The Andrews government delivered its 2023-24 budget today, with predictably few pleasant surprises for the Geelong region.
Funding remained in place for many projects and programs around the area, including a share of $2.6 billion in Commonwealth Games funding.
However, the state government offered little in the way of funding for new projects as it announced measures to implement the payback of its $31.5 billion COVID debt through medium and large business payroll taxes.
G21 chief executive Giulia Baggio described the budget as “tough” and the report card for the G21 region as “mixed”.
“While construction of transport projects continue in Melbourne, the G21 region still requires billions of dollars to upgrade its public transport and active transport networks and this remains a key priority for our communities,” Ms Baggio said.
“The likelihood of any major investment for this fast-growing region is now on a very delayed timetable.”
Ms Baggio said while Geelong’s transport and other basic infrastructure desperately required large-scale funding, the budget did honour the government’s commitments to the region’s growth areas and even committed a small amount of extra funding.
The government reconfirmed $30 million for a new Armstrong Creek ambulance station, $125 million for Barwon Heads Road Stage 2 roadworks and $26 million for a New Schools Planning Fund including a new secondary school in Armstrong Creek and Mount Duneed.
Construction of early learning centres in Golden Plains and Portarlington will go ahead, as will improved mental health support services in Torquay.
Mount Duneed Primary, Wallington Primary, Geelong East Primary, Western Heights College and St Francis Xavier Primary schools will all receive planned upgrades, while planning will begin on improvements to Colac West Primary and Belmont High.
As part of a wide-ranging investment strategy to support First Nation peoples, the government will provide funding for a Geelong regional hub model for Aboriginal Legal Services and continue funding local safe space Stronger Brother, Stronger Sister.
Ms Baggio said the G21 Region would also be a strong contender to secure its place as a clean energy hub, with locations for a number of clean energy projects yet to be announced.
The region will pitch for hydrogen worker training centres and a share of both the $50 million TAFE Clean Energy fund and $42 million allocated to install neighbourhood batteries across the state.