General News
23 June, 2026
GBAC heads to Parliament
The Greater Ballarat Alliance of Councils (GBAC) has advanced its regional advocacy agenda at Parliament House, meeting with ministers, shadow ministers and policy advisers to progress key priorities for regional Victoria.
The delegation forms part of GBAC’s ongoing advocacy program, building on the recent launch of its 2026 state investment priorities and its coordinated effort to secure long-term investment in regional infrastructure, housing and essential services.
The alliance includes the Central Goldfields Shire Council, as well as the City of Ballarat, Moorabool, Golden Plains, Hepburn and Pyrenees shire councils — a region of more than 225,000 residents, forecast to grow to 277,000 by 2036.
GBAC chair and Ballarat mayor Tracey Hargreaves said the delegation provided an important opportunity to reinforce the needs of regional communities with decision-makers in Melbourne.
“GBAC is a united voice for our six member councils, bringing together shared priorities that reflect the real pressures across our region,” she said.
“At Parliament House, we made the case for urgent and sustained funding to address those pressures, drawing directly on evidence and the lived experience of our councils and communities.”
Discussions focused on GBAC’s 2026 state investment priorities across four key areas: transport, housing, digital connectivity and enabling infrastructure.
Cr Hargreaves said the delegation reinforced the need for a coordinated approach to support sustainable regional growth.
“We appreciated the opportunity to engage with members from all sides of Parliament,” she said.
“These are long-term regional priorities that require sustained attention and investment beyond any single political cycle.”
As the Victorian State Election approaches on November 28, GBAC is calling for commitments to practical, long-term investment across seven priority areas.
These include reinstating the Country Roads and Bridges Program, abolishing the Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund (ESVF) levy and expanding regional and rural public transport, among others.
Cr Hargreaves said GBAC’s advocacy would continue well beyond the Parliament House delegation.
“This is a continuing conversation,” she said.
“Today was about ensuring regional Victoria’s priorities remain clearly on the table, and that work will continue.”