- Minister for Local Government
The Andrews Labor Government is helping councils in the South West save millions of dollars and deliver better outcomes for their communities.
Minister for Local Government Adem Somyurek today announced the successful recipients of the $20 million Rural Councils Transformation Program (RCTP).
Corangamite, Moyne and Warrnambool will share in $4.5 million to improve the quality, effectiveness and affordability of services to their ratepayers.
The grant will be used to strengthen customer service by centralising and standardising information systems delivering finance, human resources, business, IT, planning and waste services, which will result in more than $6.5 million in productivity benefits and reduced costs over five years.
The RCTP program, a first-of-its kind in Victoria, will improve the financial sustainability of rural councils and allow them to reallocate any funds saved to other much needed projects.
This program backs large-scale, transformative projects at a regional level that will deliver much-needed support to the success councils, which cover more than 95 per cent of the state's land mass.
RCTP will achieve greater service benefits for rural and regional communities and strengthen the longer-term financial sustainability of many important services and programs.
As noted by Minister for Local Government Adem Somyurek
"Victoria's 48 rural and regional councils are the lifeblood for more than 1.5 million residents, and we want them to remain stable and sustainable heading forward."
"The Rural Councils Transformation Program is delivering more economic benefits for regional councils than ever before and this is the first time they have received funding for projects of this scale."
As noted by Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney
"We recognise the importance of helping local councils, such as those in the South West, to modernise the way they work."
"This investment will not only help these South West regional councils save money, but it means they will be able to deliver better, more efficient services for residents."
