$99.1 million for liveable communities

The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to preserve the liveability of Victoria’s suburbs and towns with a $99.1 million State Budget package focusing on cutting red tape, progressing Transit Cities and catering for the state’s population boom.

Planning Minister Justin Madden said the Brumby Labor Government’s investment in making Victoria the best place to live, work and raise a family was attracting more people to Melbourne and Victoria faster than predicted.

“Earlier this year, the Premier released new State Government figures showing Victoria’s population will increase by 1 million people by 2020 – a decade earlier than predicted,” Mr Madden said.

“Victoria’s population is booming because people value our State’s liveability. Victoria’s population boom is good for our economy, it’s good for jobs and it strengthens communities, but it also raises challenges.

“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to address the challenges and seize the opportunities of our population boom by preserving and enhancing Victoria’s liveability.”

Mr Madden said the suite of initiatives to preserve and enhance the state’s liveability includes:

• $51.9 million over four years for Transit Cities programs in Broadmeadows, Dandenong and Geelong. Initiatives include $24.5 million for improvements at the railway station precinct in Geelong and a new pedestrian link between the station and the new TAC building; $8.4million for design work that will lead to the integrating the Broadmeadows Station with the town centre; and $19 million for a new building for State Government agencies in central Dandenong providing greater accessibility;
• $36.6 million over four years to take action on planning across the State to ensure Victoria’s planning policies cater for our booming population while preserving the liveability of our communities. Earlier this year the Premier announced key reforms to help reduce the cost of new land, to cut development time and red tape and to better plan sustainable new communities with the services Victorian families need;
• $7.9 million over four years for the Geelong Future City Master Plan to develop a cultural centre in the heart of Geelong. Funding is for business cases for the redevelopment of the Geelong Library Heritage Centre, redevelopment of the Geelong Performing Arts Centre and the redevelopment of the heritage-listed Geelong Courthouse into a youth arts centre;
• $850,000 to support Regional Innovators to continue regional programs;
• $600,000 for local councillor training programs; and
• $1.25 million for heritage projects across the state, including restoration of St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne; urgent structural repairs of Castlemaine Gaol; Heritage Council restoration works at Victorian Trades Hall and restoration of the Kew Courthouse.

“Since 1999, our Government has invested more than $500 million in planning and major revitalisation projects such as the Transit Cities Program, which is already showing success in renewing Footscray and Dandenong;” Mr Madden said.

“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action in our suburbs and our regions to preserve our liveability and maximise the opportunities of significant population growth.”

Regional and Rural Development Minister Jacinta Allan said providing support to regional communities was important to keeping Victoria the liveable State.

“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to build stronger communities across Victoria,” Ms Allan said.

“Through projects like Geelong Transit Cities and the Geelong Future City Masterplan, we are working with local communities and local government to better plan for the future.

“The Brumby Labor Government’s planning for the short, medium and long term will ensure that regional Victoria is the best place to live, work and raise a family.”