Gippsland › Latest news › Russel Northe MLA

Northe Welcomes Projects but Urges Government to Support Locals

Building Works, announced.

By Portal Admin - 2nd June 2020 - Back to News

Member for Morwell Russell Northe has today welcomed the Victorian Government’s announcement of a Building Works program that includes investment in the areas of educational infrastructure, tourism, sport, transport, housing and care facilities

Mr Northe said he was particularly ecstatic for the Latrobe Specialist Development School community who were one of two schools within the Morwell Electorate that have been allocated much-needed funding investment.

"This is terrific news for Latrobe Specialist Development School and its Principal, staff, teachers, students, families and volunteers who have fought so hard over a considerable period of time to secure the $13.7 million that has now been announced to finally rebuild the School" said Mr Northe.

"On a personal level, I am absolutely thrilled for the Latrobe Specialist Development School community that the Government has seen fit to support this project, and that the many letters, campaigns and Parliament speeches have not gone unnoticed" added Mr Northe.

"Morwell Park Primary School have also been allocated funding of $5.35 million for an integrated early learning centre which will be of great benefit to early learners and indeed the local Morwell community" Mr Northe said.

"Outside of educational infrastructure upgrades, there are other sectors that are being supported in the packages announced today, and enabling people to continue working or get back to work is critically important in these uncertain times so on that basis the Government’s announcement is most welcomed; however there are three points which I hope the Government will seriously consider and adopt" Mr Northe added.

"First, for far too long local people have not been provided the opportunities they should have to participate in local State Government work or projects, including a specific project I highlighted just last week. Now is the time to get this right and ensure that true locals are quite rightly provided employment opportunities in their own community" said Mr Northe.

"Second, whilst I’m not critical of Sidekicker to whom the Government is using for its "Working for Victoria" initiative, I would have hoped that local labour hire and employment businesses would have been engaged to match personnel with employment opportunities, but that appears to not be the case, which is incredibly disappointing." Mr Northe said.

"Third, when we are talking about opportunities the Government must act decisively to finally support already improved developments that have sat idle for years. Some of these projects could be shovel ready in the immediate future should the Government break the infrastructure barrier impasse that exists with projects such as the Lake Narracan precinct structure plan and the Morwell East Industrial precinct plan" Mr Northe continued.

"Unfortunately despite Government recognition that water, sewerage and road costs are inhibiting any commencement on these projects there have been no solutions to this point, and despite programs operating effectively in other States that have addressed these same issues." Mr Northe said.

"I do sincerely hope the Government finally finds a resolution to this impasse through the package of works announced today. These projects would see the provision of local jobs through local investment and the building of local infrastructure." Mr Northe concluded.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: support@gippsland.com