Today’s state budget has left the communities of Seymour, Broadford and Kilmore empty handed with no new projects funded in the region.
The only offering from Daniel Andrews came in the shape of another year’s delay in land acquisition for the Kilmore bypass and cuts to funding for road maintenance, regional development, mental health and agriculture.
Member for Euroa and deputy Nationals leader Steph Ryan slammed the Andrews Labor Government for snubbing regional towns in the Hume growth corridor.
“As far as this city-centric Labor government is concerned, unless you live in the metro boundaries you may as well not exist.
“Regional towns like Seymour, Kilmore and Broadford are growing communities that need investment in new infrastructure.”
Ms Ryan raised several priority projects across the region before the delivery of the budget that the Andrews Government failed to fund.
“The Kilmore SES has been pushing for new facilities so it can grow its volunteer base. I will keep advocating for the unit, which is responding to more and more callouts as the region grows,” Ms Ryan said.
“Seymour’s plans for a new wellbeing hub to integrate health and mental health support and other community services were also overlooked.
“Broadford Secondary College needs a new masterplan and capital funding, much like Seymour College which was forced to close its hydrotherapy pool due to a lack of funding.
“I have raised all these projects directly with Ministers in Parliament and it’s incredibly disheartening to know none of them will happen under this government.
“Local projects are missing out on funding because Labor is mismanaging major projects, costing the state billions of dollars.
“The budget papers show that the West Gate Tunnel project has blown out by another $3.9 billion. The money Labor has tipped down the drain could have built the Kilmore bypass 10 times over.
Ms Ryan said Labor had also increased the fire services property levy to a whopping $800 million but was investing just $11.1 million in new funding for the CFA.
“Only the Victorian Nationals in government will deliver the critical investment our region needs as a matter of priority,” Ms Ryan said.