A Melbourne-style rail network in Geelong, northern health funding among region’s state budget wish list
A metropolitan Melbourne-style rail system in western Victoria, more funding for family violence and sexual assault support centres and $1 million for animal rescue groups are among Geelong region MPs priorities for next week’s state budget.
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A metropolitan Melbourne-style rail system in western Victoria, more funding for family violence and sexual assault support centres and $1m for animal rescue groups are among Geelong region MPs priorities for next week’s state budget.
Ahead of the November 24 budget, MPs said funding for the Northern Aquatic and Community Hub (NACH) community health and wellbeing hub, and the Barwon Heads Road duplication were also crucial.
Liberal MP Bev McArthur said Geelong needed direct rail connections to more regional areas and outer Melbourne.
“We need a genuine high-speed rail connection between Geelong and Melbourne, built alongside a metro-style system around Geelong, connecting Waurn Ponds to Werribee, and Colac to Bannockburn,” Ms McArthur said.
“It is absolutely essential that the government build enabling infrastructure in our state, and properly connecting regional towns to Geelong, and Geelong to Melbourne, would have the greatest positive impact on our economy.”
This week the state government announced that it would spend $2.2bn for the initial and early work on stage 1 of the Suburban Rail Loop to run between Cheltenham and Box Hill with work hoping to start in 2022.
It has previously committed millions to investigate fast rail to Geelong. Ms McArthur said about $150m could be used from the budget to build a recycled water pipeline from a Black Rock treatment plant to Colac which would benefit Lake Modewarre, Lake Murdeduke on its way improving the flow of the Barwon River.
“This resource would provide a supply for existing high value agricultural, industrial and tourist enterprises, and allow new development which would turbocharge our economy. “We could permanently enhance the productivity of the Colac area (via this project).”
Western Victoria MP Stuart Grimley said funding for health infrastructure in Geelong’s north was overdue.
“I’ve been an advocate for the Support For The North campaign, including to give equitable support for the Windermere Ward through having equal Councillors as other City of Greater Geelong wards,” Mr Grimley, of Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party, said.
He said the NACH would provide health infrastructure to some of Geelong’s most vulnerable communities.
Mr Grimley said other budget priorities should include a train station or rail link at Avalon Airport, high-capacity internet for students and teachers at schools, financial support for the Viva refinery, and more funding for Orange Door services to help victims of family violence and sexual assault.
Originally published as A Melbourne-style rail network in Geelong, northern health funding among region’s state budget wish list
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