Subscribe to our Newsletter
RCV produces a regular newsletter which provides information on operations, projects and the issues we’re tackling.
This allows us to keep our member Councils up to date with developments in policy, advocacy and the delivery of our projects.
Subscribe to receive these regular updates, or view the most recent newsletters and media releases via the links below.
November 20, 2024
We need the Federal Government to establish a new Local Government Commissioner.
October 17, 2024
Rural Councils Victoria (RCV) welcomes the state government announcement for a substantial investment in new housing projects designed to attract and support workers to jobs in […]
October 15, 2024
Rural Councils Victoria (RCV) welcomes the state government’s announcement of a $200,000 grant to support a feasibility study and shared services pilot for the Shared Municipal […]
July 30, 2024
The RCV Forum 2024 was held on 2 August in the Mitchell Shire and was deemed a great success. Photographs A full range of professional photos […]
June 28, 2024
The Chair of Rural Councils Victoria, Cr Mary-Ann Brown OAM has addressed the Parliament of Victoria’s public hearings for the Inquiry into Local Government funding and […]
June 13, 2024
Rural communities across Australia are facing hard decisions about whether to close swimming pools, shutter libraries, curb the use of sports facilities, abandon playgrounds, and severely […]
May 15, 2024
Rural Councils Victoria has welcomed the federal budget, especially measures to ease the cost of living on rural communities. Rural Councils Victoria Chair Cr Mary-Ann Brown […]
May 7, 2024
Rural Councils Victoria has welcomed some relief for struggling families in the Victorian State Budget but seeks more support for other priorities that are important to […]
May 7, 2024
Rural Councils Victoria is calling on the State and Federal Governments to work together to ensure rural and regional roads across the state are safe for […]
March 6, 2024
Representatives from 30 rural councils made a huge impression at Parliament House, Melbourne, on Tuesday 5 March. The Premier of Victoria, Jacinta Allan made a surprise […]
December 5, 2023
RCV is disappointed at the need for the suspension of Strathbogie Shire Council. The suspension takes effect from Wednesday, 6 December until the next local council […]
December 1, 2023
Rural Councils Victoria welcomes the state government’s announcement today (1 December) of the guidelines of a $150 million fund to support the provision of worker housing […]
November 20, 2023
Rural Councils Victoria has welcomed an announcement by Minister for Local Government Melissa Horne to introduce legislation early in the new year designed to elevate governance […]
October 17, 2023
Rural Councils Victoria is today (17 October 2023) launching the RCV Rural Housing Action Plan. The five-point Plan calls for the federal and state governments to […]
October 3, 2023
A statewide survey of mayors, CEOs, councillors, and council staff has identified the biggest blockers to solving the rural housing crisis and building new homes across […]
September 20, 2023
Rural Councils Victoria has welcomed the state government’s announcement today (20 September 2023) that it will build 152,000 homes in regional and rural Victoria. Rural Councils […]
August 22, 2023
RCV has welcomed the National Cabinet’s revised target to build an extra 1.2 million homes nationally and the injection of $500 million in new-housing incentives for […]
August 21, 2023
Rural Councils Victoria has welcomed a state and federal government announcement of $9.4 million Council Priority Betterment Program to improve the resilience of essential public assets such as […]
July 18, 2023
Rural Councils Victoria has welcomed the state government’s commitment to a $1 billion fund to build 1300 new social and affordable housing homes in rural and regional Victoria. […]
July 18, 2023
Resource materials available to download The RCV Forum 2023 took place in Echuca on Friday 14 July. Below are resources from the Forum for you to […]
July 11, 2023
Media call: RCV Forum 2023 What: Media Call, Rural Councils Victoria, RCV Forum 2023 Where: Radcliffe’s 6-10 Radcliffe Street, Echuca (Google Maps, Apple Maps) […]
June 29, 2023
Councils have an important and longstanding role in regulating onsite wastewater management systems (such as septic tanks). The Environment Protection Act 2017 and Environment Protection Regulations […]
June 6, 2023
In the links below, please find all your RCV Alerts for 2023. Which are updated some days after the Alerts have been distributed to subscribers. Be […]
May 25, 2023
Rural Councils Victoria has noted the Victorian State Budget’s interest in ensuring rural and regional communities benefit from budget measures such as the creation of the […]
May 22, 2023
The 2023 Federal Budget didn’t make any large commitment for rural communities in Victoria or across the country. There are some measures that will be of […]
May 3, 2023
Rural Councils Victoria has welcomed today’s (3 April 2023) federal government announcement of an extra $250 million for road projects in rural, regional and outer-urban areas. […]
March 31, 2023
Rural Councils Victoria is urging individuals, community groups, businesses and councils across the state to make submissions to a new wide-ranging Victorian parliamentary inquiry into the […]
March 23, 2023
Regional Councils Victoria has joined with 30 peak bodies from across Australia to create a new body to advocate for rural, regional and remote communities. Rural […]
February 28, 2023
Rural Councils Victoria – which represents communities across Victoria’s 34 rural council areas – has called for major federal roads funding reforms in its submission to […]
December 14, 2022
December 13, 2022
A national and international review of potential alternative income streams for financially strapped rural communities has found that there is no “silver bullet” that can boost […]
November 16, 2022
Rural Councils Victoria is calling for a dedicated rural “Build Back Better” fund in the wake of the ongoing floods crisis across the state. Rural Councils […]
November 10, 2022
Rural Councils Victoria has welcomed a combined $1 billion in support from the State and Federal Governments for communities affected by the flooding crisis. Rural Councils […]
August 31, 2022
The RCV Forum 2022 took place at Daylesford Town Hall on Friday 2 September. Below are resources from the Forum for you to download. More resources […]
August 10, 2022
Rural Councils Victoria, the state’s peak body representing rural communities, is leading a nation-wide research project to find innovative ways for financially struggling councils to find […]
August 8, 2022
The RCV News Alert for August 2022 is now available in this link. News items include: Training for councillors and staff The Financial Sustainability Survey RCV […]
July 5, 2022
Rural Councils Victoria’s news alert for July 2022 has been distributed. The newsletter includes: Survey of councillors’ most pressing issues for rural communities Update on the […]
June 23, 2022
A major new study warns that a chronic lack of affordable housing is set to cost Australian taxpayers $25 billion a year if no action is […]
June 20, 2022
Rural Councils Victoria has welcomed the State Government’s announcement of a $9 billion investment in early childhood education over the next 10 years. Rural Councils Victoria […]
May 24, 2022
Rural Councils Victoria offers our congratulations to the newly elected federal government. Rural Councils Victoria Chair Cr Mary-Ann Brown said: “We look forward to working closely […]
May 16, 2022
Rural Councils Victoria is calling on the next Federal Government to appoint a special minister who has the power to mitigate, manage and plan the recovery […]
May 13, 2022
Rural Councils Victoria is calling on all candidates in the upcoming federal election to commit to helping save lives and create jobs by funding much-needed repairs […]
May 12, 2022
Rural Councils Victoria is calling on all candidates in the upcoming federal election to commit to fixing the housing crisis in rural Victoria. Rural Councils Victoria […]
May 4, 2022
RCV is disappointed that 2022 Victorian State Budget has failed to deliver for rural Victorians. RCV Chair Mary-Ann Brown said: “The budget papers say there is […]
May 2, 2022
The RCV April 2022 update was distributed on Monday 2 May 2022. The newsletter can be found at this link.
April 29, 2022
Rural Councils Victoria is calling on all Victorian candidates in the upcoming federal election to commit to solving a looming aged care crisis across rural and […]
April 13, 2022
2022 Federal Election Platform is available for download as a PDF. Please read the document and when communicating with your Federal MPs and candidates, please let […]
April 4, 2022
Rural Councils Victoria is today (4 April 2022) launching the RCV Federal Election Platform. The virtual launch takes place today at 4pm at this link. A […]
March 31, 2022
The RCV March 2022 update was distributed on Thursday 31 March 2022. The newsletter can be found at this link. To subscribe to the RCV newsletter […]
March 30, 2022
Rural Councils Victoria has expressed disappointment at the lack of new or specific rural Victorian projects in the Federal Government’s 2022 Budget. Rural Councils Victoria Chair […]
February 8, 2022
A new government survey shows that the State Government’s $550 million Connecting Victoria program won’t be enough to bring reliable and better broadband and mobile connectivity […]
December 7, 2021
Housing shortfall costs rural Victorian jobs and up to $1 billion in lost Gross Regional Product, new report finds Rural communities across Victoria need more than […]
October 22, 2021
A Windfall Gains Tax, due to be debated in the Victorian Parliament on Monday (25 October) would place another barrier in the way of providing much-needed […]
October 7, 2021
RCV has welcomed the Victorian Government’s announcement of $8 million to support Victoria’s 38 rural councils to deliver exciting projects that improve services and provide value […]
September 30, 2021
Who are nbn Local? nbn Local is a community engagement unit within nbn’s Regional Development & Engagement branch. Our purpose is to lift digital capability at […]
September 3, 2021
Rural Councils Victoria welcomes today’s (3 September 2021) publication of Infrastructure Australia’s Reforms to Meet Australia’s Future Infrastructure Needs, a major report on Australia’s infrastructure needs […]
August 25, 2021
Rural Councils Victoria has created a new digital information asset to help food and beverage manufacturers expand their businesses or to invest in rural Victoria for […]
August 20, 2021
When Covid-19 hit, Deakin University student Jenifer Shariff’s plans were turned upside down. Lockdowns saw her Masters of Landscape Architecture studies extended by almost a year […]
August 20, 2021
A new independent report, commissioned by Rural Councils Victoria, has found that the $500m Working for Victoria program has benefitted individuals, councils and communities across the […]
July 7, 2021
Rural Victorians are being urged to have their say on mobile blackspots and broadband issues across the state. The State Government recently announced a survey as […]
June 4, 2021
Rural Councils Victoria is calling for the declaration of a long weekend that celebrates when Victoria reaches herd immunity to Covid through high levels of vaccination. […]
June 3, 2021
Please find below links to reports and presentations delivered at the 2021 #ThrivingRuralVic Summit. Bernard Salt’s Demographic Destiny report LGV Executive Director Julie Reid’s presentation Recycling […]
May 27, 2021
In a new report, renowned demographer and social commentator Bernard Salt AM has concluded that the post-pandemic era provides rural Victoria with unique opportunities to thrive. […]
April 29, 2021
Rural Councils Victoria has written to the state government outlining the serious reasons that rural councils cannot support changes to the state’s land regulations that would […]
March 23, 2021
Rural Councils Victoria, which represents rural communities across the state, is calling on the Victorian Government to include popular rural tourist destinations in the extension of […]
March 17, 2021
Demographer Bernard Salt’s report is available at this link #ThrivingRuralVic #RuralVictoria
December 9, 2020
On behalf of rural communities across the state, Rural Councils Victoria has welcomed today’s Infrastructure Victoria ‘Infrastructure Priorities for the Regions’ report, part of ‘Victoria’s Draft […]
November 18, 2020
Rural Councils Victoria, which represents rural communities across the state, has welcomed the state government’s $465 million Victorian Tourism Recovery Package to help the sector bounce […]
October 28, 2020
As Melbourne’s “ring of steel” is set to ease on 8 November, Rural Councils Victoria is calling on the state government to redirect a proportion of […]
October 7, 2020
The Federal Budget has allocated a total of $101,700,005 to Victorian councils for local road projects. The sums range from a low of $38,179 (to RCV […]
October 1, 2020
Rural Councils Victoria has written to the Victorian Government calling for an easing of COVID restrictions in rural and regional Victoria. RCV Chair Mary-Ann Brown said: […]
September 15, 2020
On behalf of rural communities, Rural Councils Victoria welcomes the state government’s announcement today that rural Victoria will move to the next step of lockdown from […]
September 7, 2020
Rural Councils Victoria is calling on the State Government to take into account the reality in rural areas and to immediately begin easing stage 3 lockdowns […]
August 20, 2020
Rural Councils Victoria is calling on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to use his influence to resolve the border issues that have split communities and are impacting […]
August 11, 2020
Rural Councils Victoria has produced a free community engagement and consultation tool specifically designed for use by councils with rural communities across the state. The RCV […]
July 6, 2020
Media Release 6 July 2020 Rural Councils Victoria has welcomed the announcement today of more than $500 million in spending in non-metropolitan Victoria by the state […]
June 26, 2020
MEDIA RELEASE For immediate release – 25 June 2020 New figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show the impact the COVID 19 crisis and […]
June 5, 2020
Rural Councils Victoria welcomes the State Government’s announcement of $3.8 million to support rural councils in improving their information technology to facilitate remote governance and community […]
June 5, 2020
Media Release 4 June 2020 With the long weekend quickly approaching, Rural communities across Victoria are preparing to welcome thousands of tourists from the city following […]
May 25, 2020
Media Release – Rural Councils Victoria Rural aged care needs urgent reform Aged care in rural Victoria needs urgent reform to meet projected demand from an […]
May 4, 2020
RCV has called on the government to triple funding for emergency management preparedness to ensure rural communities are ready for devastating natural disasters such as bushfires […]
April 3, 2020
Rural Victorians call for $4 billion in support Rural Councils Victoria (RCV) is calling on the State and Federal governments to provide $4 billion to support rural Victorian communities in the wake of devastating droughts, the recent […]
December 11, 2019
Rural Councils Victoria has launched their Building Local Capacity Program to build the skills and expertise of Victoria’s rural council workforce. The $395,000 Building Local Capacity […]
December 4, 2019
Rural Councils Victoria delegates have visited Canberra this week to highlight a number of important issues impacting rural Victorian communities. RCV Chair Cr Mary-Ann Brown and […]
November 14, 2019
Chair addresses Local Government Ratings System Review Victoria’s rural communities have called on the state government for help to support the unique needs of people living […]
October 1, 2019
Rural Councils Victoria (RCV) welcomes the government’s launch today of a massive road maintenance blitz that will benefit rural Victorian road users. Premier Daniel Andrews joined […]
August 20, 2019
Rural Councils Victoria has welcomed the State Government’s recognition of the unique needs of rural communities with the announcement today of $4.5 million for the Living […]
June 18, 2019
The Victorian Government has issued its response to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the Sustainability and Operational Challenges of Victoria’s Rural and Regional Councils. View full response […]
December 20, 2018
Cr Mary-Ann Brown has been elected to lead Rural Councils Victoria for the next two years following a meeting of the RCV Committee on Friday 14 […]