Liam McNally
Melton council have made a submission to the state government’s budget focused on lobbying for projects that build long-term sustainable jobs growth with more investment in skills and training.
Council has outlined its key priorities that include constructing the Outer Metropolitan Ring and Western Intermodal Freight Terminal, better main roads, trains and buses, fully funding school crossing supervisors, and greater investment in early childhood health and education.
These asks are in addition to commitments made by the Victorian Government in the lead up to last year’s state election which included a new TAFE in Cobblebank, upgrades to local schools, $650 million for the Melton train line and a business case to upgrade to the Western Highway.
Council is seeking timelines for these, including a call to include them in the May budget.
Melton mayor Lara Carli said the budget submission is about “long-term jobs growth, from better skills and education to lay the groundwork for growth industries like supply chain and logistics, education and health”.
“We are calling on the Victorian Government to get on with building the Western Intermodal Freight Terminal that will be the catalyst for up to 39,000 jobs in supply chain and logistics,” she said.
“With $20 million committed to the business case for the Western Highway, we want to see this translate into real works starting soon. We need to get our residents to jobs, education and
services.
“And with the Western Ring Road at capacity, it’s time to get on with the land acquisition and construction of the Outer Metropolitan Ring to unlock the substantial commercial and industrial
land availability in the outer north and west.”
Cr Carli said Melton’s population is set to double to almost half a million people in the next 30 years.
“This budget is an opportunity for the Victorian Government to deliver the infrastructure we need to deliver jobs close to home and return $19 billion annually to the economy,” she said.
The state busget will be handed down on May 23, 2023.
The budget submission is available to read online.
Details: melton.vic.gov.au/budgetsubmissions
