It is clearly evident the Victorian Government must address the imbalance in the financial strength of country municipalities compared to those in metropolitan Melbourne and Bendigo , Ballarat and Geelong , The Nationals Member for Murray Valley , Ken Jasper, said today.

Mr Jasper was commenting on the Whelan Report into Local Government, which found small rural councils are being starved of critical funding, with 18 rural municipalities actually unsustainable and battling for survival.

It is no surprise that three of these 18 municipalities are in North East Victoria; Indigo, Alpine and Towong - municipalities with large land areas, including extensive Crown lands, and small populations, with a low rate base but still required to provide a full range of services, he said.

The Nationals candidate for Murray Valley, Tim McCurdy and Jeanette Powell, The Nationals Member for Shepparton, were in Beechworth and Wangaratta this week (Wednesday 21^st).

Mr McCurdy and Mrs Powell met with Indigo Shire Council in the morning then travelled to Wangaratta to meet with locals and Mr Graham Nickless at Wangaratta Unlimited.

Mrs Powell said the meeting with Indigo Shire was important as it was recently named in the ‘Whelan Report’ as one of 18 small rural councils that face significant challenges.

The State Government policy in phasing out leasehold land along the Murray River must be reviewed, The Nationals Member for Murray Valley , Ken Jasper, said today.

Speaking in the Parliament, Mr Jasper called for a cooperative approach on this issue to achieve a practical outcome.

Mr Jasper confirmed that landholders who lease land along the Murray River who had contacted him on this issue had expressed major concerns with proposals by Parks Victoria to resume this land progressively to September 30, 2014 .

The Nationals candidate for Murray Valley, Tim McCurdy and Jeanette Powell Shadow Minister for Local Government and Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs will visit Beechworth and Wangaratta, tomorrow, Wednesday, July 21 2010.

Mr McCurdy and Mrs Powell will meet with Indigo Shire Council in the morning then travel to Wangaratta to meet with locals and Mr Graham Nickless at Wangaratta Unlimited.