Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf has been named Deputy Chair of Regional Cities Victoria for 2025.
RCV is a leadership group comprising the Mayors and CEOs of the 10 largest cities outside of Melbourne - Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Horsham, Latrobe, Mildura, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Warrnambool and Wodonga.
RCV advocates for the sustainable growth of Victoria's regions, and for policies and programs that help attract business investment and a diverse workforce to regional Victoria. Collectively, these cities are home to more than 800,000 Victorians.
As regional hubs, RCV cities support surrounding towns and districts through the provision of education, health, financial, transport and social services, as well as retail, sport and recreation, cultural and tourism amenities, and other activities.
Cr Metcalf returns to the group for the fourth year and said her focus would be on securing State and Federal government investment in regional infrastructure.
"I'll also be pushing for support for business, overcoming critical worker shortages and exploring how Local Government can have a greater role in unlocking land for housing.
"There is also a great opportunity to celebrate our State of Cities and continue to advocate for our shared success, building on the UNESCO Creative Cities designations for Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo, and the UNESCO World Heritage bid to acknowledge Victoria's remarkable gold rush history that stretches across much of the state.
This year RCV is celebrating 25 years as the trusted voice to government for the regions, their cities and the rural communities they support.
In 2025 the group will be Chaired by Cr Shane Sali, Mayor of Greater Shepparton.
