Partnership speaks out

Wimmera Southern Mallee Partnership has welcomed the State Government’s 2019-20 budget, which includes a $2.6-billion Delivering for Regional and Rural Victoria program.

Partnership chairman David Jochinke said the budget provided a whole-of-government focus for rural and regional Victorians – with improvements to public transport, country roads, tourism infrastructure and TAFE.

He said it also provided health facility upgrades while supporting jobs and tax relief for rural and regional businesses.

“In Wimmera and southern Mallee, as well as a boost for Longerenong College, there is a commitment to roll out universal three-year-old kindergarten across much of the region next year.

“There is also funding for a Lord Nelson Park upgrade in St Arnaud and a response to meet the needs of family violence survivors.”

Mr Jochinke said government investments matched some WSM Partnership priorities and stressed the partnership was about more than securing funding at budget time.

He explained the group had advocated for new mobile-phone towers, as well as working with the Department of Jobs, Precincts, and Regions to develop a digital plan.

He said the partnership had also championed the uptake of ‘tele-health’ in collaboration with Wimmera Southern Mallee Health Alliance and, with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, worked on GNET to map the region’s new-energy future.

“In addition, partnership priorities funded in previous Victorian budgets, such as $1.3-million last year for family-violence crisis properties, are now taking shape,” he said.