Funding for a new primary school in Craigieburn, the removal of the Camp Road level crossing in Campbellfield and millions for growth councils are just some of the spoils from the Andrews state government’s first budget for residents in the outer north.
More than $12 million has been earmarked for a new primary school in Craigieburn; one of eight new schools planned for the state as revealed in the 2015-16 budget.
Funding of $3 million has also be allocated to repair and refurbish Sunbury College’s science wing. Almost $2.5 million will be spent in the 2015-16 financial year on the school and the project is predicted to be completed in 2017.
Mount Ridley P-12 College in Craigieburn has also been awarded $3.56 million to complete stage 5 of the new Hampton Street school.
The budget papers include $300 million for the TAFE Rescue Fund for campuses across the state to reopen closed buildings, upgrade workshops and classrooms and “get institutes back in the black.” This will include money for Kangan Institute in Broadmeadows.
In a boon for Hume council, the Camp Road level crossing will be removed from the government’s $5 billion-to-$6 billion war chest to remove 50 of the most dangerous and congested level crossings in the state.
Hume mayor Adem Atmaca said the issue of congestion in Camp Road would have become more pressing as the population of Broadmeadows grows.
“Since the M-80 ring road offers no entry or exit on the eastern side of Pascoe Vale Road, Camp Road becomes particularly congested,” he said.
The Interface Councils group, which consists of 10 local councils in growth areas and including Hume and Whittlesea councils, received an initial contribution of $50 million. The funding is designed to help the councils keep up with rapid growth and reduce pressure on strained services.
Local government minister Natalie Hutchins said the funds can be used to build multi-purpose facilities, community centres, playgrounds, “anything that local families need.”
The Innovation and Investment Fund for Melbourne’s north is set to receive $10.5 million to help the region transition from a decrease in the car manufacturing industry.
While the budget contained significant funding for the outer northern suburbs, many of projects Hume council desperately wanted funding for were left out, including the Somerton, Craigieburn and Sunbury road duplications.
Despite prolonged campaigning from residents to fix parking woes at Broadmeadows, Craigieburn and Sunbury train stations, Spring Street offered no funding for a future reprieve.
Hume council’s chief executive officer Domenic Isola was unimpressed more funds weren’t set aside for the Broadmeadows area.
“We want to send a very clear message that we think we’re doing our bit for the requirements of this area – by making open space better, making the Broadmeadows Town Hall a viable option for the community to access – but we’d like to see the state government recommit to the area,” he said.
“What we’re saying is there are four years of this government, wouldn’t it be good for the new state government to reinvest in this community? It can’t all be left to local government.”
