Brimbank residents can look forward to improved freeway access, a new railway station at Caroline Springs and the removal of the St Albans level crossing thanks to the 2014-15 state budget.
The state government handed down its budget last Tuesday, cementing a number of big-ticket announcements that had been made across Brimbank and the north-west in recent weeks.
Key features of the budget include:
■ $49 million for removal of the St Albans level crossing, with the federal government providing the remaining $151 million.
■ A new V-Line railway station at Caroline Springs, slated to open in 2016.
■ Redevelopment of the trade, science and commerce wings at North Sunshine College.
■ The $8.5-$11 billion Melbourne Rail Link, including a rail link to Melbourne Airport.
■ $8-$10 billion for the western section of East West Link.
■ $51.6 million to the Metropolitan Planning Authority over four years to implement Plan Melbourne, which will kick-start major employment clusters at Sunshine and three other locations in the state.
■ $850 million for widening the CityLink-Tullamarine Freeway, which will cut travel times on the key route to Melbourne Airport by up to 16 minutes during peak periods.
■ An additional 145 prison beds and facilities upgrade at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre.
The state government is also investing $2.5 million to set up a “my council” website that will give ratepayers across all 79 Victorian councils the chance to see how their rates are being spent.
“Projects like Melbourne Rail Link and the East West Link are generational projects that will transform how people travel and enable goods to be moved more efficiently,” Premier Denis Napthine said.
“We are delivering this infrastructure program to keep pace with population growth, generate jobs and cater to growing freight demands.”
Western Metropolitan MPs Bernie Finn and Andrew Elsbury called the budget a huge win for the west, but Footscray MP Marsha Thomson branded it “a con”.
“It’s the budget of a government in desperation just playing politics, not planning for the future,” Ms Thomson said.
Kororoit MP Marlene Kairouz attacked the state government for a $124 million budget cut to TAFE.
“Now more than ever we need a strong TAFE sector to reskill workers as our economy changes,” Ms Kairouz said. “This government has no vision and no plan for jobs and skills in Victoria.”
