BUDGET: HEALTH, ROADS AND RAIL
VICTORIAN BUDGET DELIVERS $500M WINDFALL TO BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE IN SHEPPARTON
Shepparton has received critical funding in the Victorian budget to build infrastructure and the capacity for service delivery.
On top of the $196 million for the full replacement and expansion of the mental health unit at Goulburn Valley Health, there’s additional money for health, rail and roads.
“It is a great budget for Shepparton,” Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan said.
Ms Allan has delivered on her commitment to the Shepparton Rail Revival Project, with $250 million in the budget to order VLocity trains for the Shepparton and Warrnambool lines.
“The important thing is we’ve ordered them,” Ms Allan said.
“In the back half of this year we will see some of the benefits from stage two come online, which includes the station upgrades and track capacity, including the first VLocity trains.”
Since first being elected, Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed has campaigned for the establishment of a dedicated mother and baby unit.
The budget delivers $25 million to construct a 10-bed early parenting centre in Shepparton to support families with children up to four years of age to enhance their relationships and achieve their parenting goals.
“Putting these initiatives alongside the new hospital, education and mental health facilities, we are really building up the infrastructure that supports the service delivery — and that is critical,” Ms Allan said.
“That is why we are investing in the buildings and the services.”
On the health front, Shepparton will also share $3.5 million to plan for a future emergency department mental health and alcohol and other drugs crisis hub.
There's also new money ($3.5 million) for improvements to the Numurkah Rd and Graham St intersection in Shepparton and $24 million to redevelop Verney Road School.
Some $9.2 million will continue the therapeutic court program, including the Shepparton Drug Court, and $20 million will expand the Assessment and Referral Court, including at the Shepparton, Ballarat and Geelong magistrates’ courts.
The Assessment and Referral Court provides intensive support and supervision to people with a mental illness or cognitive impairment and helps address underlying factors that contribute to offending.
The budget also included $5.8 million to continue joint land management of the Barmah National Park in partnership with the Yorta Yorta people.
Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas has revealed the state is roaring back to business after the pandemic with unemployment at historic lows and the economy rebuilding.
In his budget speech yesterday, the treasurer paid tribute to front line health workers who helped get Victoria through the pandemic and said the best way to honour them was to rebuild the health system and the community.
“We know the pandemic caused pain, we know it hasn’t been easy,” he said.
State unemployment is 4 per cent but regional unemployment is even lower at 3.2 per cent.
“If your state must face a global crisis it helps to have the most robust economy in the nation,” he said.
“We used our balance sheet to support businesses and household budgets.”
That balance sheet is expected to recover by over $18 billion in four years and debt will be $7.8 billion lower than forecast.
“We were confident of a quick bounce back, but I’m pleased to say it’s been even faster than predicted,” Mr Pallas said.
The centrepiece of the budget is a Pandemic Repair Plan, which includes $1.5 billion to clear the backlog of elective surgeries, and more than a $1 billion committed to regional health, including a $300 million boost to the regional health.
The budget also includes $2.6 billion for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which will be hosted in regional Victoria.
“Shepparton will also hold events and other regional towns and cities will be added to the program,” Mr Pallas said.
“This budget provides $2.6 billion in funding for this historic event, which will provide a massive economic boost through event infrastructure, new housing and promotion of our great state.”
However, Mr Pallas singled out investment in mental health, including the new facility in Shepparton, as the most important part of the budget.
“Our mental health reform might be the most important thing this government ever does,” he said.