We have released our Infrastructure Priorities for the Regions report which identifies the unique opportunities and challenges facing each of Victoria’s regions and identifies recommendations which seek to address them. This work is one of several work programs that has helped to inform Victoria’s Draft 30-Year Infrastructure Strategy update.
Underpinning this work are two complementary frameworks which provide a new and structured approach to prioritising potential infrastructure solutions to specific regional challenges and opportunities. One aims to identify investment priorities that build on regions’ unique economic advantages to activate regional growth opportunities (Comparative advantage framework). The other seeks to strengthen regional communities by improving economic, health, education and social inclusion outcomes and addressing relative disadvantage (Addressing regional disadvantage framework).
While our work has demonstrated the unique character of each of Victoria’s regions, it has also illustrated the extent to which infrastructure needs are shared across them. However, regional Victoria’s infrastructure needs are very different to those in Melbourne. Our work has therefore confirmed that regional Victoria faces issues and opportunities which are specific to regional areas, and that solutions designed for Melbourne cannot simply be transplanted.
In developing this work over the last three years, we have built our knowledge and engaged extensively with stakeholders from across Victoria’s nine regions: Barwon, Central Highlands, Gippsland, Goulburn, Great South Coast, Loddon Campaspe, Mallee, Ovens Murray and Wimmera Southern Mallee.
Infrastructure Victoria called on stakeholders to make submissions on addressing regional disadvantage, comparative advantage or both. Submissions closed on Friday 7 February 2020.
To get in touch with the team, please email enquiries@infrastructurevictoria.com.au.
Comparative advantage
Many of Victoria’s regions have significant economic strengths across a range of industries and we want to build on these strengths through good infrastructure investments. We have developed profiles of the comparative advantages between nine of our regions and developed an assessment framework to help prioritise investments.
Regional industry profiles
| Barwon | Central Highlands | Gippsland |
| Goulburn | Great South Coast | Loddon Campaspe |
| Mallee | Ovens Murray | Wimmera Southern Mallee |
Assessment framework
Regional Infrastructure Assessment Framework Report
Addressing regional disadvantage
Parts of Victoria are experiencing clear and persistent disadvantage, and structural economic and demographic changes are exacerbating these challenges. We want to identify infrastructure that can improve access to services, increase social inclusion or improve economic outcomes to reduce disadvantage. We have developed fact sheets of regional disadvantage across our nine regional areas, and developed an assessment framework to help prioritise investments. For further context, you should also read our research paper outlining the role of infrastructure in addressing disadvantage.
Background paper
The role of Infrastructure in Addressing Regional Disadvantage
Regional disadvantage fact sheets
| Barwon | Central Highlands | Gippsland |
| Goulburn | Great South Coast | Loddon Campaspe |
| Mallee | Ovens Murray | Wimmera Southern Mallee |
Assessment framework
Addressing Regional Disadvantage – Infrastructure Assessment Framework Report
