Hume will benefit from significant investment in public transport, schools, parklands and community health delivered as part of the 2019/20 Victorian State Budget.
Key projects to be allocated funding include $2 billion upgrade of the Sunbury Train Line, the development of new parkland along Jacksons Creek and Merri Creek, the removal of the Gap Road/Station St level crossing and the construction of new schools in Merrifield and Greenvale.
However, several priority projects for Hume City missed out. Hume City Council expressed disappointment and will continue to call for funding commitments for the Bulla Bypass, the duplication of Mickleham and Somerton roads and the redevelopment of the Broadmeadows Railway Station.
Hume Mayor, Cr Carly Moore, was appreciative of the investment that will improve liveability for local residents and businesses but emphasised there was more work to be done.
"Two of our key priorities – the duplication of the Craigieburn and Sunbury Roads – are now progressing," Cr Moore said.
"But we know that there is still more to be done. There are critical transport infrastructure projects that must be delivered now including the Bulla Bypass, duplication of Mickleham and Somerton roads, and the redevelopment of Broadmeadows Railway Station.
"We will continue to engage with both the Victorian and Australian Governments to secure funding for these vital projects and we won't stop until funding is announced.
"A growing city like Hume needs to work in partnership with other levels of Government to develop our community. We would like to thank our three local MPs – Ros Spence, Josh Bull and Frank McGuire - for their support in securing funding in the state budget."
Council also expressed disappointment that its call on the State Government to overhaul the waste industry was not heard. While $34.9 million was committed to tackle issues in the recycling industry over three years, the State Government has missed the opportunity to mitigate the risks and costs created by the illegal storage of chemicals in Hume and other municipalities.
"We have already said that agencies like WorkSafe and the EPA need to be given greater resources and powers to police these businesses operating illegally and better protect the community," Cr Moore said.
"Over the past years, the Hume community has been confronted by a horrific number of factory fires – many of which have resulted from illegal operations or illegal chemical storage.
"We would have liked the State Government to use the EPA landfill levy – funds already collected from Councils - to clean up the industry through audits and enforcement.
"In all, this is a budget with hits and misses but this does not diminish our enthusiasm. It gives us added motivation to ramp up our advocacy efforts."
State Budget highlights for Hume include:
- $2 billion investment in the Sunbury Train line
- Removal of the Gap Road/Station St Level crossing in Sunbury
- Upgrades of schools in Gladstone Park
- Refurbishment of the Broadmeadows Fire Station
- Upgrades to Boardman Reserve and Langama Park in Sunbury
- Funding for the construction of the Greenvale North West and Merrifield West Primary Schools
- New bus services linking Craigieburn with Donnybrook and Mernda
- New parklands along Jacksons Creek and Merri Creek
- Funding for planning within the Broadmeadows Town Centre
- $8m for the Family Drug Treatment Court at Broadmeadows
