Liam McNally
The state government’s budget, released last week, gets the ball rolling on major election commitments in Melton and Moorabool.
The government will spend $21.5 million on the Melton Hospital next financial year. The money will fund ongoing planning and produrement work. The hospital has a $900 million to $1 billion price tag and won’t be completed until 2029.
No money was allocated for the Melton train line upgrade. The project has a $650 million price tag, but it remains unclear when work will begin.,
The state government will contribute $10 million to the Western Highway business case, matching $10 million in federal funding, while more than $3 million of $55 million dollars allocated for a new TAFE for Melton will also be spent next financial year.
School upgrade commitments include $8.87 million for Melton Secondary College and $9.5 million for Sydenham-Hillside Primary School.
Melton MP Steve McGhie said Melton needs investment to support the “booming” area.
“As our area continues to grow, we’re investing in the schools, trains, roads and skills training our community needs now and into the future,” he said.
“The new Melton TAFE will be a boon for the western suburbs, giving students and workers alike the opportunity to get the skills they need for the jobs they want.”
Melton mayor Lara Carli said lots of people in the municipality are “doing it tough and a budget that helps them out in a rough economic climate is welcome”.
Moorabool mayor Rod Ward welcomed funds allocated to the shire, which included $25 million to upgrade the intersection of Griffith Street and Grant Street in Bacchus Marsh, $3 million to upgrade St Bernard’s primary School, $2.9 million towards the new bowls and community hub in Bacchus Marsh, and $20,000 for a Gordon Recreation Reserve Master Plan, and funding to extend the Maddingley bus service will be extended to Stonehill Estate.
“We’re happy to see the government has still honoured the commitments it made pre-election and we look forward to continuing to work with the state on attracting funds for infrastructure and services we require for our rapidly growing shire,” he said.
