May 1, 2018

Getting things done for macedon

The Victorian Budget 2018/19 will deliver new skills, good jobs, more schools and better roads for every Victorian.

Families in Macedon will have good schools close to home, with nearly $1.3 billion for schools around the state. This includes building and planning 28 new schools, and upgrading 130 existing schools.

This year’s Budget includes $10 million to improve facilities at Gisborne Primary School, including the demolition of the current, under-sized school gym, and replacing it with extra classrooms and a brand-new competition grade gymnasium.

A further $3.2 million will go towards infrastructure upgrades and planning for Romsey’s future education needs, while $2.2 million goes to modernising classrooms at Riddells Creek Primary School.

Students at Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School will get the facilities they deserve, as part of a $55.6 million investment to plan and upgrade 15 specialist schools.

Locally, this will see $4.2 million go to refurbishing and extending the administration building, constructing a new multi-purpose room and completing general improvement works at the Bullengarook Senior Campus.

Students and parents at Lancefield’s St Mary’s Primary School will also soon have a safer walk to school with the installation of a new crossing, part of the Andrews Labor Government’s $23.9 million package to improve road safety around our schools.

Macedon’s CFA volunteers will get a Budget boost, with $1.6 million to redevelop and upgrade the Mount Macedon Fire Station.

More regional Victorians will be able to get the health care they need closer to home, thanks to a big Budget increase for the Labor Government’s flagship Regional Health Infrastructure Fund.

The now $250 million fund is already delivering upgrades to Castlemaine Health, Cobaw Community Health and Hepburn Health, with the Budget win to help even more of our state’s rural and regional hospitals.

And because our regional roads are not up to scratch, $941 million will be provided to get on with the job of fixing Victoria’s regional road network.

This includes funding to construct a roundabout as part of a safety upgrade at the Main Street and Barry Street intersection in Romsey.

Local residents will find it easier to get around and stay connected to their community with more buses and better connections for Trentham, Gisborne and Daylesford, delivered as part of this year’s Budget.

Macedon’s businesses will also benefit from an additional cut to the regional payroll tax rate. The regional payroll tax rate will be 2.425 per cent – half the metropolitan tax rate and the lowest rate in the nation – helping local businesses expand and grow local jobs.

Cost should never stop someone from learning new skills, that’s why this year’s Budget includes $172 million to make priority TAFE courses free, giving more Macedon residents the chance to be able to train at TAFE and get the right skills they need for a good job.

30 priority TAFE courses and 18 pre-apprenticeship courses will be made free, while more than 30,000 new TAFE places will be funded across the state.

More local students will also be able to finish school qualified and ready to work, with the introduction of Head Start Apprenticeships and Traineeships in 100 secondary schools.

It means kids in our community will have the option to undertake an additional year of high school, and graduate with an apprenticeship or traineeship, ready to start work in a good job.

Macedon students will also get expert advice to help them make the right career choices, with career education in schools to be overhauled across the state and start from Year 9.

This is a Labor Budget that delivers on the things that matter most to our state. This is a Budget that gets things done.

Quotes attributable to Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas
"This year’s Victorian Budget continues to deliver for communities across Macedon. With a massive boost for schools and skills, the Andrews Labor Government is investing in our kid’s future."

"On every measure, from local roads to local transport and healthcare, this is a Budget that gets things done for our region."

Subscribe to my newsletter

Get the latest news and events across the Macedon Electorate.