Federal Budget 2019: What it means for suburbs in Melbourne’s east

Infrastructure is at the centre of Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s pitch to the east, including his own electorate, and much of it is based around tackling urban congestion. This is what the Budget means for residents in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

Many of Melbourne’s eastern suburbs were long considered Liberal heartland before the Andrews Government’s election victory and the Coalition is hoping this year’s Budget can restore the natural order.

Infrastructure is at the centre of Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s pitch to the east, including his own electorate, and much of it is based around tackling urban congestion.

WHAT THE BUDGET MEANS FOR MELBOURNE’S WEST, GEELONG

NORTHERN SUBURBS RECEIVE BUDGET ROADS BOOST

WHAT’S IN THE BUDGET FOR MELBOURNE’S SOUTHEAST

FRYDENBERG DELIVERS BUDGET FOR BATTLERS

Outer suburbs with high population growth and poor public transport have received a boost while local train stations will be some of the first to benefit from a commuter car park fund.

If you live in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, here are the ways the Budget will impact you in 2019.

TRANSPORT

The Coalition has doubled down on its suburban road funding announcement with additional upgrades to be rolled out in east through traffic-busting initiatives.

The $396 million Urban Congestion Fund will be used to tackle surging journey times around the city’s outer suburbs.

Gridlocked corridors will be overhauled with extra lanes to improve frustrating peak hour trips.

One of the biggest announcements for the region is a $50 million upgrade to the Calder Freeway between Gap Rd and the M80 Ring Rd.

The Monash Freeway taken from Narre Warren Rd North. Picture: Penny Stephens

Another $50 million will also go towards a long-awaited improvement of Napoleon Rd, Ferntree Gully.

The Federal Government has also committed to delivering smaller projects along the Fitzsimons Lane and Main Rd corridor in Eltham and the Maroondah Highway in Coldstream.

More car parks are set to be delivered at train stations in Croydon, Ferntree Gully and Ringwood to provide relief for swelling public transport hubs.

The Federal Government has previously dedicated $500 million towards the Monash Freeway and $1.75 billion towards North East Link and this is also reflected within the Budget.

HEALTH

A $40 million package for paediatric emergency departments will partly go to Maroondah and Casey while another $16 million will go towards suburban mental health headspace centres.

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

SPORTS AND COMMUNITY FUNDING

A $496.2 million commitment to support local communities in Australia will direct $15 million towards setting up the William Cooper Centre in Richmond.

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.