Council alliance tables priorities in parliament

REPRESENTATIVES of six councils from the greater Ballarat area visited state parliament last week to advocate for residents’ interests.

The Greater Ballarat Alliance of Councils (GBAC) delegation met with ministers, shadow ministers and policy advisers on Friday 19 June, building on the launch of their 2026 State Investment Priorities.

GBAC chair and Ballarat mayor Cr Tracey Hargreaves said the delegation provided an opportunity to support regional communities’ needs.

“GBAC is a united voice for our six member councils, bringing together shared priorities that reflect the real pressures across our region,” Cr Hargreaves said.

“At Parliament House, we made the case for urgent and sustained funding to address those pressures, drawing directly on evidence and the lived experience of our councils and communities.”

Transport, housing, digital connectivity and enabling infrastructure were the key areas of discussion.

“We appreciated the opportunity to engage with members from all sides of parliament,” Cr Hargreaves said.

“These are long-term regional priorities that require sustained attention and investment beyond any single political cycle.

“This is a continuing conversation. Today was about ensuring regional Victoria’s priorities remain clearly on the table, and that work will continue.”

GBAC’s state investment priorities ahead of the Victorian election include reinstating the Country Roads and Bridges Program, expanding regional and rural public transport, increasing funding for digital connectivity as well as regional planning hubs, the creation of a fund enabling infrastructure to unlock housing and industry, maintaining freight access through Sunshine Station, reinstating the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund and abolishing the Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund (ESVF) levy.

The City of Ballarat, Golden Plains Shire Council, Moorabool Shire Council, Pyrenees Shire Council, Hepburn Shire Council and Central Goldfields Shire Council are all part of GBAC.

The region has more than 225,000 residents and is expected to grow to 277,000 by 2036.