Infrastructure Victoria Regional Citizen Jury Report: Recommendations for consideration for Victoria's 30-year infrastructure strategy 

July 2016

 

Introduction

The Regional Jury appreciates the opportunity to prioritise options for Infrastructure Victoria’s 30-year strategy. The commitment to seek the input of regional and rural people augurs well for the future of a participatory and informed democracy. 

Victoria is comparatively compact with a natural advantage for well-connected regional centres. Effective infrastructure planning will enhance Victoria’s growth as a whole. In Progress in Australian Regions Yearbooks (2014 & 2015), Australian Government Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development suggest that regional Victoria is disadvantaged, neglected, and discriminated against. Coordinated infrastructure planning strengthens the state’s prosperity. 

 

Our view of what we should do to meet Victoria’s infrastructure needs

  1. Cultural, civic, sporting, recreation and tourism
  2. Education and training
  3. Energy
  4. Information and communications technology
  5. Health and human services
  6. Justice and emergency services
  7. Science, agriculture and environment
  8. Transport
  9. Water and waste

 

Our key messages

The Regional Citizen Jury strongly believes:

  • all Victorians need access to fast internet and reliable mobile phone coverage at world’s best standard;
  • infrastructure investment and support are needed to ensure the security of food, environment, and natural resources in regional Victoria;
  • investment in regional Victoria’s infrastructure will relieve the congestion in Melbourne and optimise the growth potential across Victoria;
  • provision of essential government services must not discriminate against regional Victorians;
  • transport infrastructure in regional Victoria must be safe, properly maintained, and integrated to improve quality of movement of people and goods;
  • the utilisation of infrastructure leads to better health outcomes, better community interaction, and improved quality of life;
  • the use of existing assets should be strongly considered for all infrastructure planning for community benefit;
  • continuous cooperative planning is critical across local, state, and federal government; and
  • the transition to clean alternative energy sources protects our environment.

These key messages are all to be considered equally and ordered arbitrarily.