DESPITE $6.1 billion for major projects announced in the 2013-14 state budget, little funding has been set aside for Melton and Moorabool.
Requests for a new hospital, road duplications and upgrades to Melton railway station were all overlooked.
As reported by the Weekly, $11.5 million was announced before last Tuesday’s budget for the construction of a primary school in Melton West.
The CFA’s Fiskville training centre will get $17 million to address occupational health and safety concerns and conduct environmental investigations.
But Melton Labor MP Don Nardella said the budget was a disappointment for Melton and Moorabool residents.
“We’ve missed out on virtually everything – there’s nothing new in the budget,” he said.
“The school site was already announced and it will take 2½ years to build it. When you have a look at the health needs, transport needs and road needs, none of that is there.”
No money was set aside for freeway on-ramps at Halletts Way in Bacchus Marsh.
The stalled Caroline Springs train station project was also overlooked, as was the electrification and duplication of the Melton line and a plethora of roadworks.
Melton mayor Kathy Majdlik said the council was “extremely disappointed” that the government had failed to recognise the need for infrastructure.
“Again, the state government has failed to commit funding for the much-needed Caroline Springs train station, electrification and duplication of the Melton rail line, and improvements to the Melton Highway.”
Bacchus Marsh will share in $25 million for “enhanced bus services”, although a Public Transport Victoria (PTV) spokesman could not provide details.
“Bacchus Marsh will be one of a number of areas to benefit from improved bus services in the coming year, with more frequent, streamlined routes that better connect with trains,” the spokesman said.
“Regular bus improvements are implemented as part of broader network timetable changes. PTV will update the community with details when they are available.”
For Moorabool, the budget included $2 million for the Ballan Hospital redevelopment and $36 million for the Ballarat-Western Link Road.
Western Metropolitan Greens MP Colleen Hartlandsaid the government had “ignored the facts and sentenced the western suburbs population to another year of inadequate public transport and worsening traffic congestion”.
Liberal MP Andrew Elsbury maintained it was a good budget for the west.
“This budget delivers a wide range of funding for important infrastructure across our community, for health, education and roads.
—With Melissa Cunningham
