The Andrews Labor Government is helping councils in the Central Highlands save millions of dollars and deliver better outcomes for their communities.

Minister for Local Government Adem Somyurek today announced the successful recipients of the $20 million Rural Councils Transformation Program (RCTP).

Ballarat, Ararat, Central Goldfields, Golden Plains, Hepburn and Pyrenees, will share in $4.5 million to improve the quality, effectiveness and affordability of services to their ratepayers.

The grant will be used to deliver a regionally-shared IT platform to support finance, payroll, records, safety, fleet management, building, environmental health, planning, waste and community services, which will result in more than $11 million in productivity benefits and reduced costs over five years.

The RCTP program, a first-of-its kind in Victoria, will improve the financial sustainability of rural councils and allow them to reallocate any funds saved to other much needed projects.

This program backs large-scale, transformative projects at a regional level that will deliver much-needed support to the success councils, which cover more than 95 per cent of the state’s land mass.

RCTP will achieve greater service benefits for rural and regional communities and strengthen the longer-term financial sustainability of many important services and programs.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Local Government Adem Somyurek

“Victoria’s 48 rural and regional councils are the lifeblood for more than 1.5 million residents, and we want them to remain stable and sustainable heading forward.”

“The Rural Councils Transformation Program is delivering more economic benefits for regional councils than ever before and this is the first time they have received funding for projects of this scale.”

Quote attributable to Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison

“Regional councils have a different set of challenges to metropolitan councils – we’re collaborating with City of Ballarat Council to support Ballarat people.”

Quote attributable to Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle

“The best results are achieved when we work together – it’s great to see Ballarat and Golden Plains Councils collaborating with their IT systems.”

Quote attributable to Member for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford

“Local Government is always finding new ways to better support their communities. I look forward to seeing how this collaboration will bring benefits to our area.”