The group – comprising mayors and chief executive officers from Victoria’s 10 largest regional cities – is calling for $970 million from the Port of Melbourne lease to be rolled out to regional Victoria.

They have also asked the state government to chip in a further $100 million to drive job creation in regional cities, particularly in tourism and transport, to “attract people to regional Victoria”.

Regional Cities Victoria chair Anna Speedie said attracting business and infrastructure investment was the key to regional growth.

“Investment is required to ensure our regions can adapt to current and future challenges, attract more people and enable new business,” she said.

“Each of our councils have done the hard work preparing infrastructure projects which will increase productivity.”

Bendigo was not among the areas of regional Victoria identified as facing specific challenges. RCV placed emphasis on the closure of Hazelwood in the Latrobe Valley, uncertainty over Alcoa in Portland and SPC in Shepparton as the most concerning.

The impacts of the Murray Darling Basin Plan in northern Victoria was also listed as a potential challenge.

These factors contributed to a slower rate of growth in regional Victoria compared to Melbourne, Cr Speedie said.

Other priorities included further money for the $103 million Regional Tourism and Infrastructure Fund, and in-principle support for trade missions to regional Victoria.

The Bendigo Business Council was yet to release its 2017-18 state budget priorities. BBC chief executive officer Leah Sertori said members would be surveyed before they begin to actively campaign.

The City of Greater Bendigo was also yet to put forward its state budget wishlist.

Bendigo’s legal community has been the most vocal in the lead-up to the budget, raising calls for new or upgraded law courts.