Harper Sercombe
Education and health are the major winners for residents of Hume and Whittlesea in Tuesday’s state budget.
The state government has allocated funding for the construction of four new schools and five school upgrades across the northern suburbs.
Schools to receive money include Wollert Central Primary School, Lockerbie Secondary School and Lockerbie Specialist School.
A new campus for Greenvale Secondary College will also be funded.
Hume is one of six municipalities that will welcome new tech schools as a part of a $84 million commitment from the government.
Schools that have received funding for upgrades within the government’s $20 million school upgrades delivery fund include Gladstone Park Secondary College and Whittlesea Secondary College.
Bethal Primary School in Meadow Heights will receive $10.5 million in funding for the modernisation of its facilities.
Mental health centres at the Northern Hospital will also be funded after a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.
The Northern Hospital will also undergo redevelopment with a new emergency department and inpatient tower to support the growing demand in the area.
A further $44 million to deliver a new PET scanner at Epping’s Northern Hospital was also announced.
However, the $68 million allocated to developments for Mickleham Road and the $632 million for the Airport rail loop are both subject to the Commonwealth Infrastructure Investment Program review, leaving no guarantee that these projects will begin anytime soon.
Star Weekly has asked the state government for more detail on the health and education announcements.
