North-East Victoria Falls Behind on State Infrastructure Investment, New Analysis Finds
A decade-long analysis of Victorian Government infrastructure investment has found that North-East Victoria received substantially less funding per resident than several comparable regional centres, raising questions about regional equity and future investment planning.
Business Wodonga has released an analysis of major Victorian Government infrastructure projects completed or committed between 2016 and 2026, revealing that the combined Benambra and Ovens Valley electorates received approximately $512.3 million in major state infrastructure investment, equating to $3,937 per resident.
In comparison, selected regional centres including Shepparton, Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong received an average of approximately $7,500 per resident, placing the North-East around 48 per cent below the comparator benchmark.
According to the analysis, if the North-East had received investment at the same population-weighted rate as these regional centres, the region would have secured almost $976 million in infrastructure funding over the decade, representing a funding gap of at least $464 million.
Business Wodonga Chief Executive Officer Graham Jenkin said the findings should encourage a constructive discussion about how regional infrastructure investment is distributed across Victoria.
“This is not a cynical political exercise, and it is not an argument that infrastructure should be allocated by population alone,” Mr Jenkin said.
“It is a transparent snapshot intended to encourage a serious discussion about equity within regional Victoria.”
Significant Differences Across Comparable Regional Centres
The analysis found that:
- Ballarat, with a population almost identical to the combined North-East electorates, received approximately $1.17 billion in major infrastructure investment, or around 2.3 times more per resident.
- Bendigo received approximately $1.12 billion, around 2.1 times more per resident than the North-East.
- Shepparton, despite having around 55,000 fewer residents, received at least $205 million more in total infrastructure funding.
- Geelong recorded substantially higher per-capita investment, even using conservative project estimates.
Mr Jenkin emphasised that the purpose of the analysis was not to question investments made in other communities.
“The question is not why Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton or Geelong received investment. Those communities need and deserve strong infrastructure,” he said.
“The question is whether the North-East has been supported to build and secure a comparable pipeline.”
Hospital Funding Included
The analysis includes Victoria’s full commitment to major regional health projects, including the North-East’s largest health investments.
Projects counted towards the North-East total include:
- Victoria’s $225 million contribution to the Albury-Wodonga Regional Hospital project;
- $22.9 million for the Wangaratta Hospital redevelopment; and
- Approximately $6 million towards redevelopment works at Albury Hospital.
Comparable major health investments in Bendigo, Ballarat, Shepparton and Geelong were also included in the assessment.
“The full $225 million Victorian commitment to the Albury-Wodonga hospital has been counted,” Mr Jenkin said.
“The North-East still sits about 48 per cent below the selected regional benchmark, which makes the disparity harder, not easier, to dismiss.”
Building an Investment-Ready Pipeline
While the analysis identifies a significant difference in infrastructure investment, it does not seek to determine the reasons behind the disparity.
Potential factors may include project readiness, business-case development, planning capacity, regional advocacy and government funding priorities.
Business Wodonga believes these questions warrant closer examination and argues that project readiness should be part of the discussion rather than the end of it.
“If the North-East lacked sufficiently developed proposals, the Government should explain what planning, business-case and agency support was provided to help the region compete fairly,” Mr Jenkin said.
Call for Greater Transparency
Business Wodonga is calling on the Victorian Government to:
- Publish a transparent breakdown of regional infrastructure investment;
- Explain the factors influencing investment outcomes in the North-East;
- Support planning and business-case development for future regional projects;
- Undertake an independent assessment of regional infrastructure needs and funding equity; and
- Develop a long-term infrastructure plan for the North-East.
Mr Jenkin said the region’s future prosperity depends on ensuring it can compete effectively for infrastructure investment.
“The Government should explain the disparity and, if project readiness has been a constraint, work with councils, agencies and regional institutions to build the pipeline needed to close it.”
Business Wodonga has made a detailed project register and supporting methodology available to accompany the analysis.
For further information, contact:
Graham Jenkin
Chief Executive Officer, Business Wodonga
0419 038 395
[email protected]