Liam McNally
Moorabool council has been dealt another funding upon discovering it is no longer eligible for the state government’s Growing Suburbs Fund.
Growing Suburbs is aimed at delivering critical community infrastructure for Melbourne’s fast-growing outer suburbs, which in 2023 was worth $10 million.
In June 2020 the fund expanded from being available to just interface councils, which are a group of 10 municipalities that form a ring around metropolitan Melbourne including Melton, to peri-urban councils during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Peri urban councils are shires that interface metropolitan Melbourne and Victoria’s largest regional cities.
Guidelines for the 2023 fund released on August 25 showed the fund had reverted to focusing on interface councils.
The announcement follows Moorabool council also recently becoming ineligible for the federal government’s $600 million Growing Regions program.
Moorabool mayor Rod Ward said council is extremely disappointed to suddenly be excluded from the Growing Suburbs Fund.
“There has been significant underinvestment in road infrastructure and community infrastructure, and if we don’t plan and address this issue now, we will be in a situation where our infrastructure is not in line with our growth,” he said.
“Despite this, we are now not eligible to access a fund that helps pay for such infrastructure.
“Projects such as the expansion of the Bacchus Marsh Library, Aqualink and a river walking track in Ballan may need to pushed out beyond what we anticipated due to the impact of the Growing Suburbs changes.”
In the past the fund has supported the Ballan Library and Community Hub, the West Maddingley Early Years and Community Hub, Darley Park Community and Sports Centre and the BMRRR pavilion.
A state government spokesperson said projects that have been funded in previous rounds will continue to be supported to be delivered.
“There are close to 130 projects currently supported by the fund still to be delivered by local councils. We are focused on ensuring these projects get delivered for the benefit of these communities,” the spokesperson said.
“We will continue to work closely with local councils to support projects that enhance their local community.“
Peri Urban Councils Victoria, a group which includes Moorabool council, expressed disappointment in the change.
Peri Urban Councils Victoria chair and Baw Baw councillor Michael Leaney said the decision would mean important funding required to support fast growing peri urban councils had evaporated overnight.
“We call on the Victorian government to explain to peri urban communities how things like community centres, libraries, pools, parks, childcare centres and sporting facilities can now be built without funding assistance from the state,” he said.
“The Victorian government would appear to not fully understand population growth in peri urban areas – unfortunately peri urban councils, who have limited capacity to raise funds, have fallen through the cracks again and we fear there will be long-term damage from excluding Peri Urban Councils from the Growing Suburbs Fund.”
