DELIVERING FOR FOOTSCRAY
The Andrews Labor Government is delivering on its promises and delivering for the people of Footscray.
Because every Victorian should be able to get the care they need when they need it, this year’s Victorian Budget 2019/20 includes $1.5 billion to deliver a bigger and more modern 504-bed Footscray Hospital, which will cut waiting times and allow almost 15,000 additional patients to be treated each year, as well as almost 20,000 additional emergency department admissions.
The Labor Government will upgrade Tweddle Child and Family Health Services in Footscray, part of a $213.7 million statewide investment to help family health services with their important work.
By investing in better and more modern facilities for Tweddle, new parents can get the advice they need, including support with sleeping, feeding and extra care for babies with additional needs.
First-time parents will benefit under the Budget with the rollout of new Baby Bundles. These bundles will include all the essentials local mums and dads need to help guide them through the first few months and years of their child’s life, including a nappy bag, growsuit, safe sleeping bag, teething ring, muslin wrap, information on safety and parenting and picture books.
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.
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.
As part of a massive $1.8 billion investment in schools around the state, this year’s Budget includes $12.75 million to make sure students at Sunshine College have the learning spaces they deserve, delivering the next stage of the major upgrade, including the Performing Arts Centre, Gymnasium, Year 7-8 Learning Building and carparks. This builds on the $21.7 million already provided by the Labor Government to the school.
In addition to this, $20.25 million is provided for the next stage of the Footscray Learning Precinct, including $16.12 million for Gilmore Girls College and $4.12 million for Footscray City College.
From upgrading the roundabout at the end of your local street to building our state’s biggest transport projects, this Budget will get you where you need to go, with a massive Suburban Transport Blitz.
With our state’s biggest transport build underway, now we’re turning our attention to the next big projects, investing $680.7 million for business case development, design and preconstruction work on
Melbourne Airport Rail, which will connect Melbourne Airport to the existing rail network for the first time.
$2.1 billion will transform train services to Sunbury, upgrading every station along the Line and enabling the rollout of new High Capacity Metro Trains. This will help cut travel times and provide for an extra 113,000 passengers on the Sunbury Line during peak periods.
Recognising our community’s proud diversity, the Labor Government is providing $3.7 million to build a Vietnamese Cultural Centre and Museum which will support our Vietnamese community to preserve and share their culture and traditions in a space that they can improve and make their own.
Our local Indian and Macedonian communities will also be able to celebrate their cultures and traditions with pride, thanks to the Labor Government’s funding to support the 2019 Footscray Diwali Festival and 2019 Macedonian Food Festivals.
This investment will make sure the celebrations are bigger and better than ever before, allowing our entire community to join in the festivities.
The Western Bulldogs are the heart and soul of our community. With this Budget, the Labor Government is ensuring local sporting stars have the facilities they deserve, with $1 million provided for preliminary designs for the Whitten Oval Master Plan.
Giving local families a place to enjoy and unwind, the Labor Government is delivering on its promise to create more than 6,500 hectares of parkland across our suburbs.
This year’s Budget provides $1 million for a new sensory park at Pipemakers Park which will provide children of all ages and abilities with a nature play space reflecting the beautiful natural environment of the surrounding park. The restoration of the History of the Land garden will include the creation of better access paths and new paths through bushland areas and the installation of new cycling signs.
The Labor Government is also delivering on its promise to invest in a new pocket park in the Footscray electorate, giving local residents a place to escape into the outdoors, relax and unwind.
Local families and their four-legged friends will have new places to stretch their legs, with the Labor Government delivering on its promise with brand-new dog parks for both the Brimbank and Maribyrnong municipalities, part of a $5 million statewide investment.
Moonee Ponds Creek and the Maribyrnong and Werribee Rivers will benefit under our Waterways of the West plan, part of a $5.1 million investment to improve and protect Melbourne’s iconic waterways.
This is a Budget that delivers for all Victorians.
Quotes attributable to Member for Footscray Katie Hall
“Footscray’s proud Vietnamese community has contributed so much to the fabric of our area and I’m proud to help deliver a dedicated place to celebrate this.”
“To have the new Footscray Hospital fully funded is an incredible result for our community. This is a once-in-a-generation project, and I’m so excited to see it delivered.”
“Footscray is a major winner from this budget, and it’s Victorians throughout the state who will benefit from having our hospitals, schools, and public transport funded, for now and into the future.”
“Education is at the heart of Footscray, and the funding for Sunshine College and the Footscray Learning Precinct is a major win for our community.”