The Victorian Government’s 2024-25 budget delivers much needed investment in the areas identified in Council’s “Funding Priorities for the 2024-2025 State Budget” which includes community mental health programs and reforms, suicide prevention initiatives, mental healthcare in schools and community-based support through Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs.
Council also welcomes the various initiatives to tackle climate change and address environmental issues, especially the $270 million commitment to protect and restore Victoria’s waterways and catchments, and $15m to progress the State’s circular economy targets and to support Recycling Victoria to boost recycling and help households cut down waste.
Other Budget announcements that align with Council’s priorities are:
- $208m fund to repair and improve Victoria’s roads and intersections
- $240m for accommodation and support services to Victorians experiencing homelessness
- $18 million to build and upgrade community sport infrastructure and create more opportunities for Victorians to get involved in sport and active recreation.
Ratepayers will notice a considerable increase in State Government charges on their next rates bill, with monies going directly to the State Government to fund landfill and Fire Services levies, while local councils continue to struggle with the impacts of long term rate capping.
Despite the various measures in the Budget that Council has welcomed, there is a lack of funding for significant infrastructure projects that have been promised for Brimbank but have now stalled.
Although the Melbourne Airport Rail was an election commitment of the current State Government in 2018, it has now been delayed by four years. This is due to a dispute with Melbourne Airport over the position of the station, however, it is unclear why such a disagreement would delay the project by four years.
Despite the delay to the Melbourne Airport Rail, there are strong community expectations that progress will continue on the delivery of the Sunshine Station Masterplan and the rebuild of Albion Station.
The Sunshine Station Masterplan was a commitment of the Labor Government in 2022 and it is critical that the precinct plan is implemented as a priority, to unlock jobs and secure investment in Melbourne’s west.
It is apparent from the budget that the government can no longer meet community expectations and commit to completing the Albion Station rebuild by June 2026, as was specified in the previous 2023-2024 State Budget.
Council is also disappointed that the State Government has paused its $50m commitment for Calder Freeway improvement works. Despite the $50m being promised at the 2021-2022 State Budget, only $12.9m is reported as being expended on this project by 30 June 2024.
Quotes to be attributed to Brimbank Mayor Cr Ranka Rasic:
“It is disappointing that the Victorian Budget stalls on a number of commitments promised by the State Government and needed to transform Brimbank into a prosperous region that provides jobs and economic prosperity for Melbourne’s west.
”This includes the Melbourne Airport Rail, the implementation of the Sunshine Station Masterplan, the rebuild of Albion Station, a new train station in Keilor East and the upgrading of the Calder Freeway.
“Council continues to call on the State Government to release the findings of its business case into the construction of a full diamond interchange at Calder Park Drive, which was completed in 2022.”