BRIMBANK residents keen for progress on key infrastructure projects were left with little to show from last week’s state budget.
The highlight was a new 13-bed intensive care unit at Sunshine Hospital and four new short-stay beds at the psychiatric unit.
Western Metropolitan Liberal MP Andrew Elsbury welcomed the hospital spending and said residents would also benefit from upgrades to the West Gate Bridge and West Gate Freeway.
“The Coalition government is delivering for the people of the western suburbs where it’s needed most – in health, education and roads,” he said.
But no local schools were singled out for upgrades and Caroline Springs residents must wait at least another year before a railway station becomes a reality.
St Albans residents and traders have also been left wondering if the long-promised grade separation will ever see the light of day.
The government will instead spend $350 million on three projects in Springvale and Mitcham in Melbourne’s east.
St Albans Traders Association secretary Asip Demiri said he was disgusted at the latest rebuff and was equally scathing of both sides of politics.
“When this government was elected it promised it would govern for all of Victoria, but again we’ve been left out,” he said.
LeadWest chief executive Anton Mayer welcomed the funding of mental health services at Sunshine Hospital, as well as the boost to critical care services.
But he was disappointed at the loss of TAFE funding and inaction over the St Albans crossing.
Brimbank Council chairman Peter Lewinsky said the crossing had been shown to be a greater safety risk than those which received funding in the east.
“It is also unfortunate that there are no school renewal projects in Brimbank, despite our critical needs in this area.”
But Mr Lewinsky welcomed the boost to Sunshine Hospital and $80 million to be invested over five years to protect vulnerable children.
“We also welcome the state government’s increased commitment to the Regional Rail Link project, as the 2012-13 budget funds the purchase of additional rolling stock to increase the capacity of the regional rail network,” he said.
Kororoit Labor MP Marlene Kairouz said the budget was a “catastrophe” for families despite the government’s vow to reduce the cost of living.
Derrimut Labor MP Telmo Languiller said schools in the west were the first to miss out under “Kennett-era levels of austerity”.
He panned the “bungled” rollout of protective services officers, lack of police station upgrades and failure to deliver new metropolitan trains or services.
