These issues cover flood response, council funding, the Victorian freight plan and vaping and tobacco control.
The submission to the Environment and Planning Committee’s post 2022 flood inquiry pushed for actions to promote future resilience.
These actions include a second river crossing, flood mapping, statewide planning controls, buying back vulnerable properties and improving flood-resilient infrastructure.
The final report is expected later this month.
Continuing on the topic of flood response, Greater Shepparton City Council chief executive Fiona Le Gassick said council also made a submission to the federal inquiry into insurers’ responses to major flood claims.
“(This is) is particularly relevant to our community,” she said.
“Unfortunately, we have heard countless stories from residents struggling to insure their properties following the October 2022 flood, or are unable to afford the extreme premium hikes which they have been faced with.”
Council’s submission to the Local Government Funding and Services Inquiry questioned the sustainability of the current local government revenue structure and explored alternative funding models, recommending the development of a risk-based assessment framework.
“Establishing a local government cost index will allow income to increase at a similar pace, and therefore cover any required growth in expenditure,” Ms Le Gassick said.
“The imbalance between the three levels of government also needs to be improved.
“Funding of local government services needs to keep up with the cost of delivering the service. Local government is the closest level of government to the community, and change is needed to ensure we can continue to deliver on our purpose.”
In its submission to the Victorian Freight Plan, council emphasised the need for adequate road infrastructure to support the growing freight industry in the Goulburn Valley.
Ms Le Gassick said efficient and effective transport movement was important to the region, with the need for a second river crossing still at the forefront of council’s priorities.
“The Shepparton Bypass is listed as a key investment project that will boost freight efficiency in the Victorian Government’s ‘Delivering the Goods – Victorian Freight Plan’,” she said.
“Funding for strategic and critical road projects like this is so important to how our municipality functions in the future, so council will continue advocating and having the tough conversations which need to be had.”
Ms Le Gassick said council also participated in the recent public hearing on vaping and tobacco controls.
“Advocacy is a key leadership responsibility that we take extremely seriously in informing federal and government policy and funding decisions,” Ms Le Gassick said.
“We must be proactive to ensure that both levels of government recognise the strategic importance of Greater Shepparton, that we can support the growth of our region and ensure that our communities are safe, inclusive and thriving.”
Links to council’s submissions can be found on the respective inquiry websites.
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