Hospital funding not a lost cause - mayor

She said council’s support for a new hospital still stands and it remained a priority in the Committee for Gippsland’s list of key infrastructure projects for the region.

Noting that the budget provided $7 million towards planning the next stage of a major $220 million redevelopment of Latrobe Regional Hospital and funding for a 24-hour emergency care centre at Phillip Island, Cr Power said it appeared the focus for West Gippsland hospital at present appeared to be on what services could best be provided there.

There are large hospitals at Latrobe and in Casey and closer to Melbourne with the Warragul hospital in between, she said.

Speaking to ABC Gippsland radio last month Cr Power said there were some major works going on at the WGH now – construction of a third operating theatre, expanded car parking and other upgrades – which she said she’d like to see rolled out before the next stage of the campaign (for a new hospital).

Cr Power said details of individual projects that would benefit from the state budget were still to be advised to councils but said Baw Baw had a strong list of road projects ready to submit for funding under the regional roads program.

She said targeted measures for regional areas including payroll tax reductions for businesses and a 50 per cent concession on stamp duty for commercial and industrial property transactions could boost local economies.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the government had delivered on its promises for a positive plan for Gippsland.

He said Neerim District Secondary College was one of a number of schools in the region listed for upgrades.

The roll-out of universal kindergarten for three-year-olds in six non-metropolitan local government areas next year with South Gippsland shire to be one of them.

Mr Andrews last week’s State budget would also give Gippsland additional free TAFE courses, free dental care in government schools, improved medical, health and ambulance services, better emergency accommodation for family violence victims, increased spending on roads, upgraded soccer and tennis facilities at Traralgon and assistance to install solar power at homes.