By Tate Papworth
Transport, infrastructure and education are the major wins for Brimbank in last week’s state budget.
The budget made good on a number of election promises, including the removal of level crossings at Fitzgerald Road, Ardeer, and at Mt Derrimut and Robinsons roads in Deer Park.
The crossings were the subject of a campaign that resulted in two Brimbank councillors delivering a community petition signed by 3000 people to the office of St Albans MP Natalie Suleyman calling for their removal.
The budget allocated $100 million towards separating regional and metro rail lines on the Geelong and Ballarat lines as part of the Western Rail Plan.
It also reaffirmed the commitment to building the Airport Rail Link with the Sunshine super hub.
In education, the budget includes funding for Sunshine College, Copperfield College, Sunshine North Primary School, Sunshine Special Development School and Victoria University Secondary College.
Brimbank mayor Lucinda Congreve welcomed the investments.
“Major rail infrastructure projects across Melbourne’s west have the potential to create jobs for a new generation of workers,” she said.
“Council welcomes this investment in the TAFE sector which will support many in our community to gain the skills and training needed to access these
jobs.
“We are also delighted to see additional investment in local schools and early childhood education.”
Tate Papworth
