The state government delivered on Melton council’s top two priorities in last week’s budget, but Eynesbury and Burnside residents have again missed out on schools.
The government committed $50 million to establish the interface councils infrastructure fund and has allocated money to purchase land at Taylors Hill west for a secondary school.
But no funds were allocated for site acquisitions at Eynesbury and Burnside for primary schools.
Cr Sophie Ramsey said the council was disappointed that acquisition of a number of identified “priority school sites” had not been included in the budget.
“[We] will continue to advocate for school site acquisitions and primary school builds in Eynesbury and Burnside to meet education demands within our community,” she said.
The interface councils, which include Melton and nine others in the city’s outer fringes, have long been advocating for the infrastructure fund.
“We would expect that this would be the first year of a longer-term commitment to growth councils such as Melton,” Cr Ramsey said.
“Council has proposed a number of key projects that include sporting, recreation and community infrastructure, and these will be discussed with the [Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins].”
Ms Hutchins met Melton council last Friday to discuss the interface councils infrastructure fund, which will operate from July.
“This is a first for the interface councils and something we’re pretty excited about,” Ms Hutchins said.
“I’ve seen some great projects here today that could potentially be supported by that fund and we’re encouraging Melton to get their applications in.”
The state government has committed $4 million to finish the federal government’s bridge renewal program, which includes $1.2 million for Melton’s Main Road bridge.
Bacchus Marsh College this financial year will receive $810 of the $5000 committed to refurbishing and adding to a year 9 centre, with work expected to be finished by 2018.
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