Council motions carried at MAV State Council Meeting

Published on 13 September 2024

Murrindindi Shire Council advocated strongly on behalf of its community and the Hume Region Local Government Network (HRLGN) at the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) State Council meeting at Melbourne Town Hall on 23 August 2024, gaining overwhelming support and recognition on several important issues and challenges facing rural and regional councils.

The MAV is a membership association and the legislated peak body for local government in Victoria. The State Council is the governing body and is made up of delegates from each member council, including delegates from Murrindindi Shire Council and Mansfield Shire Council.

Murrindindi Shire Council submitted three motions to the MAV prior to the meeting, with two submitted on behalf of the HRLGN, which is made up of 12 member councils including Alpine, Benalla, Indigo, Mansfield, Mitchell, Moira, Murrindindi, Shepparton, Strathbogie, Towong, Wangaratta, and Wodonga.

The motions called for recognition of significant challenges faced by rural and regional councils across the state. The three motions were: Enhancing Road Safety, Renewal, and Disaster Recovery for Victoria's Regional and Rural Roads; Review of Victorian Grants Commission Funds Allocation Methodology; and Retaining the Country Character of Rural and Regional Townships.

On behalf of HRLGN, Council advocated for enhanced road funding at both State and Federal levels. The motion requested a 10% increase in Federal Financial Assistance Grants for roads, improved State funding for Regional Roads Victoria, streamlined disaster recovery funding with provisions for infrastructure enhancement, better road maintenance standards, and increased funding for road safety and performance accountability. It also requested acknowledgment and support of the Federal Government's increase in Roads to Recovery funding for the next five years.

We also requested the MAV seek the Minister for Planning's commitment to preserving the character of rural and regional townships through tailored Planning Scheme controls. This commitment would provide planning controls that recognise local constraints and fit the size, character, and location of our rural townships, avoiding local policy being over-ridden by policy and regulations more appropriate to Metropolitan Melbourne.

Additionally, Council requested the MAV call on the Victorian Grant Commission to review the methodology for allocating Commonwealth Financial Assistance Grants and address the impacts of natural disasters, climate change, limited revenue options, and rising costs for capital works and infrastructure projects.

All three motions were successfully carried and received significant support from delegates.

To read more about Council’s submissions and other topics raised at the meeting, visit mav.asn.au and search ‘state council’.

Quote attributable to Murrindindi Shire Council CEO Livia Bonazzi.

"Advocacy involves ensuring our community’s voices are heard loud and clear. It can involve seeking competitive grant funding to help our Shire prosper or bringing about changes to policies that improve how we live and work.”

“Overwhelming support for our motions at the State Council meeting confirms we are not alone in facing these challenges. Carried motions drive policy change, impact local operations and empower the MAV to advocate for us at all levels of government.”

“Council will keep pushing our advocacy priorities and we encourage locals to get involved as well – let us know what matters to you.”

Quote attributable to Mansfield Shire Council CEO Kirsten Alexander.

“Mansfield Shire Council continues to advocate for state planning rules that will allow us to protect the character of small country towns. Rules that recognise the different local context in different areas will avoid local policy being overridden by other policies and regulations that are more appropriate for Metropolitan Melbourne.

“With population growth that is far greater than forecast, Council is also receiving increasing community feedback highlighting the need for investment in the road network. Ratepayer funds from a small rural shire are not sufficient, and Council relies on investment from other levels of government to ensure its roads are kept safe and meet the needs of our growing community.

“The support the motions received at the State Council is encouraging. It shows statewide support for addressing these issues. Council continues to advocate strongly in the interest of our community.”