Federal Budget 2019: What it means for Melbourne’s western suburbs, Geelong

Fast rail from Geelong has been billed as game-changer for all of Melbourne’s west and is by far one of the most significant cash injections promised in the Budget — but it comes with a catch for the city’s western suburbs.

Fast rail from Geelong has been billed as game-changer for all of Melbourne’s west and is by far one of the most significant cash injections promised in the Budget.

But major rail commitments also mean the western suburbs have received comparatively less road funding than other parts of the city.

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While Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is banking on popular support for a fast train, the Federal Government is also hoping to win back a key marginal areas by investing in Geelong and the electorate of Corangamite.

If you live in Melbourne’s west, here are the ways the Federal Budget is set to impact you in 2019.

Josh Frydenberg addresses the media with Prime Minister Scott Morrison at Geelong train station. Picture: Alan Barber

TRANSPORT

A suite of key upgrades to the Melbourne to Geelong rail corridor will be used to help improve commutes to the CBD and take traffic away from the increasingly congested west.

The heart of this pitch is a $2 billion commitment to a fast train service between the two cities and a $700 million upgrade of rail between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds.

The Federal Government has also previously announced $5 billion for the Melbourne Airport Rail Link and $500 million for the M80 Ring Rd these numbers are reflected in the Budget.

The Princes Highway has also been allocated $300 million for repairs and improvements.

As much as $3 billion funding for the East West Link has also been made available to any State Government that decides to build the project but this remains unlikely for some time yet.

HEALTH

Strained hospital services across Melbourne’s west will receive some relief in the form of a new Geelong Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

The Federal Coalition has committed $50 million towards the $160 million facility, co-funded by the Andrews Government, built on the site of the former Geelong Private Hospital.

Another $80 million will be used to establish a Centre of Excellence in Cellular Immunotherapy in Victoria.

A package of $40 million for paediatric emergency departments will partly go towards Geelong while another $16 million for mental health headspace centres has been flagged for use in Ocean Grove.

COMMUNITY AND SPORTS

The addition of $30 million to Geelong’s City Deal is expected to bring widespread benefits across the entire region west of Melbourne.

The funding will help the rollout of a Shipwreck Coast Master Plan through upgraded tourism infrastructure.

Peak hour congestion on the Westgate Freeway outbound to Westgate Bridge. Picture: David Caird

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Local schools will be able to apply for equipment, upgrades and new programs thanks to a new $30.2 million fund.

A push to provide universal access to four-year-old kinder will be supported for another year by $453.1 million including money for programs to increase preschool attendance among disadvantaged and indigenous children.

Over the next five years, $67.5 million will be used to trial 10 national training hubs in areas with high youth unemployment.

Commonwealth funding for Victorian schools could increase from $5 billion in 2019 to a record $8.7 billion in 2029 if the Coalitions plan is ever accepted by Victorian Education Minister James Merlino.