Peri Urban Councils welcome State Budget boost

Peri Urban Councils Victoria (PUCV) have welcomed the release of the Andrews Government's 2023-2024 budget, which includes new funding to benefit the peri urban region.

PUCV Chair Cr Michael Leaney said the fast-growing outer suburbs were feeling the pressures of population growth and government investment was urgently required to ease the squeeze.

“Peri Urban Councils Victoria welcomes new investment in important placemaking infrastructure like new sporting facilities, community spaces and roads for peri urban communities” Cr Leaney said. 

“The peri urban region is one of the fastest growing areas in the country and it’s important that the Government invests in the right infrastructure and services to keep pace with population growth” Cr Leaney explained.

Key initiatives announced from a regional and state wide perspective that are important to the peri urban region include:

Placemaking

·         $201m to deliver new and upgraded community sport and active recreation infrastructure, including continuing the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund;

·         $10m for a new Tiny Towns Fund to provide local grants from $5,000 to $50,000 to help towns of up to 5,000 people to deliver better public spaces;

·         $16m for recreational boating and infrastructure improvements;

·         $42m to develop neighbourhood battery storage facilities;

·         $17m to upgrade and revitalise business and cultural hubs in Victoria’s multicultural precincts; and

·         $40m to continue the Multicultural Infrastructure Fund to upgrade, renovate and build multicultural and multifaith community facilities.

Regional Tourism

·         $3.9m to halve camping fees at parks across the state; and

·         $20m for the regional live music program.

Regional Transport

·         $601m to buy and manufacture 23 more Vlocity trains;

·         $650m to upgrade the Melton Line, giving commuters in Melbourne’s West better train services;

·         Regional fares capped at the daily metropolitan rate; and

·         $219m for additional regional weekend services.

Regional Roads

·         $694m to upgrade key roads and intersections across the state including Bacchus Marsh; and

·         $62m to deliver better local roads and safety upgrades for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

Education and Skills

·         $67m to upgrade regional schools including Wonthaggi Primary School and Moe Primary School;

·         $450m toward building and upgrading low-fee Independent and Catholic schools including St Bernard’s Primary School in Bacchus Marsh;

·         $26m for a New Schools Planning Fund including planning for a future secondary college for the Armstrong Creek West and Mount Duneed community; and

·         $186m to expand eligibility for VET subsidies.

Free Kinder – Best Start, Best Life

·         $1.7b (additional) for three and four-year-old Kinder.

Teacher Support

·         $32m to attract and retain more teachers across regional Victoria.

Students with Disability

·         $235m package for students living with disability, their carers and families. Includes $11.3m dedicated to getting more disability workers, speech pathologists and occupational therapists to regional Victoria.

Health

·         $320m for the Hospital Infrastructure Delivery Fund including extra beds, a new birthing complex and new outpatient clinic for Wonthaggi Hospital;

·         $201m in a range of initiatives to improve the number of healthcare workers across the state;

·         $201m system wide boost to support timely emergency care, including more ambulance services and improvements to emergency department programs; and

·         $154m to boost access to primary care.

Disaster Response

·         $677m for emergency response and recovery needs of flood affected communities including early intervention and mental health support, support to councils for flood recovery programs, and additional flood recovery support programs that are yet to be agreed with the Commonwealth.

First Nations

·         $82m will be provided to support the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria; and

·         $475m for health, justice, education, heritage and cultural programs.

“Proactive budget investment in the peri urban region is essential to manage urban sprawl and maintain the lifestyle and character of these growing communities” Cr Leaney concluded.