VICTORIAN state budget documents handed down yesterday show little investment in new projects for Narracan this year.
Five million dollars will go to rolling out new “Technology Enabled Learning Centres” across Gippsland TAFEs including GippsTAFE, which has a campus in Warragul. No other new funding announcements have been made specifically for the electorate.
Correction (10.50am): This article previously stated that a small amount of funding had been given to the Warragul Hospital in this budget. This was in fact funded in the last budget.
This year’s bare budget for Narracan comes after investment in the Warragul Station Precinct in last year’s budget. Construction on that project is due to begin later this year.
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Most new investment in Gippsland this year has been spent further east of the electorate.
The budget papers do however also show investment in a new digital communication system for V/Line and road repairs across regional Victoria, though it is unclear how much will be spent on roads in Narracan.
Eight million dollars has also been allocated to improving regional tourism across the state while $7 million will go toward removing trees destroyed by fire in Alpine and Mountain Ash forest areas in eastern Victoria.
In a media release, Liberal member for Narracan Gary Blackwood listed several projects outside of the electorate as projects which will benefit Narracan.
Mr Blackwood’s headline funding projects were $8.3 million in funding for Clean Coal Victoria for its role in accessing brown coal, and $32 million for the Macalister Irrigation District 2030 project. The Macalister Irrigation District is well outside the electorate’s boundaries.
Mr Blackwood also listed funding to address coal mine stability risks in the Latrobe Valley and upgrades to the Traralgon Hospital as projects which will benefit Narracan.
“This budget is a demonstration of responsible, sound financial management in difficult economic circumstances for Victoria,” Mr Blackwood said.
“The Victorian Coalition Government has taken a number of steps within the budget to ensure we are able to deliver on the future needs of Narracan and Victoria.”
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It would seem that the ALP considers Narracan to be a safe Liberal electorate.
Why bother fielding a qaulity canidate seems to be the atitude.
Who is the ALP endorsed canidate, and when will they get out there and start letting us know about their alternatives?
oops! candidate.
Comments as supplied 9/5/2013
Comments to be attributed to Member for Narracan, Gary Blackwood
The Victorian State Budget delivers strongly for both Narracan and the wider Victoria.
There are a number of announcements that Narracan residents will share in or have direct access to such as;
· $170million over three years for road maintenance program designed to renew deteriorated roads with a further $90 million for resurfacing works to make roads more resilient to wet weather
· a complete overhaul of the Victorian Fire Services Levy, which will on save the average Narracan residence $103 per year
· a record $14.34 billion in health funding state-wide to treat more patients and manage the increasing pressure on the system, including $81.5 million for regional hospitals and health services
· $11.6 billion in education funding statewide to improve student outcomes and ensure Victorians have the skills needed for the future
· $33.7 million over the next two years to expand the Coalition Government’s planned burning program, as recommended by the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission
– $8 million tourism campaign to drive regional tourism, while raising awareness interstate and internationally, of Victoria’s regional destinations and experience
· $4.7 million over two years to help better protect the livestock industry from serious disease, with a particular focus on preparing for an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease
· $16 million for grants to landholders and regional organisations to support native vegetation and threatened species
· supporting first home buyers and job creation in the housing construction industry by boosting the First Home Owner Grant to $10,000 for newly constructed properties and reducing stamp duty from 1 July 2013
· $46.2 million extra to support Victorian children across the State in the vital years before school, including $7 million to build and upgrade children’s centres and kindergartens across Victoria, growth corridors and regional areas
These are all announcements that will have a direct impact on Narracan and its residents.
Further to these announcements the Budget continues to fund previous announcements that are either underway or ready to commence including;
· Warragul Railway Station precinct upgrade including a third rail crossing;
· Extension and redevelopment of the Emergency Department at the West Gippsland Hospital
In the last 12 months I have also made a number of additional announcements for funding outside the regular Budget process. These announcements strongly demonstrate our Governments commitment to the region and ensuring we have active investment at all points of the year and not just come the State Budget. Some examples of these announcements include;
· $1.2million to assist with the redevelopment of the Moe Racing Club
· $733,000 to for an expansion at the Noojee Trout Farm
· $221,000 for Stage 1 of the Noojee Heritage Centre
· $239,000 towards the redevelopment of the Mason St business precinct
· $3.383million additional road funding in 2012-13 beyond regular road funding for special works and road maintenance