Announcement

‍Our priority

Asset maintenance is funded through a non-competitive format by the Australian and Victorian governments based on need and local government size.

‍What we are asking for

• Change in policy change to allow funding to be allocated to asset maintenance.
• Change to funding programs to see more funding allocated on need rather than competitive funding rounds.
• A continuation of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Fund (federal).
• Reintroduction of the Local Government Infrastructure Program (state).
• An annual asset maintenance funding allocation that is indexed to Council’s asset portfolio and capacity to manage this portfolio.

‍If you would like more information or wish to speak with Council about any of our advocacy priorities, please call us on (03) 5153 9500 or email feedback@egipps.vic.gov.au

Our priority

To support net zero emissions by 2050.

‍What we are asking for

• That local government and the private sector are provided access to funded programs to support the Australian and Victorian government commitments to net zero emissions by 2050, and in line with the Second National Action Plan the National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework National Action 13 and 24 are implemented.
• Matching funding of $250,000 per annum to co-invest in a climate change and adaptation program that covers 10% of Victoria.

‍If you would like more information or wish to speak with us about any of our advocacy priorities, please call us on (03) 5153 9500 or email feedback@egipps.vic.gov.au

Our priority

Increase the resilience of telecommunications infrastructure during disasters, improve the quality and extent of coverage to support regional living, provide equitable access to services and digital technologies.

What we are asking for

• Voice and data telecommunications are managed and regulated as an essential service, and emergency roaming is mandated for all carriers.
• Mandatory infrastructure reliability standards that support emergency services, government and community.
• Independent investigation into the widespread telecommunications infrastructure failures in the February 2024 storm event with clear recommendations and a plan for Gippsland to enhance system resilience.
• Investment to enhance the resilience of infrastructure in the context of climate change.
• A community partnership model in remote areas that maintains back-up infrastructure (i.e., generators) prior to and during events, improving reliability.

‍If you would like more information or wish to speak with us about any of our advocacy priorities, please call us on (03) 5153 9500 or email feedback@egipps.vic.gov.au

Our priority

Availability of housing at reasonable prices to support the attraction of critical workers for support services, businesses, and industry.

‍What we are asking for

• Increase access to housing, at a reasonable price, for workers in East Gippsland communities.
• Access to funding is required to support the provision of suitable land and infrastructure to support housing.
• Recognition of the challenges small rural and remote communities face in providing sufficient rental residential stock to support existing and emerging businesses and industries.
• Acknowledgement that short-term accommodation opportunities for property owners in East Gippsland’s tourism destinations is a contributing factor to the limited availability of worker accommodation in those areas.
• Investigate opportunities to establish partnerships to support worker accommodation

‍If you would like more information or wish to speak with us about any of our advocacy priorities, please call us on (03) 5153 9500 or email feedback@egipps.vic.gov.au

‍Our priority

‍Disaster funding arrangements, at state and national levels, that ensure relief and recovery funds are directed to community resilience activities.

What we are asking for

• A fit-for-purpose disaster relief and recovery funding program which acknowledges the effects of consecutive and compounding disasters in a changing climate.
• Expanding the scope of funding allocations to better support the costs incurred by local government authorities associated with disaster response and relief work, and the rebuilding of assets.
• Ensuring funds, and claims processes, are aimed at ensuring community resilience outcomes.
• Outcomes of funding will support lead agencies to undertake response activities, reconstruct assets for sustainable development, etc.
• A reasonable, evidence-based claims process.

‍If you would like more information or wish to speak with us about any of our advocacy priorities, please call us on (03) 5153 9500 or email feedback@egipps.vic.gov.au

‍Our priority

‍A new approach to native forest silviculture is adopted that provides for forest health, reduced bushfire risk and benefits for a range of forest users including high value timber production. That impacted workers, business and communities are effectively supported in their transition.

What we are asking for

• That the Victorian Government adopts a new approach to silviculture that maintains or improves forest health and reduces vulnerability to the impacts of bushfire, while also providing high value sawlogs for timber processing as outlined in Council’s position paper Native Timber Harvesting in East Gippsland.
• Transparent accounting of funds allocated to support transition resulting from the Victorian Government’s decision to cease native timber harvesting on public land with a particular focus on funding allocated to and invested in East Gippsland.
• A clear plan for management of East Gippsland’s forests, including investment in the necessary management of the forests to ensure their health, effective management of bushfire risk and use by a range of forest users – delivering jobs for impacted communities.
• Extension of the development of Local Development Strategies to impacted communities that have not yet made an effective transition and bringing forward investment that delivers economic development and jobs, in line with the decision to bring forward closure of the industry.
• Effective whole of Victorian Government commitment to the delivery of committed projects and services in affected communities, including commitments from the 2019-20 Black Summer Bushfires for replacement and development of public land infrastructure.

‍If you would like more information or wish to speak with us about any of our advocacy priorities, please call us on (03) 5153 9500 or email feedback@egipps.vic.gov.au

Our priority
That Victoria’s planning schemes include updated flood mapping to better identify and mitigate flood risks. This benefits all Victorians by helping us build more resilient communities and infrastructure.

‍What we are asking for

• The Victorian Government to lead, coordinate and resource the amendment of planning schemes to include updated flood mapping.
• A coordinated state-wide approach is employed to the planning scheme amendments.
• Support from the Victorian Government to address the challenge local governments face when working in isolation to reconcile community viewpoints with the consistent application of state policies.

‍If you would like more information or wish to speak with us about any of our advocacy priorities, please call us on (03) 5153 9500 or email feedback@egipps.vic.gov.au