Peri Urban Councils Victoria

03/08/2026

Housing targets are set upfront. The roads, drainage, utilities and transport needed to unlock them must also be delivered upfront. But developer contributions and new council rate revenue arrive later.

The Australian Productivity Commission's Housing Supply Regulation Interim Report recognises this sequencing problem and identifies a potential Commonwealth role in providing low- or no-interest loans, managing funding shortfalls and underwriting infrastructure delivery risks.

That finding strengthens PUCV's case for two practical solutions: a $90 million Development Contributions Plan Loan Fund to forward-fund catalyst infrastructure, and a $230 million Peri Urban Capital Infrastructure Fund for enabling and liveability projects beyond the capacity of DCPs.

The report has backed the problem. Now governments need to fund the solution.

To view more information on PUCV's solutions click the below link:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6261f5fbaaad4a55854ad492/t/69b71818b182cc633f2aabfe/1773606936942/240626-PeriUrban-Future-Fund-Framework+Report_FINAL.pdf

Cr Owen Sharkey - Golden Plains Shire
Libby Stapleton, Surf Coast
Brett Tessari for Bass
Kate Wilson - East Ward Baw Baw Shire Council
Moira Berry for Moorabool

02/08/2026

Peri Urban Councils Victoria has welcomed the Australian Productivity Commission's recognition that housing supply must be measured by whether land is serviced, approved, infrastructure-ready and commercially feasible - not simply whether it has been identified or rezoned.

PUCV's five member councils have identified around 332 growth-area infrastructure projects worth more than $1.25 billion. Together, these projects would support about 72,000 homes.

In a peri urban community, one missing roundabout, drainage upgrade, sewer connection or power augmentation can hold up an entire growth front. That is why infrastructure sequencing must sit at the centre of housing policy.

The Productivity Commission's Housing Supply Regulation Interim Report is an important validation of that case. It also identifies a direct role for the Australian Government through low- or no-interest loans, management of funding shortfalls and support for infrastructure sequencing risks. This closely aligns with PUCV's proposed $90 million Development Contributions Plan Loan Fund, which would allow councils to bring forward catalyst infrastructure and repay the finance as developer contributions are collected.

To read more about PUCV's Development Contribution Plan Loan Fund click on the link below:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6261f5fbaaad4a55854ad492/t/69b71818b182cc633f2aabfe/1773606936942/240626-PeriUrban-Future-Fund-Framework+Report_FINAL.pdf

Moorabool Shire Council
Surf Coast Shire Council
Baw Baw Shire Council
Bass Coast Shire Council
Golden Plains Shire Council

30/07/2026

The Australian Productivity Commission's Housing Supply Regulation Interim Report, released on 27 July 2026, backs the central position advanced by Peri Urban Councils Victoria: zoning land is not the same as delivering homes.

The Commission has found that infrastructure planning is often the main constraint on housing delivery in greenfield growth areas, and that housing, rezoning and infrastructure upgrades must be planned and sequenced together.
That matters across Bass Coast, Baw Baw, Golden Plains, Moorabool and Surf Coast, where councils have been assigned a combined target of 85,450 additional homes by 2051.

Roads, drainage, water, sewer, electricity and transport are not add-ons to housing supply. They are what turn planned growth into development-ready land and real homes.

The national conversation is now catching up with what peri urban councils have been saying: a line on a planning map is not a home.

To view Peri Urban Council Victoria's submission click the link below
https://periurban.org.au/submissions/productivity-commission-housing-supply-regulation-inquiry

Cr Owen Sharkey - Golden Plains Shire
Golden Plains Shire Council
Bass Coast Shire Council
Moorabool Shire Council
Baw Baw Shire Council
Surf Coast Shire Council

28/07/2026

Thank you for your service on behalf of Victorians Jacinta Allan

28/07/2026

Peri Urban Councils Victoria congratulates the Hon. Ben Carroll MP on his appointment as Premier of Victoria.

We look forward to working with Premier Carroll and his Government.

I am honoured and humbled to have been elected unanimously as the new leader of the Victorian Labor Party and serve as the 50th Premier of Victoria.

22/07/2026

🎉 Investing in early learning for growing communities

Peri Urban Councils Victoria welcomes the Victorian Government's $750,000 investment to upgrade Young Street Kindergarten in Moorabool Shire through the Building Blocks Improvement Early Learning Facility Upgrade program.

As Victoria's peri urban communities continue to experience significant population growth, investment in early childhood infrastructure is essential to ensuring families have access to high-quality education and care close to home.

Modern, fit-for-purpose facilities help create strong foundations for children while supporting growing communities with the services they need to thrive.

Congratulations to Moorabool Shire Council on securing this important investment.

Read more: https://www.moorabool.vic.gov.au/News/Young-St-kindergarten-upgrades

Moira Berry for Moorabool

13/07/2026

📱 Strong emergency communication is a vital part of building resilient peri-urban communities.

As Victoria's peri urban communities continue to grow, ensuring residents have access to reliable and timely emergency information is more important than ever. Communities on the urban fringe often face heightened risks from bushfires, floods and severe weather, making effective emergency communication a critical component of community resilience.

On Monday 27 July at around 2:00 pm AEST, the Australian Government will conduct a nationwide test of the new AusAlert emergency messaging system ahead of its official launch in October 2026.

Peri Urban Councils Victoria supports continued investment in emergency management and digital connectivity to ensure growing communities have the infrastructure and services they need to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies.

Find out more about the AusAlert national test and what to expect.

https://www.ausalert.gov.au

Moorabool Shire Council
Golden Plains Shire Council
Surf Coast Shire Council
Bass Coast Shire Council
Baw Baw Shire Council

13/07/2026

👏 Investing in community infrastructure means investing in stronger, healthier peri-urban communities.

The official opening of the new Netball Pavilion at Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve marks an important milestone for the Bass Coast community, providing modern, accessible facilities that will support growing participation in netball for years to come.

Backed by the Victorian Government, Bass Coast Shire Council and the Wonthaggi Power Football Netball Club, the new pavilion delivers high-quality amenities for players, officials, volunteers and spectators. The announcement of additional funding for competition-standard lighting will further expand opportunities for training and competition.

As Victoria's peri-urban communities continue to grow, investment in community sporting infrastructure is essential to ensure local facilities keep pace with increasing demand and continue to foster healthy, connected and active communities.

Congratulations to everyone who made this project possible.

Ros Spence MP
Brett Tessari for Bass

09/07/2026

🏡 Australians are continuing to choose the peri urban lifestyle, and Moorabool Shire Council is leading the way.

The latest Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Regional Australia Institute (RAI) Regional Movers Index ranked Moorabool fourth nationally for total net internal migration over the 12 months to March 2026, accounting for 3.5% of all net migration to regional Australia.

This result highlights the growing appeal of peri urban communities, where people can enjoy more affordable housing, a connected lifestyle and access to employment, while remaining close to major cities.

As more Australians choose communities like Moorabool, investment in transport, roads, water security, digital connectivity, health services and community infrastructure must keep pace with population growth.

Peri Urban Councils Victoria will continue advocating for the infrastructure and funding needed to support Victoria's fastest-growing communities.

Moira Berry for Moorabool

09/07/2026

👏 A welcome investment in Victoria's growing peri-urban communities.

San Remo Preschool has secured a $150,000 Victorian Government Building Blocks Improvement Grant to upgrade its kitchen, storage and learning spaces, ensuring local families have access to modern, high-quality early learning facilities.

As peri-urban communities continue to experience significant population growth, investment in early childhood infrastructure is critical to keeping pace with demand and supporting young families close to home.

Peri Urban Councils Victoria welcomes continued investment in the infrastructure that helps our communities grow sustainably and remain great places to live, work and raise a family.

Find out more: https://www.schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au/san-remo-pre-school

Photo: Artists Impression – Internal view of Playroom from Musk Studio

Bass Coast Shire Council
Brett Tessari for Bass