State Budget: City of Melton highlights
Melton City Council has welcomed several positive highlights in the State Budget, and has outlined its hopes for future State commitments on its highest priority projects.
The future of a local TAFE facility will be investigated with $250,000 committed to a business case. Meanwhile, Parkwood Green Primary School in Hillside will be upgraded, the new Rockbank Murray Road Primary School will be constructed, and land will be acquired for a future Brookfield Primary School and a future secondary school in Aintree.
Train passenger capacity will also be increased by up to 50 per cent during peak periods, in an investment that will enable higher capacity trains in the City of Melton.
The government will begin stage one of the new Melton Hospital utilising its earlier $70 million commitment and will also trial a new support model for local families with complex needs.
Council will again have the opportunity to apply for Growing Suburbs Funding with a $50 million pool available to support all growth areas to fast-track infrastructure projects.
A $400,000 allocation has also been made to continue local youth engagement and crime prevention program, UTURN 193.
City of Melton Mayor Cr Kathy Majdlik welcomed the commitments in the budget, and outlined Council’s priorities for future partnerships with the State Government.
“I’d like to thank the State Government for its ongoing support for our fast growing city,” Cr Majdlik said.
“It’s fantastic to see some positive highlights for our community including the beginning of a new Melton Hospital, research into a much-needed TAFE facility, additional and upgraded primary schools, and more comfortable train journeys.
“We know our residents need more local jobs, better transport connections, and greater education opportunities.
“I’d like to assure our community that we will continue to advocate to the State Government for a range of high priority projects including a new western freight terminal, electrification of the Melton Line, the Outer Metropolitan Ring, Western Highway upgrade, Melton Highway upgrade, full construction of Melton Hospital, and a university.
“In particular, a Western Intermodal Freight Precinct would unlock 39,000 jobs across the outer west through commercial investment into a supply chain and logistics hub.
“With residential growth outstripping employment growth, this critical infrastructure will transform the outer west as an employment hub of State significance.”
2021/20 State Budget – City of Melton:
- Parkwood Green Primary School, Hillside: upgrade existing facilities, $10 million, commence 2021-2022 complete 2024-2025
- Brookfield Primary School: Land acquisition
- New Rockbank Murray Road Primary School: construction
- Aintree Secondary School: Land acquisition
- Business Case for TAFE in the City of Melton: $250,000
- New whole-of-family support model for families with complex needs: Brimbank-Melton
- UTURN 193, long term youth crime prevention program: $400,000
- Growing Suburbs Fund: $50 million funding total pool for all growth areas
- Higher capacity trains, including 9-car VLocity trains: $94 million for the Melton and Wyndham Vale corridors
- Upgrades to bus routes 444 and 454 in Woodlea and Aintree
- First stage of the new Melton Hospital (Cobblebank): $70.2 million in the forward estimates of the 2020/2021 budget cash flowed into 2021/2022 budget
- Water and sewerage works throughout the City of Melton
- Road upgrades: $100 million to progress planning of targeted upgrades, including improvements to safety and capacity at Calder Park Interchange, along the Calder Freeway between Gap Road in Sunbury and the M80 Ring Road, jointly funded with the Federal Government