By Oscar Parry
New and upgraded local schools and extended bus routes in parts of the Melton municipality are some of the key local announcements in this year’s state budget handed down on Tuesday.
Kurunjang Secondary College and Melton South Primary School will both receive funds for upgrades.
Melton South Primary school has been allocated $21.3 million for new classrooms and staff buildings, the main classroom wing and a new classroom block.
Kurunjang Secondary College will receive $10.7 million to upgrade and modernise existing facilities, including its technology block.
Melton Primary School has been promised $10 million through the planning of future school upgrades.
A new primary school in Aintree, set to open in 2027 and with an interim name of Aintree North Primary School, was also named to receive a share of $166.1 million of funding for new metropolitan schools.
This funding will also go towards expanded facilities, such as new classrooms and sports ovals, at recently opened schools in growing communities – including towards a new construction stage at Yarrabing Secondary College in Aintree.
Further works will continue at the new Melton hospital, set to be completed in 2029, with $140 million allocated in the 2024/25 budget.
Improved and safer cycling infrastructure will be funded for Weir Views, Melton South and Melton and new connected paths will be constructed in Hillside and Plumpton.
There will also be new and extended bus routes in Mount Atkinson and Thornhill Park.
A new bus route will travel from Rockbank station to Tarneit station via Mt Atkinson and another from Thornhill Park to Cobblebank Station.
Bus routes will be extended and reconfigured to address bus coverage gaps in Aintree, Hillside, Deanside, Diggers Rest and Frasers Rise.
The state government announced last week that in partnership with the federal government, it is building a new transport superhub in Sunshine as the key to delivering Airport Rail and the first step for electrification to Melton.
Hillside will receive a sporting boost, with the Hillside Sharks Football Club ‘Shark Park’ to receive up to $100,000 for a new electronic scoreboard.
Moorabool will receive less investment. The only bright spots for the region was $250,000 allocated towards show court seating at the Moorabool Aquatic and Recreation Centre and the promise that Bacchus Marsh College would share in $10 million through the planning of future school upgrades.
