"Council welcomes continued investment from the Federal Government for jobs, health, infrastructure and other services. We are very keen for more detail noting the Budget did not outline any specific major investment in Brimbank.
"Located in the centre of the booming Melbourne west and a city included in the North West City Deal, the Federal Government should be focussed on growing our City's infrastructure, jobs capability and education offerings.
"The announcements gave no further information on the North West deal which is absolutely fundamental to the economic recovery of our region from COVID.
"We certainly welcome the $1 billion expansion of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program and we will be keen to submit proposals once the funding opportunities become available.
"It is disappointing that the urgent works needed along the Calder Corridor in Brimbank have not been further funded and we will continue to advocate for these initiatives. It is disappointing the Budget did not outline any specifics for major investment in our municipality.
"We will also advocate for funding of local projects aimed at strengthening regions through the $250 million Building Better Regions fund.
"We have provided the Federal Government with a list of shovel ready projects that would help economic recovery in our area and it is disheartening to see very little detail about what will be done on the ground.
"Affordable housing is Brimbank is an ongoing issue and we look forward to more information about how our city can benefit from the $2billion investment in this area. Our geographic location and demographics make us a strong candidate for this this type of investment, particularly as homelessness becomes a bigger issue in our city.
"The budget also included the expansion of the Local Jobs Program and we are hopeful that Brimbank will be considered for additional funding, as well as more funding for upskilling our young people through the Transition to Work Program.
"Investment in Childcare, Aged Care, programs to reduce violence and Mental Health are all welcome and we, again, look forward to more detail from the Federal Government about how this investment will bring about positive change in our city. There is no doubt that these community services have been chronically underfunded and urgent reform is needed.
"We are very keen to discuss the creation of a National AI centre as this sits perfectly with our vision for Sunshine as an emerging centre of research, innovation and education. There is no doubt this type of investment belongs in Brimbank.
"Overall, there seems to be little detail about how funding will be allocated and where it will go.
"We support the investment in a Western Intermodal Freight Terminal but we continue to express concerns about potential amenity impacts in Brimbank given the proximity of the proposed sites.
"We look forward to more detail about how this budget will benefit our community and we will continue to advocate for investment in our city to unlock its potential and become the powerhouse of Melbourne's west."
