Moorabool council is calling on the state government to explain why urgent roadworks in Bacchus Marsh were left off the state budget projections last week.
“It’s particularly disappointing that the Bacchus Marsh package of road- works previously announced by the state government and partly funded by this government have not been announced in the forward projections,” chief executive Rob Croxford said.
He said $25 million was still missing from the total $38 million promised in last year’s budget.
“We thank the federal government for the $10 million and the state for $3 million to complete the Halletts Way freeway ramps to the western freeway,” Mr Croxford said.
“We now call on the state government and VicRoads to explain where the balance of these urgently required works are.”
Millions for college upgrade
Plans to upgrade Bacchus Marsh college are a step closer with the Victorian government announcing further funding for an upgrade of the Maddingley campus.
Moorabool council chief executive Rob Croxford said it was “encouraging” to see a further $3 million committed to upgrading the cramped Bacchus Marsh secondary college following the $5 million announced at the previous election.
He acknowledged there was no funding for a secondary college at Ballan, which local parents had rallied for in recent years. “It’s assumed that the Education Department has prioritised other locations around the state at this time.”
Cloudburst of cash
A funding boost announced last week could end Bacchus Marsh’s water and irrigation woes.
About $4.5 million will be invested in the Bacchus Marsh irrigation district modernisation as part of a statewide move to improve water and irrigation infrastructure in the regions.
“This will complement the Southern Rural Water investment and we now call on the federal government to match the state funding to provide improved water security for Bacchus Marsh irrigators and certainty to significant employers and industry,” Moorabool chief executive Rob Croxford said.
Law and order get their share
Almost $3 million has been committed by the Victorian government to refurbish 15 police stations including Bacchus Marsh.
And $401 million will go to Corrections Victoria to improve its raft of services and upgrade the Metropolitan Remand Centre in Ravenhall.
The projects are at the heart of a $1 billion state budget package to crack down on crime and target high-risk offenders.
The government also increased mental health funding statewide, and it will fund action against the methamphetamine ice epidemic, including a 20-bed facility in Ballarat.
