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Coalition Government Building For Growth In The Morwell Electorate Member for Morwell Russell Northe today welcomed the Victorian Coalition Government¡¦s 2013/14 Budget investments in the Morwell electorate. By Russell Northe - 8th May 2013 - Back to News Mr Northe congratulated the Treasurer on handing down his first budget which builds upon the Coalition Governments foundation of being a responsible fiscal manager, whilst improving service delivery and creating growth in our State.
The Victorian Coalition Government¡¦s 2013-14 Victorian State Budget invests in major infrastructure and high-quality services for all Victorians, while ensuring Victoria¡¦s finances remain the strongest in the nation.
Premier Denis Napthine said today¡¦s Budget delivered for families and communities right across Victoria, from metropolitan Melbourne to regional cities and our rural heartland.
¡§The Coalition Government has committed to delivering State-shaping infrastructure, and provides a record $6.1 billion for infrastructure in 2013-14 to boost economic growth, productivity and improve liveability,¡¨ Dr Napthine said.
The Victorian Government will deliver stage 1 of the East West Link at a total capital cost of $6-8 billion. As a nation-building piece of major infrastructure, a funding contribution of $1.5 billion from the Commonwealth Government will be required to ensure its timely delivery.
The East West Link will provide a bypass of Melbourne and transform the way people move around Victoria linking the Eastern Freeway to CityLink, alleviating congestion and ensuring travel-time reliability.
Enabling regional freight to bypass Melbourne will reduce costs for regional exporters. The East West Link will also improve access to Melbourne Airport. In addition to funding the East West Link, the Victorian Coalition Government will invest more than $2 billion in other new infrastructure projects.
Residents in the Morwell electorate will benefit from the following Budget initiatives:
„h A further $8.3 million for Clean Coal Victoria, which plays an important role in the planning of access to and development of Victoria¡¦s world-class brown coal resources;
„h $16 million contribution by the Coalition Government towards the $32 million dollar Macalister Irrigation District 2030 project, which aims to increase on-farm productivity, greater regional economic production and improved waterway and estuarine health;
„h $4.2 million to address mine stability risks at major coal mines in the Latrobe Valley and speed up work on specific projects that have been identified as priorities;
„h $5 million to develop and install electronic learning technology at existing training providers, including Gippsland TAFE. This will allow students to access and directly interact with teachers in a wide range of education services close to home;
„h Continuation of the Traralgon night bus service for 2013/2014 on top of previous additional investment in bus services across the Latrobe Valley.
russell.northe@parliament.vic.gov.au www.russellnorthe.com.au 66 George St, Morwell VIC 3840 ph 03 5133 9088 fax 03 5133 9388
„h Funding to open four new adult inpatient beds at Traralgon;
„h A five-bed mother-baby health unit in Traralgon as part of a $9.4 million investment in mental health to assist women with a mental illness and their infants;
„h A new Multi-Disciplinary Centre for the Latrobe Valley to improve responses to sexual assault;
„h Continued funding under the Latrobe Valley Industry & Employment Roadmap.
Families and householders in the Morwell electorate will also benefit from the Coalition Government¡¦s reforms to the Fire Services Levy (FSL). The property levy replaces the old levy on insurance premiums, leading to a fairer system ¡V with all property owners making a contribution to the fire services, rather than just those who take out insurance.
The Coalition Government has removed the unfair tax-on-tax, which charged GST and stamp duty on the FSL. Insured households in the Morwell electorate will save an estimated $86.00 per annum from the changes.
Other regional and state-wide initiatives in the Victorian Budget benefiting Morwell electorate include:
„h $170 million over three years for a road maintenance program which includes $90 million towards renewing deteriorated roads by strengthening the pavement and a further $80 million for resurfacing works to make roads more resilient to wet weather;
„h a record $14.34 billion in health funding state-wide to treat more patients and manage the increasing pressure on the system, including $81.5 million for regional hospitals and health services;
„h $11.6 billion in education funding state-wide to improve student outcomes and ensure Victorians have the skills needed for the future;
„h $33.7 million over the next two years to expand the Coalition Government¡¦s planned burning program, as recommended by the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission;
„h $8 million tourism campaign to drive regional tourism, while raising awareness interstate and internationally, of Victoria¡¦s regional destinations and experiences;
„h $61 million for upgrades and replacements of rural fire stations;
„h $4.7 million over two years to help better protect the livestock industry from serious disease, with a particular focus on preparing for an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease;
„h $16 million for grants to landholders and regional organisations to support native vegetation and threatened species;
„h $2.3 million for Rural Financial Counselling Service providing assistance to primary producers, fishers and small rural businesses suffering financial hardship;
„h $91 million extra for out-of-home care across Victoria to continue work in improving the lives of vulnerable children;
„h $42.4 million for continued support for mental health beds across Victoria;
russell.northe@parliament.vic.gov.au www.russellnorthe.com.au 66 George St, Morwell VIC 3840 ph 03 5133 9088 fax 03 5133 9388
„h $46.2 million extra to support Victorian children across the State in the vital years before school, including $7 million to build and upgrade children¡¦s centres and kindergartens across Victoria, growth corridors and regional areas;
„h $8.5 million for a new independent authority to improve game species management, enforce relevant laws and promote responsible hunting; and
„h Supporting first home buyers and job creation in the housing construction industry by boosting the First Home Owner Grant to $10,000 for newly constructed properties and reducing stamp duty from 1 July 2013.
Treasurer Michael O¡¦Brien said responsible economic management had delivered an operating surplus in challenging times while ensuring that borrowings were kept at prudent levels.
¡§Today¡¦s Budget is about building for growth for all Victorians. Responsible economic management means the Coalition Government can invest in critical infrastructure and better services,¡¨ Mr O¡¦Brien said.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan said the Coalition Government is building for growth in regional Victoria, with the 2013-14 Victorian State Budget investing hundreds of millions of dollars into regional cities and country communities.
¡§Across our great State, the Coalition Government is building for growth, delivering major infrastructure funding to transform our regional transport, health, safety and agriculture industries to maintain and enhance liveability for future generations of regional Victorians,¡¨ Mr Ryan said.
Mr Ryan said funding announced in the 2013-14 Victorian Budget was in addition to the Coalition Government¡¦s $1 billion Regional Growth Fund (RGF) ¡V a record eight-year investment in the regions to deliver a greater quality of life, new opportunities and increased prosperity to all Victorians.
¡§Across Victoria, the RGF has so far invested a total of more than $250 million into 900 projects worth more than $900 million, expected to create 3,700 direct jobs and a further 3,800 indirect jobs.
¡§This Budget will not only benefit regional Victoria, but the prosperity of the whole state including the Latrobe Valley,¡¨ Mr Ryan said.
¡§The Coalition Government has already advanced and committed to many projects in the region through our popular Regional Growth Fund and the Latrobe Valley Industry & Employment Roadmap. Opportunities will continue to exist for communities and businesses in the region through these programs outside of the normal budgetary process,¡¨ Mr Ryan said.
Some examples of the Coalition Government commitments to the Morwell electorate under these and other programs include:
„h Substantial financial support for Australian Papers $90 million De-Inking project along with investment in various environmental improvements.
„h $1.5 million to facilitate aerospace growth at Latrobe Regional Airport.
„h $490,000 to Lion Dairy to increase supply capacity.
„h $326,000 for Fishers Timber Morwell to upgrade its treatment processes.
„h $25,000 towards the establishment of Boolarra Men¡¦s Shed. In addition to funding for the Traralgon South Men¡¦s Shed.
russell.northe@parliament.vic.gov.au www.russellnorthe.com.au 66 George St, Morwell VIC 3840 ph 03 5133 9088 fax 03 5133 9388
„h $400,000 to resurface the Traralgon tennis courts and $75,000 to upgrade the Glengarry tennis & netball courts.
„h $25,000 for the refurbishment of Cowwarr Hall and $93,000 for the restoration of Glengarry Hall.
„h $320,000 to upgrade facilities at Yallourn North town reserve.
„h $140,000 to Gippsland heritage walk at Kernot Lake.
„h A share in $41 million for literacy and numeracy programs across a number of local schools along with new primary welfare officers and $300,000 for an expanded early learning centre for St Paul¡¦s Anglican Grammar School Traralgon.
„h Approximately 60 new police officers across all Latrobe Valley police stations.
„h $70,000 to upgrade to sporting facilities at Tyers Recreation reserve.
„h New vehicles and building upgrades for a number of local CFA and SES localities including Tyers CFA and Morwell SES.
„h Various Health and mental health investments for Latrobe Regional Hospital and support for Gippsland Rotary centenary House.
„h $200,000 for the Gippsland Plains Rail Trail from Glengarry to Cowwarr
„h $250,000 for the Gippsland Apprentices Program (GAP)
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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