Other existing projects in the region to be included in the 2024-25 Budget are the Goroke stage two sewerage scheme – $151,000 to be spent in 2024-25; East Grampians rural water supply project – $30 million; Natimuk Primary School upgrade – $2 million; and Dimboola wastewater project has been listed as a ‘regional various’ project with other similar work, with exact costs unknown. With the government’s net debt forecast to continue increasing to $187.8 billion by June 2028, infrastructure spending will decrease from $24 billion in 2023-24 to $15.6 billion by 2027-28.
In Premier Jacinta Allan’s first Budget, the government outlined a plan to increase fire services and waste levy charges for Victorians, reduce advertising and office space to help curb expenditure, as well as delay programs such as universal pre-prep for four-year-olds from 2032 to 2036.
However, in positive news, families with children attending public schools, and concession card holders with children at non-government schools, will receive $400 per child through the School Saving Bonus program to assist with cost-of-living expenses, and the cost of school uniforms, camps and sports.
Member for Lowan Emma Kealy said the Budget had delivered a ‘brutal reality’ for regional Victorians.
She said there were plenty of projects across the region that had missed out on funding or had funding delayed, such as upgrades to Edenhope College and Stawell West Primary School, who were among 29 schools to remain in the planning stage and ‘funded in a future budget’.
Ms Kealy said funding for roads and agriculture continued to significantly lag behind past levels, with road maintenance funding 16 percent lower in this year’s Budget compared with 2020.
Meanwhile the $496.6 million allocated in the Budget for agriculture is almost 30 percent lower than the $687.3 million in 2022-23.
“We know that we have got a Labor-made cost-of-living crisis and this budget only worsens the household bills for Victorian families,” Ms Kealy said.
The Budget also includes $11.1 million for locally-driven projects across the state, which support students to engage in education with local knowledge and expertise, including One Red Tree that trains psychologists to work in schools at Ararat.
The Budget includes $5.4 million to establish a mental health, alcohol and other drugs emergency department hub at Ballarat Base Hospital.
The delivery of 35 planned walk-in mental health clinics across Victoria is being delayed due to workforce shortages, with Budget papers stating an additional 2500 psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health nurses are needed.
But there will be a $13.7 million boost in the partnership with the Federal Government for the Rural Financial Counselling Service, providing free and confidential financial advice to thousands of Victorian farmers and producers.
There is also $18.6 million for 15 replacement pumpers for the Country Fire Authority and $15.4 million for five Fire Rescue Victoria pumper platforms.
The government will end the Victorian Homebuyer Fund next year and transition to the Federal Government’s proposed Help to Buy scheme.
The completion date of the Melbourne Airport Rail Link has also been pushed back at least four years to 2033.
The entire May 8, 2024 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!
