More than 150 mayors, councillors, local government CEOs descended on Echuca today for the Rural Councils Victoria’s RCV Forum 2023.
The Forum is RCV’s flagship event, bringing together leaders – Mayors, CEOs, councillors and senior staff – from the state’s rural councils each year.
The forum facilitates networking, in-depth discussion and cooperation on important issues and the sharing of information with ministers and senior bureaucrats.
“The RCV Forum provides local government representatives, leaders and professionals from across rural Victoria the opportunity to meet government ministers, opposition figures, senior bureaucrats and to discuss issues of vital importance to communities across rural Victoria,” said RCV Chair, Councillor Mary Ann Brown.
“This year the keynote address is being delivered by The Hon Melissa Horne Minister for Local Government, Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Minister for Ports and Freight, and Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation.
“The Hon Peter Walsh MP, the Member for Murray Plains, Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Shadow Minister for Local Government and Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs will also address the Forum.
“Liz Ritchie the CEO of Regional Australia Institute will discuss the National Alliance on Regionalisation.”
The Alliance is the coming together of more than 30 chairpersons and CEOs from the most influential peak bodies in Australia.
“RCV is the only rural local government organisation from across Australia and the only Victorian local government organisation represented on the Alliance,” said Cr Brown.
“This gives RCV a unique position to advocate via a strong national alliance for the needs of rural Victorian communities and rural councils,” she said.
