Melton and Moorabool councils have slammed last week’s state government budget for its “glaring omissions” of vital infrastructure funding for the neighbouring municipalities.
The Andrews government unveiled its 2017-18 budget last Tuesday, announcing a spending splurge in health, education, public transport and domestic violence services.
But Melton and Moorabool all but missed out on the cash splash, with the government ignoring many items on the councils’ wish lists.
Moorabool mayor David Edwards said he couldn’t understand why the shire didn’t receive any recognition in a “record spending budget”.
The state government did not fund any new projects in Moorabool in the budget.
“We have trawled through the budget, to no avail, hoping that the strong advocacy we had undertaken would result in funding for a corridor study for an eastern bypass of Bacchus Marsh and also provide for stage one works to alleviate the serious traffic congestion on Gisborne/Grant Street,” Cr Edwards said.
“Other key projects such as the Parwan employment precinct, upgrade of sporting facilities and the Racecourse Reserve, and sewerage for Bungaree and Wallace, have also not made the grade.”
Melton fared slightly better, with the state government announcing it would set aside funding for the long-awaited primary school in the booming suburb Burnside and to acquire land for a new school in Eynesbury.
Other new Melton projects being funded in this year’s budget include an SES unit for Caroline Springs, three parks at Kororoit Creek and land for a new ambulance station at Melton. But the state government announced it would slash in half the Growing Suburbs Fund, which helped outer suburban councils build infrastructure.
There was also no commitments for the Ferris Road grade separations or the Toolern train station, which Melton council identified as being top-priority projects.
Melton mayor Sophie Ramsey said that while she was pleased with the education announcements, she was disappointed with the government’s decision to halve the Growing Suburbs Fund and not fund any transport projects.
She said the council’s needs had not diminished.
“In fact, the gap only continues to grow,” she said. “The reduction in funding available means it will take much longer to bridge that gap.”
State treasurer Tim Pallas said the government was getting “a bit concerned about the quality of the offerings” from councils wanting funding through the Growing Suburbs Fund.
