The Infrastructure Victoria updated strategy confirmed our long-held belief that our key roads need to be improved and made safer for freight and travel purposes, it also backed up long-running campaigns for better tourism infrastructure if we are to retain and build up one of the region's key economic drivers. And health facilities were again highlighted, specifically the need for an alcohol and drug residential rehabilitation facility to be established within the next five years. That will add further weight to the proposed The Lookout centre at Dennington which was overlooked for state government funding in last month's big-spending budget.

Infrastructure Victoria won't get too many arguments about these priorities nor others regarding improved public transport, digital connectivity across the region and three-phase power upgrades to help the farming industry.

The report did not miss any of our priorities.

It now helps shape state government investment in the region.

But how do we ensure we get a fair share of the funding pie from Spring Street?

Warrnambool and the south-west is just one of nine regions plus metropolitan areas and all have major infrastructure needs in the next 30 years, according to the hefty report.

We will need to campaign heavily to secure funding. The campaign will need to start at the grass roots, it will need strong advocacy from united councils and whoever we elect at state and federal elections. It has never been clearer, we need to be smart, organised, clinical in our approach to campaigning. As citizens, our votes in elections will be critical. The state lower house seat of South West Coast, a traditional Liberal stronghold, is now a marginal seat after the 2018 election. We have an opportunity at the political level, it's a matter of whether we can make enough noise to elevate our case so governments not only hear our messages but address them.