There is good reason for East Gippslanders to expect some major projects to be funded in next Wednesday’s State Budget, according to The Nationals Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull.
Mr Bull said the fact The Nationals secured $700m for rural transport and roads from the Port of Melbourne lease sale should make a certainty of the Stratford Rail Bridge upgrade and the next stage of the Macalister Irrigation District (MID) upgrade should also be funded as it was promised on the sale of the lease going through.
“When Labor wanted to only give 2.8% of funds back to the country, I was pleased The Nationals held out for a minimum of 10%, which is our fair share and it should equate to $700m,” he said.
“The Stratford Rail Bridge was a project where detailed planning and costing was almost complete leading into the 2014 election. I know this as it was something we were briefed on just before entering care-taker mode.
“Eighteen months later it would be well and truly completed and given what we secured from the Port of Melbourne Lease sale, a $700m Regional Transport Fund (rather than the $200m that was originally on offer); this project fits well within the scope and should be delivered. I would be astounded if it were not announced next Wednesday.
“On the MID upgrade, it is a case of the money having already been promised from the Port of Melbourne lease sale.
“Both myself and the Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien, whose electorate also takes in the MID, have lobbied very strongly on this after the Coalition funded the first stage and committed to the second stage pre-election. With the Port lease to now be sold, it is a reasonable expectation that the $20m is in the Budget.
“The other key project that I unfortunately do not hold any high level of hope for is the funding to complete the Bairnsdale Secondary College, which again was a Coalition commitment.
“Whilst I will be most appreciative if it is included, the fact the Minister has refused repeated requests from myself and the school council to even visit and talk is clearly not a good sign. Late last year his office promised he would visit the school in ‘early 2016’.
“Here we are nearly five months in – not only has he not visited, there’s no date on the horizon.
“I would also expect the continuation of the Gippsland Lakes Environment Fund. The Coalition funded it to the tune of $2.5m per year. Labor committed to one year only last year and given its importance I would expect it will again be funded this Budget to allow the same level of support.
“From a state-wide perspective, programs that would provide benefits to East Gippsland include the reinstating of the 20% cut to roads maintenance funding and restoration of the Country Roads and Bridges program, which provided funding to our councils for roads projects, but was cut.
“On funds being reinstated and given the windfall from the Port lease sale, it would also be pleasing to have the 11% cut to agriculture funding returned and the massive 54% cut to tourism funding from last year.
“All of the projects previously mentioned are not new. Four (Bairnsdale SC, MID, Gippsland Lakes Environment Fund and the Country Roads and Bridges program) were all Coalition pre-election commitments and I can safely say the Stratford Bridge would have been funded on completion of the preparatory commenced under the Coalition.
“The bridge, MID and continuation of the Gippsland Lakes Environment Fund should be certainties, any of the others on top would be a pleasant surprise and most welcomed,” Mr Bull said.
