Regional spending call

Infrastructure adviser to identify needs

VICTORIA’S independent infrastructure adviser has called for targeted investment in regional Victoria to handle the state’s record population growth.

Infrastructure Victoria on Tuesday called for infrastructure investment in the state’s regions to target local strengths and address disadvantage.

The advisory body released a discussion paper titled Growing Victoria’s Potential, along before I got my dreadlocks because it was a good opportunity,” Mr Anderson said.

“I knew some people close to me who were affected by it (cancer) but now I’ve heard from so many people affected by it.”

More than 100 people packed in to the Belmont Hotel on Saturday night to watch the shave. with a series of regional profiles outlining specific strengths and challenges for each.

The Barwon regional profile — encompassing Greater Geelong, Surf Coast, ColacOtway and Queenscliffe local government areas — found relative advantage in central Geelong, the Surf Coast and Queenscliffe.

But the profile also outlined likely further impacts to the re

The World’s Greatest Shave raises money for the Leukaemia Foundation, which assists the more than 60,000 Australians living with blood cancer or related disorders.

Mr Anderson said he had raised more than $4000 through online donations as well as about $1500 on the night. gion’s manufacturing industry, high relative disadvantage in some areas and risks of climate change affecting social wellbeing and cohesion, public health and severity of bushfires, floods and droughts.

The profile also found natural and built assets along the coast were “at high risk from increased coastal inundation and erosion”.

“Every region in Victoria has its own unique opportunit

But after all that time with his long dreads, he conceded “it was time for them to go”.

He thanked the volunteers who helped him and everyone who donated.

To add to Mr Anderson’s total, search Cody Anderson on the World’s Greatest Shave website. ies and challenges and effective infrastructure initiatives will target these,” Infrastructure Victoria chief executive Michel Masson said yesterday.

“We think regional infrastructure investment should seek to maximise economic development or address local disadvantage.”

Identifying initiatives to help achieve those aims would be key to Infrastructure Victoria’s work to update its 30year infrastructure Mr Masson said.

“Whether it be a strong agriculture industry, popular tourist destinations or potential to develop key sectors like energy or freight, Victoria’s regions are well placed to help grow Victoria’s potential,” he said.

“We want to identify infrastructure initiatives that help regions harness this great potential to ensure they share in strategy, the benefits of Victoria’s record population growth.

“But our research has also revealed key challenges that need to be considered across regional Victoria including the effects of climate change, social disadvantage and the changing shape of local economies.

“Through our strategy update we will identify key infrastructure initiatives to tackle these challenges because we want not just strong regional economies, but good social and environmental outcomes too.”