Melton commuters’ hopes of faster and smoother journeys in and out of the municipality have been dashed in the state budget.
In the budget released on Tuesday, two big ticket items were missing.
There was no mention of the Western Freeway upgrade between Melton and Caroline Springs.
The Labor party pledged in the lead up to the last state election that it would allocate $10 million for a business case, following the federal government having made the same commitment.
The federal government axed funding to the Western Freeway Upgrade from the M80 Ring Road to Ferris Road in November however, it wasn’t expected to affect the $20 million Western Freeway business case that is already underway.
The business case was expected to be completed later this year.
According to the state budget papers, upgrades to the Calder Freeway at Calder Park have been discontinued.
The federal government had scrapped its share last year in as part of an infrastructure review, but the state government hadn’t confirmed its plans for the project until now.
The state budget papers said the Victorian government has paused the project and is working with the Commonwealth to understand the impact of its decision.
In some good news for the Melton municipality, $6.4 million has been promised to upgrade Toolern Vale and District Primary School.
Melton MP Steve McGhie said the budget also included funding for 16 new schools, including a secondary school for Cobblebank and a primary school for Toolern Waters Primary School.
Mr McGhie said there was also funding to acquire land for the new Aintree North P-6 school.
Funding will also continue the Melton South FlexiRide service, helping locals get to areas across Melton South, Weir Views and Thornhill Park, he said.
There will be $63.77 million allocated in the 2024-25 financial year towards the Melton Hospital, with construction expected to commence later this year.
The majority of the $41.8 million previously allocated for a new Melton Tafe campus has also been included in this budget.
The budget also included $5 million to be spent on the Western Rail Plan in 2024-25. It’s the remaining money of the $21 million allocated for detailed planning and development activities.
In a win for mothers and families, the state government is investing $28.8 million into statewide Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services.
Melton council has been calling for greater investment in the area amid its struggle to meet demand for the service.
Kororoit MP Luba Grigorovitch said said the budget included $28.8 million for community legal services and specialist legal services, including the Brimbank Melton Community Legal Centre to support victim survivors of family violence.
She said the funding to construct Tarneit Plains P-6 in Mt Atkinson is a real win for the growth area as is the funding to purchase land for the Aintree North school.
