THE 2013-14 state budget has delivered a mixed bag for Melbourne’s western suburbs and funding for many items was announced before the papers were officially released last week.
Tabling the Napthine government’s first budget last Tuesday, Treasurer Michael O’Brien confirmed funding for dental care and the west’s first dedicated P-12 autism school, at Laverton.
But Labor MPs argued Brimbank and the north-west had been overlooked, with no specific funding allocated to new schools and public transport services.
Before the budget, the government announced $52 million to begin planning and works at seven dangerous level crossings in Melbourne, including the deadly Main Road crossing in St Albans.
But work to remove the crossing is unlikely to begin this year, with no additional funding allocated.
Dianne Dejanovic, whose son Christian died after being hit by a train at the crossing last year, said she was disgusted the government had neglected to fund the $180 million needed to remove the railway.
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Earlier this month, the Weekly reported the state government had turned down $90 million from the federal government to fund half the removal of the crossing.
“There have been more deaths at this single crossing than at any other crossing in Victoria,” Ms Dejanovic said.
“The deaths continue to stack up, but it’s falling on deaf ears. This is a political decision by the government to pool funding in marginal seats. Until this crossing is removed people’s lives will remain at risk, there will be more deaths and more heartache,” she said.
Derrimut Labor MP Telmo Languiller said it was disappointing that funds were allocated only for planning, not construction. “Over $450 million has now been cut from public transport since the Coalition took government.”
Western Metropolitan Liberal MP Bernie Finn defended the budget and said the money allocated would “kick-start much needed planning and works” at the crossing.
The budget controversially included $294 million over two years for the eastern stage of the east-west link, defying calls to start work in the traffic-choked west.
Western Metropolitan Liberal MP Andrew Elsbury defended the decision to fund the eastern section first.
“We had to start somewhere. We have got this first stage under way and that will improve traffic by diverting people away from the M1 corridor.”
—With Benjamin Millar
