examining the suitability of telecommunications services in regional, rural and remote Australia. GBAC has taken the opportunity to highlight concerns of residents living outside Australia’s metropolitan centres and provide insight into the digital connectivity and literacy issues facing our communities.