Ballarat Population Taskforce

Leader of the Opposition, Matthew Guy

Today the Liberal Nationals Coalition is announcing its Ballarat Population Taskforce.
The biggest challenge Victoria faces today is managing population growth and how that creates new jobs and protects the way we live.
This Taskforce will work with the Victorian Population Taskforce to create a blueprint for how to grow the Ballarat region by identifying the issues facing the Ballarat community from population growth and harnessing the knowledge of the local community and a panel of independent experts.
Joshua Morris will chair this taskforce which will investigate how we can assist, incentivise and work with local councils, communities and business to manage our population growth and develop the Ballarat region.
The Liberal Nationals Coalition sees population growth as an opportunity not a burden. This is about jobs, infrastructure and the way we live.
Victoria may be getting bigger but only the Liberal Nationals will ensure that our state will be a better place to live for all Victorians.
The members of the Ballarat Population Taskforce are:
Joshua Morris (Chair) – Member for Western Victoria, Former Mayor of Ballarat
Vicki Coltman – Chair of Headspace Ballarat, Ballarat Art Gallery board member and former Councillor at City of Ballarat.
Noel Coxall – Inaugural Chair of Committee for Ballarat, prominent local businessman, led FastTrack, a local initiative to reduce train trip length to Melbourne.
Jodie Gillett – CEO Commerce Ballarat.
Nick Grylewicz – Manager of Land Development at Integra.
Andrew Harman – Managing Director of TGM, local town planning business.
Samantha McIntosh – Mayor of City of Ballarat.
Prof Kier Reeves – holds a chair in regional engagement at Federation University Australia.
Melanie Robertson – CEO Committee for Ballarat.
Comments attributable to Leader of the Opposition Matthew Guy
“Victoria needs to become a state of cities and not a city state.
“The Andrews government is promising tens of billions of dollars for Melbourne and no comparable infrastructure for regional Victoria.
“Victoria needs to regionalise its growth and not just focus on Melbourne alone. Victoria cannot continue to grow the way we have the past 30 years for the next 30 years.”

Comments attributable to Member for Western Victoria, Joshua Morris
“Regional Victoria has a key part to play in managing population growth into the future.
“That’s why the Liberal National Coalition is committed to providing the local jobs, services and infrastructure Ballarat needs to continue to grow and attract new families.
“Ballarat locals can have their say on population growth and how they would like their government to respond by visiting vicpopulation.com.au.”

Media contact: Hannah Pandel    0409 234 530          hannah.pandel@opposition.vic.gov.au