Andrews on standby as country Victoria struggles for growth

Daniel Andrews’ Melbourne-centric agenda is strangling growth in country communities with figures showing a shocking decline in Regional Victoria’s population.

The latest Regional Population Growth report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reveals Melbourne’s bursting at the seams with 327 people moving to the city every day.

Melbourne grew more than any other capital city in Australia in the past 12 months with 119,400 new residents, compared to 93,400 in Sydney.

By contrast Wodonga, once at the forefront of growth in the state, has slipped to 10th on regional shires list growing by just 1.5% compared to those shire in commuting range of Melbourne that continue to grow at about 3%.

Elsewhere, Indigo Shire increased by 1% to 16,490 people at the end of June 2018, Alpine by 0.7% to 12,730 and Towong  by just 0.2% to 6,054.

Comment attributable to Shadow Minister for Regional Victoria and Decentralisation Peter Walsh

Daniel Andrews is sitting on his hands while Labor’s city-centric agenda strangles growth in Regional Victoria.

Without a population plan, country Victoria is missing opportunities for new jobs and investment that comes with population growth.

A plan for better public transport, hospitals, schools and services right across our state – beyond the regional cities of Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong – would encourage more people to live and work in our country communities.

It would also help strengthen community groups, sporting clubs and volunteer organisations in Regional Victoria that are struggling to attract new members.

But nothing will change while Daniel Andrews continues to blindly push a Melbourne-centric agenda and ignores country communities.

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