Delivering for macedon

The Andrews Labor Government is getting on with its promise to deliver for Macedon with major investments in local schools, health, roads and public transport in the Victorian Budget 2019/20.

As part of a massive $1.8 billion investment in schools around the state, this year’s Budget includes $3.1 million to make sure students at New Gisborne Primary School have the learning spaces they deserve, delivering modern learning environments, new music rooms and an upgraded oval and outdoor learning areas.

The Labor Government is determined to make sure our kids are ready for school and set for life, delivering on our commitment to begin the rollout of universal three-year-old kinder.

Thanks to a $882 million Budget investment, we will ensure that every three-year-old has access to at least five hours per week of subsidised kinder by 2022 – increasing to 15 hours per week.

A further $28.5 million will see early childhood added to the list of Free TAFE courses, reducing financial barriers for students, encouraging enrolments and supporting the Labor Government’s rollout of universal three-year-old kinder.

This year’s Budget also includes $33.6 million to build, expand and improve local kindergarten facilities. With funding provided to local councils and eligible providers, this investment will make sure our kids are getting the best start in life.

Students right across the state will have a brighter smile, thanks to the Labor Government’s rollout of free dental care at all public primary and secondary schools.

This year’s Budget begins that rollout, investing $321.9 million and delivering on our promise to bring back dental vans. This investment will save families around $400 a year per child in dental costs, as well as saving parents the inconvenience of taking time off work for appointments.

Once fully rolled out, this initiative will also free up more than 100,000 places in the public dental care system each year.

We promised the people of the Macedon electorate that we would continue to build a hospital system that they – and their families – could rely on.

This year’s Budget delivers on that promise, funding a $100 million boost for our flagship Regional Health Infrastructure Fund, ensuring regional Victorians are getting the best care, in the best facilities, wherever they live.

Families in the Macedon Ranges can be confident that in an emergency, they will continue to get the fast, life-saving care they need, with an upgraded ambulance station in Gisborne as part of a statewide $108.8 million investment.

Additional paramedics will also be based in Gisborne to make sure patients experiencing life threatening emergencies get the care they need sooner.

Under this year’s Budget, local patients will also benefit from extra dedicated appointments with medical specialists.

Right now, many patients are required to travel to the city for appointments and treatment – or face big out-of-pocket costs for a local private appointment.

With a $136 million investment to deliver an extra 500,000 appointments across regional communities, this will help ensure patients don’t have to spend hours away from loved ones to access specialist care.

We’re building and fixing the local roads that local people use every day, with two major intersection upgrades at Station and Saunders Road and at Gisborne-Melbourne Road and Kilmore Road in Gisborne.

Local commuters can look forward to an easier time finding a car park with $150 million over four years to improve parking at some of our state’s busiest stations, including 50 additional spaces at Riddells Creek Station, 100 extra spaces at Gisborne Station and 50 extra spaces at Kyneton Station.

Delivered as part of the Car Parks for Commuters Fund, this investment will help make life just that little bit less stressful for local commuters, while also unclogging neighbouring streets.

The Labor Government is backing the people who put themselves on the line for us. Locally, that means upgrades to Riddells Creek CFA station to better house the Brigade’s four vehicles and appliances, as well as supporting the more than 60 volunteers that staff the station.

Our sporting clubs are the heart and soul of our community. In this Budget, the Labor Government is ensuring local sporting stars have the facilities they deserve, with $11.6 million being invested towards the Macedon Ranges Regional Sports Precinct to develop an indoor sports stadium, new sports fields, tennis and netball courts.

Delivering on a key election commitment, the Andrews Labor Government is investing $3 million to implement the Hanging Rock Strategic Plan over three years. The Plan provides new environmental protections, greater recognition of Hanging Rock Aboriginal cultural significance and enhances recreation opportunities for locals and visitors.

Giving Romsey families a place to enjoy and unwind, we’re also investing $718,000 to complete the Romsey Ecotherapy Park. The funding will go towards a new sensory garden, play spaces, picnic areas, a billabong and community gathering space for local arts, performances and events.

We promised to put power back in the hands of Victorians. And through our landmark Solar Homes program that’s exactly what we’re doing.

This year’s Budget delivers on the Labor Government’s positive plan for solar, investing $1.3 billion, to make sure more Victorians can take control and cut their power bills.

This includes rolling out solar panels, solar hot water or solar batteries to 770,000 homes over the next decade, expanding the program to renters and ensuring the safety and sustainability of the rollout, with funding for training, safety and quality audits.

In last year’s Budget we cut payroll tax for regional business to 2.425 per cent, and as part of the Budget, we are going even further, reducing regional payroll tax to a quarter of the metro rate – down to 1.2125 per cent by 2022-23.

This is a Budget that delivers for all Victorians.

Quotes attributable to Labor Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas:
"From education and health, to public transport and roads, this is a budget that delivers on our promises and provides the infrastructure communities across Macedon need to thrive."

"In addition to brilliant state-wide announcements to support all Victorians including free dental care for public school children and the rollout of universal three-year old kinder, I’m thrilled that this budget supports a range of community-led initiatives: the Romsey Ecotherapy Park, the Hanging Rock Strategic Plan and the Macedon Ranges Regional Sports Precinct".