Northern Victoria is a fantastic place to live, work and raise a family. Our Murray River region has significant natural and cultural heritage, a growing population, and is the heart of food production in Victoria. We have room to grow with strong vibrant communities which we want to see continue to thrive. Advocating in the interests of all people who live and work in northern Victoria is the core business of the MRGC. Our councils are working together for the long term viability and prosperity of region.
MRGC advocates on issues that are:
Regional –Issues that are shared across our region by all, or by a majority of our member councils and the communities within them, or issues that are specific to a single LGA but are of regional importance;
Local – Issues that are of importance to the people who live and work in our communities and that significantly impact their lives; and are
Appropriate to MRGC – Issues that are of a scale that are not more appropriately advocated for either by individual member councils or by another advocacy body such as a specific interest group or Statewide Local Government organisation.
MRGC KEY ADVOCACY PRIORITIES 2025
Securing the Future of Our Basin Communities
Our region produces $8.3 billion in food with 16,000 ag and food jobs, yet open-market buybacks slash production, hike water prices and risk our future.
The Basin Plan is currently not delivering, for the environment, for irrigators or for our communities.
We ask that the Australian Government work with us, not against us: halt open‑market buybacks, invest in local water projects, fund environmental restoration and get back to a fair Basin Plan.
In 2023 MRGC campaigned against the Commonwealth’s changes to the Basin Plan which introduced the blunt instrument of Buy Backs and for a better way of implementing water reform with our #PushBackBuyBacks campaign
Further detail is contained in MRGC’s agreed WATER POSITION PAPER.
A Fair Energy Transition for Northern Victoria
Northern Victoria is where the Energy Transition is happening; we are hosting wind and solar and major new transmission lines.
Our farmers, businesses and towns shoulder the impacts while cities reap the rewards.
We want fair power prices for our communities, investment in energy efficiency and local infrastructure and genuine consultation.
More information is contained in the MRGC’s ENERGY POSITION PAPER
Flood Recovery – Build to Withstand
2022 saw devastating floods across northern Victoria with some parts of our region experiencing record flood levels and unprecedented damage. Along with homes and businesses, many roads and other essential infrastructure our communities depend on were damaged.
Unfortunately, recovery and rebuilding after natural disasters is becoming business as usual for regional councils.
Current funding is being wasted by not rebuilding to a standard that can withstand future disasters.
We need a Regional Infrastructure Resilience Fund that will let council’s rebuild it right the first time to safeguard our communities and keep them connected.
More detail is contained in MRGC’s RESILIENCE POSITION PAPER
Housing : Unlock Regional Supply
Northern Victoria’s housing crisis is real. Housing shortages are stalling workforce growth, stifling our economy and driving up living costs.
We need a dedicated Regional Housing Development Infrastructure Fund to deliver trunk infrastructure: water, sewerage, roads, power & drainage.
It’s not a land shortage. It’s an infrastructure gap. Let’s unlock regional housing supply and tackle the housing crisis together
MRGC will continue to engage with and seek to partner with the Commonwealth and State Governments to develop solutions and investment to increase housing supply in our region.
More information is contained in MRGC’s HOUSING POSITION PAPER
Regional Pools – Renew the Legacy
Our councils manage 37 regional pools across 47,000 km²: our 1956 Olympic legacy underpins water safety, health and community connection.
Many of our concrete outdoor pools are failing and their infrastructure needs renewal. For most, closure is not an option.
We call for Federal leadership: establish a Regional Public Pool Renewal Fund and partner with us to renew the legacy.
More detail is contained in MRGC’s POOLS POSITION PAPER
Regional Roads – National Prosperity
Local Governments manage the majority of our roads. The six members of the Murray River Group of Councils (MRGC) manage 22,000 kilometres, equivalent to the state-managed road network in Victoria.
Local roads power Australia’s food, freight and regional communities yet they are crumbling under a maintenance backlog from years of State and Commonwealth underfunding and repeat natural disasters.
We need a dedicated regional road maintenance fund to fix regional roads safeguard lives and boost productivity: – fill the funding gap and we will fill the potholes
More information is contained in MRGC’s ROADS POSITION PAPER