This submission highlights three matters that are relevant to the overall design and intent of Plan Victoria –
• the different drivers for inner and outer regional areas,
• the opportunity to align multiple state and federal plans (and funding sources) and
• the underestimation of (lack of ambition for) the regions.

C4GS is of the view that allowing locally based community led planning within the framework of Plan Victoria can address these concerns – and achieve practical, sustainable outcomes for the regions and for the state as a whole.

Greater Shepparton has many decades of experience in welcoming migrants - from holiday makers working in our horticultural and ag sectors to the many skilled migrants we rely on to fill key roles in sophisticated manufacturing, health, logistics and construction sectors.

Our depth of experience coupled with the insights drawn from our Community Connector Program demonstrate the critical importance of every step along the relocation journey.

By prioritising a more agile and practical approach that’s focused on ensuring water can be delivered where and when its needed, the Plan will achieve greater benefits in all years and under all climate scenarios, thereby ensuring the Plan’s legacy reflects genuine, sustained benefits for the environment and the Australian community.

C4GS recognises the role the Victorian Freight Plan can play in delivering critical infrastructure, growing skills and workforce, supporting the state’s transition to net zero, and, importantly, delivering a freight and logistics capability that mitigates cost of living challenges for consumers across the nation and supports our competitive advantage in international markets.

A properly framed and strategic community benefits plan has the potential to target investment into energy projects that will unlock the full potential of the region, its communities, industry and education sectors.

C4GS welcomed the Victorian Government's Prospectus but urged greater integration with the multiple non-water engagement and investment programs occurring at the same time, and we highlighted the critical need to engage with local industry who operate across multiple catchments.

C4GS welcomes the release of more land for residential development however we are concerned the current PSP’s development costs - estimated at more than 60% above equivalent recent local developments - are at a level that is not viable in the Greater Shepparton residential market.

The final stages of the Plan must be defined by more than simply a ML target. The Restoring the Rivers bill must focus on the outcomes for the entire river system from the Culgoa River in Queensland to the Coorong in South Australia.

C4GS’s submission outlines ideas to progress the Murray Darling Basin Plan that:
• do not reduce the consumptive pool,
• optimise the outcomes for the environment by enabling delivery at the right time, to the right location and for the right period,
• leverage the maturing of water markets and community values,
• build on the advances in science, engineering and technology that have occurred over the life of the Plan.

C4GS encourages a place-based approach to the design of emergency response. An approach that taps into the demonstrated local, state and federal emergency management expertise, and provides opportunity for local communities to bring their professional and community strengths to a stronger, well defined and well-resourced local emergency response capability.

With the right mix of Federal, State, and local government policy settings, support and investment incentives, and collaboration within and between supply chains and sectors, regions like Greater Shepparton have the potential to address critical threats to food security, and to emerge stronger and more secure thanks to locally generated energy, improved workforce mobility, digital connectivity, and freight infrastructure.