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Growth Framework To Guide Growth In Victoria'S Regional Cities

Victoria's Regional Cities now have access to a purpose-built planning framework that will help them prepare for a forecast population increase to more than one million people over the next 20 years.

By Regional Cities Victoria - 21st August 2013 - Back to News

With the Regional Cities Victoria Growth Framework released today by Regional Cities Victoria (RCV), councils can gain a clear picture of their current infrastructure and services levels and then develop strategies to drive investment in the areas that most support their future needs.

RCV, which represents the State’s 10 largest regional cities – Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Horsham, Latrobe, Mildura, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Warrnambool and Wodonga, commissioned the development of the framework to guide Regional Cities as they plan for future population growth and economic development.

Released at the annual Celebrating Regional Cities forum, the Regional Cities Victoria Growth Framework provides a process for setting each city's priorities for investment in services and infrastructure. It also produces a strong evidence base that Regional Cities can draw on when seeking government funding or attracting private investment.

The Victorian Government contributed $300,000 towards developing the Regional Cities Victoria Growth Framework, which has three core components:

• A resource paper explaining the economic theory underlying Regional City growth
• A set of growth indicators enabling each Regional City to determine its current position and to set growth benchmarks
• A diagnostics tool each Regional City can use to set targets and priorities.

RCV Chairman, Cr Mark Byatt, said the Regional Cities Victoria Growth Framework would position Regional Cities to achieve their full potential as thriving communities that offer more jobs, better services and attractive investment opportunities, as well as a great lifestyle.

"The Regional Cities Victoria Growth Framework embodies the concept of Victoria as a 'State of Cities', a vision RCV shares with the State Government. It recognises the role of Regional Cities in supporting the State's growth and prosperity by fostering conditions that will stimulate the economies within Regional Cities and their catchment areas."

Cr Byatt said the next step was for Regional Cities to use the diagnostics tool to conduct their own city-based assessments and prepare action plans that would enable councils to prepare for their growth and development aspirations.

"RCV is committed to working with governments, industry and our communities to develop long-term solutions to meet Victoria’s growth challenges," he said.

"RCV-commissioned research confirms that Regional Cities have the capacity to accommodate more residents and businesses and this growth framework will help the RCV continue to create sustainable and livable communities.

"We thank the Victorian Government and in particular Premier and Minister for Regional Cities, Dr Denis Napthine, for supporting this important project and for his ongoing support for RCV."

To view the growth framework materials, visit www.regionalcitiesvictoria.com.au

Media contacts: Andrew Turner or Jack Herbert: 03 9654 4799, 0405 584 567 or rcv@cprcomm.com.au

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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