The project Planning Sustainable Futures for Melbourne's Peri-urban Region is funded by The Sustainability Fund through the Victorian Local Sustainability Accord developed over a twelve-month period involving extensive consultation with local governments' representatives and the Victorian State Government, the Accord aims to strengthen cooperative efforts between state - local government in the delivery of both local sustainability objectives and the state wide objectives of Our Environment, Our Future: Victoria's Environmental Sustainability Framework. It also provides a mechanism for resolving issues of responsibility between State Government and local governments, and for improving communication between and within both government sectors.

Six peri-urban Councils expressed an interest in being a part of the project: Planning Sustainable Futures for Melbourne's Peri-urban Region and nominated RMIT University to undertake the research on their behalf in consultation with staff from the region and in partnership with staff from Latrobe University Bendigo.

It is envisaged that the outcomes of the project will lead to better planning processes and policies within Council and across a range of key government and agencies whose decisions and policies impact on the peri-urban region.