Few specific projects for Baw Baw area

There was little in the way of specific capital projects in the Baw Baw Shire area contained in last week’s State budget.

The only significant work announced in statements from the government was a $6.6 million upgrade to the Warragul and District Specialist School.

However, there were a number of initiatives that will have implications for the wider Gippsland area.

Among them were a share of $40 million spread across regional are rural areas for local public health units to provide community care and guidance as part of the COVID-19 response, an emergency department hub at Latrobe Regional Hospital to deal with serious mental health, alcohol and drug issues, unlocking land for housing supply and speeding up planning and approvals for residential lots in Melbourne’s growth corridors and regional areas, funds for sports infrastructure including for the 2026 Commonwealth Games that will have some events in Gippsland, and additional police and protective services officers across the state.

Gippsland Cancer Care Centre will receive a new Linac that will enable it to deliver up to 425 extra radiation courses each year.

The state will also employ 7000 new healthcare workers, 5000 of them nurses.

Roadworks to be funded in Gippsland include an an overtaking lane on the Strzelecki Highway between Mirboo North and Morwell, providing access to a new railway station being built at Pakenham East and upgrading the Bass Highway at Kilcunda.

The work of the Latrobe Valley Authority will continue through a further allocation of $7.5 million, Country Women’s Association and the Cross Boarder Commission will get a share of $3.9 million over the next four years, regional development and agriculture will get a total of $193 million, there will be backing for Neighborhood Houses and Food Relief groups and grants of $250 to households that use the government’s Victorian Energy Compare website.

Funds will be provided for the ongoing protection of lighthouses including at Wilsons Promontory and piers and jetties at McLoughlins Beach, Raymond Island and Lakes Entrance will be rebuilt and made safer.

The public aged care service at Orbost will get 38 new beds and, although no specific locations were identified, two refuges and six new crisis accommodation centres will be established in the state to support family violence victims.

People employed in casual positions across Gippsland in fields such as hospitality, aged and disability care, supermarkets, supply chain and retail will be eligible for five days per year of sick or carers’ pay at the national minimum wage level under a two-year pilot program.

Aboriginal programs totalling $400 million will continue the treaty process, promote and protect cultural heritage, develop a team of specialist teachers to revive Aboriginal languages in kindergartens and classrooms and support cultural events.

The government has set aside $14.7 million to celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) communities, including staging of statewide events.