WIMMERA councils hope a Rural Councils Victoria submission to the state government will produce a bigger slice of roads funding and a more equitable and sustainbale rates system.
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The group this week released its 2018-19 Victorian Budget submission, produced through feedback from 38 member councils, community groups and businesses.
Rural Councils Victoria has called on the government to create a $200-million Rural Roads Support Fund to help councils maintain roads, and provide $100 million for VicRoads to maintain key rural roads.
The submission also calls for $10 million to set up collaborative procurement projects and energy-saving initiatives to build councils’ financial stability.
Hindmarsh Shire mayor Ron Ismay said roads were easily council’s biggest issue.
“Roads in our region in general are atrocious. The Hopetoun-Rainbow Road for instance has a drop-off that's 200mm deep – it's bloody dangerous,” he said.
“The money the government spends here is chicken feed compared with what they spend in Melbourne.”
The budget submission highlighted Rainbow-Nhill Road as one of five key priorities.
It noted how truck movements were heavily restricted on the approach to Rainbow due to the single-lane road and blind corners. The road is also used as a school bus route.
Cr Ismay said the road desperately needed widening to make it safe.
Horsham Rural City mayor Pam Clarke said her council’s submission to Rural Councils Victoria focused on rates and various forms of funding to make small councils sustainable.
“I have been advocating for years for the state government to look at the whole structure of rates to get a fair balance,” she said.
“Fair funding is also a big issue and we need to look at other avenues to fund council other than rates.”
Yarriambiack Shire mayor Graeme Massey said council was pleased with the recommendations outlined in the budget submission.
“Council was very much a part of the group that was involved in providing the information to the submission,” he said. “I hope the government looks upon it favourably and does their best to address what we're asking for.”
West Wimmera Shire mayor Jodie Pretlove said the council did not make a submission to Rural Councils Victoria as part of its budget process.
“We took a practical approach and spoke to ministers directly about the problems in our area,” she said.
The budget will be released on May 1.
