By Callum Ludwig and Parker McKenzie
Yarra Ranges Council has joined with Mornington Penisula Council by requesting the State Government create a new category of region for outer suburban areas.
The new category, peri-regional, would allow access to regional funding for Yarra Ranges Council, while continue to maintain green wedge protections provided for urban areas.
Mayor of Yarra Ranges Council Jim Child said a peri-regional status would better recognise the mixed metropolitan and regional makeup of the Yarra Ranges.
“Both Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Ranges have some urban townships and areas, with urban issues such as high housing prices, but we also have communities that share regional issues, such as slow internet speeds, poor public transport and socio-economic disadvantage compared to our neighbours,” he said.
“Importantly, a significant amount of funding opportunities and programs provide eligibility based on this classification and we’ve only had access to urban funding programs to deliver regional objectives and projects.”
Cr Child said the Yarra Ranges is deserving of more support for their contribution to the state economy.
“While initiatives and occasional funding access exist to assist Interface Councils (Councils ringing around Melbourne’s metropolitan edge), many other programs that would benefit our regional communities are out of reach for us while we remain classified strictly as a metropolitan Council,” he said.
“This also impacts community groups and organisations who may deliver services to our more regional areas, but would be unable to access regional funding programs due to our classification.”
During Covid-19 restrictions and lockdowns, many residents in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges were left frustrated by their inclusion in metropolitan Melbourne and the restrictions which came with it. While Yarra Ranges Council has called for the new classification to bought in, Cardinia Council hasn’t yet commented on the issue.
In August 2021, the Owner of the Cockatoo Brunch on McBride Elise Turnedge told the Star Mail she had no idea why Cockatoo was considered metropolitan in the midst of Melbourne’s sixth lockdown.
“We have no mail delivery, we have dirt roads, in every other regard we are a regional town, apart from when it matters like getting discounts on car registration and these lockdowns,” she said.
“Even when we order supplies for the shop, for delivery we are regional so we pay more to get things delivered than we would if we were metro, but they want to call us metro for the lockdown.”
A change in classification to peri-regional could help alleviate similar issues in the future, yet it remains to be seen whether the State Government will consider the reforms.
Cardinia Council was contacted for comment.
