Marcus Oldham College, Geelong women’s hospital, Barwon Heads Rd funding part of state budget 2020-21

Kardinia Park was one of the major local beneficiaries in Tuesday’s state budget, with $139 million set aside for the final stage of the ground’s redevelopment. Here are the other Geelong projects that saw some financial love from the Andrews government.

GETTING people back into work and encouraging businesses to relocate to regional areas are priorities of the Andrews government 2020-21 budget released on Tuesday.

A 50 per cent stamp duty concession will be fast tracked to January 1, 2021 for those who buy, expand or relocate to industrial or commercial properties in regional Victoria.

The $156m regional jobs and infrastructure fund will include $110m to support priority community projects, $36m to support businesses to expand or develop operations, and $10m to accelerate planning and business cases for projects of “strategic importance.”

While the threshold for annual payroll tax will be lifted from $40,000 to $100,000 in a bid to free up businesses to hire more staff, and businesses charged payroll tax will get a 10c rebate for every dollar they increase taxable wages by rehiring staff, restoring hours or creating new jobs.

And $250m will be spent to support businesses to hire at least 10,000 people, some in regional Victoria, via a six-month wage subsidy to focus on young people and the long-term unemployed.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the budget was dedicated to creating jobs including 200,000 by 2022.

“There is no real recovery from this pandemic unless we face up to the deep cracks it’s exposed and do something about them,” Mr Andrews said.

South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman said the government would top up funding for the Barwon Heads Road duplication meaning the project is fully funded.

“This is a significant piece of local infrastructure, it will help support communities like Barwon Heads but also, of course, Armstrong Creek,” Mr Cheeseman said.

“These investments will very much provide the access that those communities need into Geelong.”

Following $292m from the Commonwealth, the state government will tip $73m into the project, due to start next year, but it’s yet to release yearly totals of how the money will be allocated.

Cats CEO Brian Cook celebrates funding for. Picture: Alison Wynd

Other Geelong projects funded in the budget include:

– $50m for upgrades at three regional agriculture schools including Marcus Oldham College at Waurn Ponds;

– $3.6m to plan and design the Geelong Women’s and Children’s hospital and there’s also money to buy land for the Torquay hospital;

– $139m for the final stage of the Kardinia Park redevelopment, expected to ramp by 2023 when $86.5m is allocated;

– $5m for Anam Cara House to build a 20-bed hospice at Deakin University, Waurn Ponds; and;

– $3.3m for the Kardinia Park Stadium Trust, in part to attract major events to Geelong.

Artist impressions Kardinia Park – Plaza entrance render

Treasurer Tim Pallas said Victoria was short-changed by the Commonwealth’s “new and crippling” GST policy; the state’s total revenue dropped 4.2 per cent from pre-pandemic levels; and tax revenue had fallen 11.3 per cent.

“In keeping with the federal government, and other states and territories, we are borrowing to keep Victoria’s economy and livelihoods afloat,” Mr Pallas said.

“We are borrowing to make the necessary investments to drive a quicker and stronger recovery.”

The government will also spend $240,000 to refurbish the Surf Coast Sport and Recreation Centre and establish a Torquay Multi Arts Centre.

Funding for Skilling the Bay and The Geelong Project to support students, at risk of disengagement, to participate in school, training and employment is also included in the budget.

The government committed $2bn to Geelong fast rail but the money is yet to be allocated in annual totals to 2023-24.

Similarly the $899.2m South Geelong to Waurn Ponds rail duplication project, funded via a 80-20 Canberra-Spring St split, is yet to be allocated into yearly totals.

Other significant spends include $187m for V/Line network upgrades; $120m for regional health infrastructure; and $350m for universities to fund redevelopments and research with grants available to regional institutions.

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Originally published as Marcus Oldham College, Geelong women’s hospital, Barwon Heads Rd funding part of state budget 2020-21