Wangaratta leads call for budget that delivers for all Victorians
Published on 28 November 2025
The Rural City of Wangaratta has joined fellow Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) member councils, calling for the 2026/27 State Budget to invest in the regions that power Victoria’s growth.
RCV’s budget submission highlights that smart investment in regional Victoria delivers lasting returns for the whole state, creating jobs, unlocking housing, improving road safety, and strengthening communities.
The submission outlines three major priorities:
- A $1 billion regional fund, following the 2023 scrapping of the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund, to deliver the infrastructure that unlocks housing and drives local growth.
- A $2 billion funding boost for regional roads to make regional and local roads safer, stronger, and more reliable.
- Tax and levy reform, including the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund, to ease the pressure on regional communities and councils.
Mayor Irene Grant said next year’s State Budget was a chance to build confidence and momentum across Wangaratta and the regions.
“This final pre-election Budget provides the State Government with an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to Wangaratta and regional Victoria. A $1 billion Regional Fund and a $2 billion Regional Roads Package will go a long way toward unlocking housing supply, making roads safer, and restoring confidence that regional Victoria matters.”
While every region is unique, RCV advocates for policies and investments that help all regional communities thrive. RCV’s 2026/27 budget submission calls for investment where the return is strongest – in regions like Wangaratta that deliver for Victoria every day.
The Rural City of Wangaratta is one of 10 member cities of Regional Cities Victoria, alongside Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Horsham, Latrobe, Mildura, Shepparton, Warrnambool, and Wodonga.
For more information and to access the full submission, visit:
www.regionalcitiesvictoria.com.au