Regional Policy

The Department of Planning and Community Development seeks to achieve strategic change and improvement to the sustainability of Victoria’s regions by working in partnership with other state government departments, local governments, infrastructure and service providers and local communities to identify sustainable settlement and land use patterns which meet environmental, social and economic objectives.

Current Key Projects

  • Future Farming Rural Planning Group: A $3.79 million, four year project to establish a new Rural Planning Group to identify and plan for future scenarios for farming and farming communities. The aim is to enable Victoria's farm businesses to become more productive, competitive and sustainable as they enter an era of unprecedented change.
  • Rural Land-Use Planning Program: A $500,000 initiative which aims to build on the successful implementation of the new rural zones and assist councils to resource the necessary strategic planning work to improve the protection and management of rural land within planning schemes. Applications for funding are currently being sought.
  • Peri-Urban Planning: Assisting the Peri Urban Group of Councils address growth management, rural /urban interface and other issues.
  • Networked Cities: Direction 3 of Melbourne 2030 focuses on supporting regional Victoria and seeks to ensure that infrastructure and services are in place so that regional cities such as Bendigo, Geelong, Ballarat, Seymour and surrounding towns can take advantage of opportunities for growth from improved linkages to Melbourne.
  • Regional Town Development Plans: A $500,000 initiative to establish the Urban Development Program for Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Wodonga and Latrobe, and to undertake particular urban development strategic projects.

regional victoria planning boundariesWant to know what projects are underway in your region?

Please select a region from the Victorian Government regional boundaries below. Refer to map for assistance.
  • Barwon South West which consists of City of Greater Geelong, Borough of Queenscliffe, Surfcoast Shire Council, Colac-Otway Shire Council, Corangamite Shire Council, Moyne Shire Council, Glenelg Shire Council, Warrnambool City Council, Southern Grampians Shire Council

  • Grampians which consists of West Wimmera Shire Council, Hindmarsh Shire Council, Yarriambiack Shire Council, Horsham Rural City Council, Northern Grampians Shire Council, Ararat Rural City Shire Council, City of Ballarat, Pyrenees Shire Council, Hepburn Shire Council, Moorabool Shire Council and Golden Plains Shire Council
  • Loddon Mallee which consists of Mildura Rural City Council, Swan Hill Rural City Council, Buloke Shire Council, Gannawarra Shire Council, Loddon Shire Council, Central Goldfields Shire Council, City of Greater Bendigo, Shire of Campaspe, Mount Alexander Shire Council and Macedon Ranges Shire Council
  • Hume which consists of Murrindindi Shire Council, Mitchell Shire Council, Mansfield Shire Council, Strathbogie Shire Council, Benalla Rural City Council, Rural City of Wangaratta, Alpine Shire Council, Towong Shire Council, Indigo Shire Council, Wodonga City Council, Moira Shire Council, City of Greater Shepparton
  • Gippsland which consists of Bass Coast Shire Council, Baw Baw Shire Council, South Gippsland Shire Council, Latrobe City Council, Wellington Shire Council, East Gippsland Shire Council

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