Budget blasted for neglecting region

A chorus of local leaders have put the Allan government on blast after this years state budget failed to deliver any of the critical investments they begged for.

Treasurer Jaclyn Symes says this budget has something for Victorians from every corner of the state, but Geelong’s leaders aren’t convinced. Picture: NewsWire / POOL/ Eamon Gallagher

Frustrated Geelong leaders have vowed to double down on their advocacy for the region in the lead-up to next year’s election, amid growing concern the city was neglected in Tuesday’s budget.

Despite universal calls for critical and long-overdue investment in Avalon Airport, housing, and infrastructure, local government and industry leaders say there was nothing substantial beyond a few million dollars set aside to upgrade the Geelong hospital’s emergency department and two local schools.

Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj suggested that while it was “pleasing to see some investment in health and education”, the Allan government’s failure to implement any of the budget recommendations put forward by council could come back to bite them at the next election.

“The fact that none of the city’s funding requests were met means we will have to double our advocacy efforts in the lead-up to next year’s election, where a number of the Geelong lower house seats will be in play,” he said.

It comes after the budget delivered on none of the requests made in the City of Greater Geelong’s 36-page budget submission, which included priority projects like actionable investment in the region’s housing targets, upgrades to facilities at Avalon Airport, and a feasibility study on fast rail to Melbourne.

Mr Kontelj also slammed the new fire services levy following weeks of lobbying by council to ditch the controversial new law, which is also the budget’s only new tax.

“We continue to be extremely disappointed by that … businesses and farmers are going to go to the wall,” he said.

Mr Kontelj’s criticisms were echoed by G21 Alliance chief executive Giulia Baggio, who represents an alliance of government, business, and community organisations from across the region.

While Ms Baggio welcomed the budget’s announcement of a review into bus services in Geelong and the Bellarine, G21 was less pleased with the government’s failure to deliver anything for Avalon Airport.

“The development of the Avalon precinct as a significant Victorian transport and jobs hub must be factored into future state budgets, with funding to match the federal contribution announced in the recent election,” she said.

Giulia Baggio is CEO of the G21 Geelong Region Alliance. Picture: Supplied.

Committee for Geelong chief Michael Johnston said that while “expectations were fairly low,” his organisation had still been vocal on the need for investment in Geelong.

On the lack of investment in infrastructure, Mr Johnston said: “the reality is that the ongoing investment in the Suburban Rail Loop is going to absorb a considerable amount of Victoria’s infrastructure spend for years to come.”

“In a period of budget repair, where does that leave Geelong, or the population living to the west of Melbourne’s CBD more broadly?” he added.

CEO of the Committee for Geelong says those outside of Melbourne are being negelected. Photo : Ginger + Mint

Treasurer Jaclyn Symes the budget focused on helping families and ensuring regional Victorians had better access to healthcare, education, and regional services.

Opposition regional development spokesman Danny O’Brien said the budget was “another heartless blow for hardworking regional Victorians”.

Originally published as Budget blasted for neglecting region