Reclassification “unfair” as Marsh goes metro

By Lachlan Ellis

The Federal Government now recognises part of Moorabool Shire as part of Greater Melbourne, with the decision deemed “manifestly unfair” by a local Mayor.

Despite the State Government still recognising Bacchus Marsh as part of regional Victoria, the Federal Government’s classification for this year’s ‘Growing Regions Program’ has most of Moorabool eligible as part of regional Victoria, but not Bacchus Marsh.

Moorabool Shire Mayor Cr Rod Ward said the move would have Bacchus Marsh competing for a smaller pool of funding, against much more populous and urban areas.

“We were taken by surprise. We had a meeting with Catherine King in her capacity as Minister for Regional Development and Infrastructure, to discuss Moorabool Shire getting Federal Government assistance to allow us to build our aquatic centre,” Cr Ward told the Moorabool News.

“At that meeting we were encouraged to apply for the Growing Regions Program…we’ve long known we can apply under that, that funding pool is $600 million over three years. We put in an expression of interest and received a response that we were no longer eligible,” he said.

“We’re now competing for funding against the likes of Wyndham who have a population of 300,000, and the likes of Parramatta, and the growth areas of the huge metropolitan cities. It’s a much smaller funding pool as well, at this stage it’s only $200 million.

“We think in boxing parlance, we won’t be punching in our weight.”

Federal MP for Hawke Sam Rae was asked his thoughts on the change, and though he didn’t comment on whether he agreed with the move or not, he said Federal funding would still be available for Bacchus Marsh.

“Decisions about eligibility are based on the Greater Capital City Statistical Areas (GCCSA) as defined by the independent Australian Bureau of Statistics,” Mr Rae explained.

“Our community in Bacchus Marsh will be eligible for funding for community projects under the Albanese Government’s Thriving Suburbs Fund.”

According to the ABS, the GCCSAs “are not bound by a minimum population size criterion”, and the definition of GCCSAs “is designed to include those within the urban area of the city as well as people who regularly socialise, shop or work within the city, but live in small towns and rural areas surrounding the city”.

GCCSAs also “do not define the built up edge of the city”, and Macedon, Lancefield, Wallan, and Kinglake have also been included in Melbourne’s GCCSA boundary alongside Bacchus Marsh.