THE Victorian Coalition has made its first strike in the election battle for country votes, promising to spend $1 billion on a Regional Growth Fund within the first eight years of government.

The announcement, by Nationals leader Peter Ryan, trumps the Government's own Blueprint for Regional Growth, which is due out this month.

Mr Ryan said 60 per cent of the fund would be spent on large-scale strategic regional infrastructure, with the remainder going to local projects.

"Over the coming months we will be meeting with communities, local government, health and education associations, industry and business groups to discuss local priorities and how the fund could help grow their individual regions," Mr Ryan said.

"Funding will be flexible so that it can support projects and initiatives that meet the strategic priorities and needs of regional cities and country communities instead of the priorities of the city-centric Brumby Government."

Regional Victoria is crucial in the battle for government ahead of the state election.

The Government holds 11 regional seats, which analysts say it must retain to survive.

Labor holds Ripon by a margin of just 4.36 per cent. It holds Bendigo East by 5.4 per cent, Bendigo West by 10.57 per cent, Ballarat East by 6.65 per cent and Ballarat West by 6.55 per cent.

Labor holds Geelong by 8.34 per cent, South Barwon by 2.29 per cent and Bellarine by 7.96 per cent. Others are Yan Yean, 7.92 per cent, Seymour, 6.67 per cent and Macedon, 8.18 per cent.

The Coalition arrouncement immediately sparked a battle over whose regional plan was better.

The Government said its blueprint has been 18 months in the making, involved 77 submissions from industry organisations, community groups and local councils as well as a ministerial task force and five Regional Development Australia committees.

In contrast, the coalition fund's details consisted of a three-page press release.

A spokeswoman for Mr Ryan said there was no policy document, but the press release captured "the gist of it".

Regional and Rural Development Minister Jacinta Allan accused the Nationals of being lazy and treating regional Victorians like fools.