# data[].attributes.headline
Plan to tackle inequity in Victoria’s ‘fastest growing region’

# data[].attributes.subject
Plan to tackle inequity in Victoria’s ‘fastest growing region’

# data[].attributes.body
Geelong is one of Australia's fastest growing regional areas. But as discussed in Liz Ritchie's address, it faces many challenges that prohibit rapid growth including a lack of physical infrastructure (housing) as well as rapidly rising econonomic challenges (affordability)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
To use this website, cookies must be enabled in your browser. To enable cookies, follow the instructions for your browser below.

Facebook App: Open links in External Browser
There is a specific issue with the Facebook in-app browser intermittently making requests to websites without cookies that had previously been set. This appears to be a defect in the browser which should be addressed soon. The simplest approach to avoid this problem is to continue to use the Facebook app but not use the in-app browser.

This can be done through the following steps:
1. Open the settings menu by clicking the hamburger menu in the top right
2. Choose "App Settings" from the menu
3. Turn on the option "Links Open Externally" (This will use the device's default browser)

Enabling Cookies in Internet Explorer 7, 8 & 9
1. Open the Internet Browser
2. Click Tools > Internet Options > Privacy > Advanced
3. Check Override automatic cookie handling
4. For First-party Cookies and Third-party Cookies click Accept
5. Click OK and OK

Enabling Cookies in Firefox
1. Open the Firefox browser
2. Click Tools > Options > Privacy > Use custom settings for history
3. Check Accept cookies from sites
4. Check Accept third party cookies
5. Select Keep until: they expire
6. Click OK

Enabling Cookies in Google Chrome
1. Open the Google Chrome browser
2. Click Tools > Options > Privacy Options > Under the Hood > Content Settings
3. Check Allow local data to be set
4. Uncheck Block third-party cookies from being set
5. Uncheck Clear cookies
6. Close all

Enabling Cookies in Mobile Safari (iPhone, iPad)
1. Go to the Home screen by pressing the Home button or by unlocking your phone/iPad
2. Select the Settings icon.
3. Select Safari from the settings menu.
4. Select 'accept cookies' from the safari menu.
5. Select 'from visited' from the accept cookies menu.
6. Press the home button to return the the iPhone home screen.
7. Select the Safari icon to return to Safari.
8. Before the cookie settings change will take effect, Safari must restart. To restart Safari press and hold the Home button (for around five seconds) until the iPhone/iPad display goes blank and the home screen appears.
9. Select the Safari icon to return to Safari.

# data[].attributes.headline
"Victorian budget 2024 draws mixed responses as regions feel the pressure of population growth"

# data[].attributes.subject
"Victorian budget 2024 draws mixed responses as regions feel the pressure of population growth"

# data[].attributes.body
Conflict between regional and state government as the 2024 Victorian Budget did not prioritize regional areas. Beer & Clower (2020) state that "...local and regional based growth is essential for national well-being..." and it can be seen from the recent budget that regional areas are being neglected. This may be having negative outcomes economically and socially for both regional locations and Australia on a national level. (Sofie)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In short: Regional Victorians are reacting to the state government's latest budget.

Premier Jacinta Allan says it strikes a responsible balance without taking "the economic momentum out of the economy".

What's next? Some community leaders say regional Victoria has been left in the dust in favour of bigger metropolitan infrastructure projects.

As Victoria's state budget was unveiled on Tuesday, there were high hopes it would deliver for regional Victorians.

While it was Treasurer Tim Pallas' 10th state budget, it was the first for Premier Jacinta Allan.

Growing up in the city of Bendigo, and representing the electorate of Bendigo East in parliament, Ms Allan has long been an advocate for the 1.5 million people who live outside metropolitan Melbourne.

Despite a number of cost-cutting measures, Ms Allan told ABC Statewide Drive there was still plenty of financial support being funnelled into regional areas.

"We have a range of different ways that we support regional councils and regional communities," she said.

The premier highlighted the Regional Worker Accommodation Fund, which provided employee accommodation in country towns and regional cities where housing was scarce.

"The number one issue and the number one challenge that's facing regional communities right now ... is people being able to find a home," Ms Allan said.

"A home that's affordable and a home that's close to the job that they want to stay in, or pick up.

"It's not just a problem that's confined to Melbourne."

'Limited investment in regional Vic'

The government was under pressure to deliver a "sensible" budget amid the state's rising debt.

Treasurer Tim Pallas has defended it as one that strikes a responsible balance without taking "the economic momentum out of the economy".

Ms Allan said the government's "new and refreshed fiscal strategy" would allow the economy to grow while driving down debt.

"We're proud to say we have the strongest economy in the nation," the premier said.

"How we can continue to support jobs and grow the economy is a key part of our work to provide jobs and security into the future for regional families."

But Regional Cities Victoria chairperson and Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor Shane Sali had a different view.

"There is very limited investment in regional Victoria which was, to be honest, to be expected," he said.

Mr Sali has called for the reintroduction of the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund.

Before it was axed in 2023, the fund helped finance key infrastructure projects in smaller towns and cities across the state.

"It's been almost impossible for local councils to get key community infrastructure projects on the table for consideration," Mr Sali said.

With a growing number of people ditching the city for a sea or tree change, Mr Sali said councils were stretched to their limits.

"How do local councils in regional Victoria get access to state funding to deliver infrastructure projects that are of critical need to a developing regional Victoria?" he said.

"We need the infrastructure investment. Local councils can't deliver that on their own."

Nationals criticise Suburban Rail Loop

Victorian Nationals Leader Peter Walsh said Labor's 10th consecutive state budget made it clear that the government "cannot manage money".

"They definitely can't manage major projects and Victorian families are paying the price," he said.

"Regional Victoria only gets about 12 or 13 per cent of the total spend on infrastructure, the majority goes into the city."

He has called for the multi-billion-dollar Suburban Rail Loop project to be scrapped in favour of greater investment into the regions.

"This is effectively sucking all the money out of other infrastructure projects, whether it be in Melbourne or in regional Victoria," Mr Walsh said.

"From a country point of view, the money should go into finishing hospital projects on time rather than extending them. It should go into repairing our roads."

Community pleas answered

A number of sporting clubs were offered substantial funding in Tuesday's budget.

Fish Creek Football and Netball Club, in Victoria's east, was granted $500,000 to aid the reconstruction of facilities that were lost during a suspicious fire in November last year.

Club co-president Ray Stefani said the funding followed months of intense campaigning and it was all worth it.

"An announcement like this today really does inspire us to keep pushing forward," he said.

"There's a great resolve amongst, not only the club, but the community as a whole, to rebuild and to come back bigger and better than ever."

Mr Stefani believed it was clear the campaigning had struck a cord with "the right people" and he was grateful to everyone who had reached out to offer their support along the way.

"We've got more work to do. We still need to raise more money," he said.

"But this is a great step forward and I think it really shows that we are fair dinkum about this and we are going to get this done."

Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh broke the news to the club in person on Tuesday afternoon as the budget was being delivered.

Mr McIntosh congratulated the club leaders for receiving the money in what he admitted was "a tough budget".

The budget also provided $302 million to communities affected by recent floods, storms and bushfires.

It was expected to cover infrastructure repairs, as well as temporary accommodation, relief payments and mental health support for residents.

The government will also invest $156 million to support Victoria's emergency management and help prevent future bushfires.

Millions allocated to transport

Some $133 million was allocated to support Victoria's regional rail network, including operating newly delivered train stabling yards, stations and VLocity trains.

There will be additional weekday return services for the Warrnambool and Echuca lines, as well as improved bus and ferry services in several locations.

Seven regional road and bridge projects will receive upgrades, including the Dimboola and Dadswell bridges on the Western Highway, while bridges at Drouin, Warragul, Hernes Oak and Morwell will be strengthened.

The budget allocated $60.5 million regional road upgrades over the next four years, but a group representing farmers said it did not go far enough.

Grain Growers Trade and Supply Chains policy manager Annabel Mactier said the funding was a "drop in the ocean compared to what was required."

"The concerning thing is that out of the 6,000 bridges managed by the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning, approximately 1,000 of those have been identified as requiring upgrades, so there are so many other bridges that require urgent upgrades."

A regional healthcare investment

The budget allocates $44 million towards expanded facilities at Latrobe Regional Hospital in Gippsland, which will have capacity for 44 inpatient beds, 14 medical and surgical beds and a new emergency department resuscitation bay.

It also set aside $5.4 million to establish a mental health, alcohol and other drugs emergency department hub at the Ballarat Base Hospital.

The estimated completion date for the Maryborough Hospital redevelopment, however, was extended to 2026. It was initially expected to be completed by the end of this year.

The state government is continuing to plan the new West Gippsland Hospital and redevelopments for the Wonthaggi hospital.

It is continuing to build community hospitals in various locations as part of a six-year promise, but one of the regional hospitals in Torquay is being reviewed and may be scrapped.

New schools and upgrades promised

In regional Victoria, four new primary schools will be built across Greater Geelong, Wodonga and Mitchell Shire.

The budget allocated $40 million to upgrade and modernise seven schools in locations that include Traralgon, Beechworth, Cobden, Eildon, Paynesville and Swan Hill.

The Victorian Homebuyer Fund will be expanded, by increasing the regional price cap to $700,000 and extending the joint applicant threshold to single parents.

The fund contributes to the purchase price in exchange for a proportionate equity interest in the property, to help people purchase a home.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Does Jacinta Allan's first state budget as premier deliver for regional Victorians?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
While the state government says its budget is for all Victorians, some critics say regional infrastructure investment is being left behind in favour of major metropolitan projects.

# data[].attributes.body
This article is an example of the critical housing and worker shortage discussed by Liz Ritchie in the Press Club address. More broadly it speaks to tensions highlighted in the readings on population change and the uneven resourcing of growth (Pike et al., 2017). I chose it as it is an example of the creative ways that communities are addressing resourcing issues. Melissa

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When housing shortages made it difficult to attract and retain workers in regional Victorian tourist towns, businesses and councils had to get creative.

The Vic government has announced a $150m package for regional worker accommodation

Communities that have already found staff accommodation hope to receive some of the funding

The funding is part of the re-allocated $2b from the cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games

In places like Daylesford and Port Fairy, where as many as a third of all houses are holiday homes, hospitality businesses have been closing or adjusting opening hours due to a worker shortage exacerbated by a lack of rentable properties.

From letter-writing campaigns to buying their own accommodation for workers, the solutions have been many and varied.

But now that the Victorian government is offering a $150 million regional worker accommodation package as a sweetener for cancelling the Commonwealth Games, those forward-thinkers are wondering if they will secure a share.

The government announced the funding on Wednesday as part of its $2 billion re-direction of Commonwealth Games money and a $1 billion allocation for regional housing.

While the government did not release any specifics, it said it would consult with "employers, workers, housing providers and councils" to design the regional worker accommodation program.

The ABC understands some organisations will be expected to match funding contributions for their projects.

Before the cancellation of the Commonwealth Games, host cities including Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Morwell were promised legacy affordable housing from the construction of athlete villages.

It appears more regional Victorian areas, beyond the four host cities, will be eligible for housing investment following the cancellation of the games.

Buy your own

Royal Hotel Daylesford owner Cameron Stone got so desperate in his search for worker accommodation that he ended up buying his own in the Central Victorian tourist town.

"It gave us a stable workforce," Mr Stone said.

"The investment gave us some longevity in what we were doing, gave us the opportunity to train people.

"We also saw the benefit of people who were enjoying working at the place and could stay for a long period of time.

"You had to be very lucky to get accommodation in our region, particularly in the Daylesford region [where] there is lots of accommodation used for people visiting the town and there is not a lot of accommodation for people who are supporting that industry."

Mr Stone said he would like to see government support for people like himself who had already taken steps to address the problem.

"We would like to see incentives for those people who are going to invest in this type of accommodation for staff - and also what's in it for those who have already invested heavily in accommodation at this moment in time," he said.

Cabin fever

In the Moyne Shire tourist mecca of Port Fairy in south-west Victoria, businesses were closing their doors in the midst of tourist season earlier this year, unable to find workers due to a lack of rental properties.

The council stepped in with a range of possible solutions, including letting workers live in cabins in council-owned caravan parks.

Moyne mayor Karen Foster said the program had been a massive success.

"They are completely oversubscribed - we have businesses queuing up to get workers into those cabins," Cr Foster said.

Cr Foster said she hoped the state government saw the success, and rewarded it with funding.

"Within hours of the announcement the games had been cancelled, we requested a meeting with Minister [for Commonwealth Games legacy Harriet] Shing," Cr Foster said.

"We are keen to make sure our part of the state is firmly on her radar.

"We are ready to go, we could easily do another 10, maybe 20 cabins within a few months.

"We know it works, it is fast, it is relatively cheap and we know there is huge demand for it."

Read more on Australia's housing market:

If you're unable to load the form, click here.

Find more local news
Browse for your location and find more local ABC News and information

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
These Vic tourist towns made their own staff housing. Will they get a slice of the state's new accommodation fund?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Victorian government is offering a $150 million regional worker accommodation package after cancelling the Commonwealth Games. But will communities that have already found their own staff housing solutions get a share?