The Andrews Labor Government is delivering on its promises and delivering for the people of Wendouree, with major investments in education, sport and transport in the Victorian Budget 2019/20.

As part of a massive $1.8 billion investment in schools around the state, this year’s Budget includes $3.6 million to make sure students at Mount Rowan Secondary College have the learning spaces they deserve, delivering upgraded school facilities, including the gym and music block and a new synthetic court. This builds on the more than $12 million already provided by the Government to upgrade the school.

Students and teachers at Urquhart Park Primary School are also set to benefit from this year’s Budget, with the Labor Government delivering $1.5 million to replace an older building with new architecturally-designed permanent modular building.

Funding of $650,000 will go towards planning and early work ahead of upgrades at Delacombe Primary School. This investment is the first step in delivering an upgrade that will include a new indoor competition-grade gymnasium.

Funding of $800,000 will go towards planning and early work ahead of upgrades at Ballarat High School. This investment is the first step in modernising classrooms and facilities, including a major upgrade to the ground floor of the J. J. Sheehan Wing and an upgrade to the administration building.

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.

The Andrews Labor Government is providing $10 million towards the upgrade of the 143-year-old Her Majesty’s Theatre to make sure future generations can enjoy this beautiful theatre. The upgrade includes the restoration of all walls, ceilings and floors, the installation of lifts at the back and front-of-house, automation of the orchestra pit, better dressing rooms and the extension and improvement of foyer spaces.

Under this year’s Budget, Ballarat patients will benefit from an extra 25,000 dedicated appointments with medical specialists. Right now, many patients are required to travel to the city for appointments and treatment – or face big out-of-pocket costs for a local private appointment.

With a $136 million investment to deliver an extra 500,000 appointments across regional communities, this will help ensure patients don’t have to spend hours away from loved ones to access specialist care.

The Labor Government will also establish a new parenting centre in Ballarat, part of a $213.7 million Budget investment.

One of nine across the state, the brand-new Ballarat parenting centre will help make sure new mums and dads can get the advice they need, including support with sleeping, feeding and extra care for babies with additional needs.

The Budget delivers on our promised $60.8 million investment to keep the growing city of Ballarat moving, upgrading the city’s key intersections and reducing bottlenecks for local drivers.

The hunt for a car park will also be easier for locals in Ballarat, with this year’s Budget providing $30 million for more free regional car parking. This investment will take the pressure off neighbouring streets and making it easier for residents to get in and out of Ballarat’s CBD with 1,000 extra free car parks.

With our state’s biggest transport build underway, now we’re turning our attention to the next big projects, investing $100 million to begin work on the Western Rail Plan to begin planning for the full separation of regional and metro rail services on the Geelong and Ballarat lines – the first step in delivering real fast rail to these cities.

Additional train services will be introduced across both regional and metropolitan rail networks following the completion of major projects including the Ballarat Line Upgrade.

Our sporting clubs are the heart and soul of our community. With this Budget, the Labor Government is ensuring local sporting stars have the facilities they deserve, delivering:

• $7 million to upgrade Wendouree West Recreation Reserve
• $3.7 million for significant upgrades at Alfredton Recreation Reserve

This Budget also delivers an $11.8 million package to boost community participation in sport

for Stage 2 of the Ballarat Sports and Events Centre, and ensure the Eureka Sports Precinct is a drawcard for competitions, tournaments and events.

A new high-performance basketball hub will also be established in Ballarat to provide young athletes access to the best training programs close to home, with a clear pathway to playing elite level basketball.

The Labor Government is delivering $2.5 million towards upgrading the Steve Moneghetti Track at Lake Wendouree, as well as running tracks at nearby Victoria Park. This investment will see new lighting and safety upgrades around both running tracks so that everyone can walk, jog or run at any time of year.

In last year’s Budget we cut payroll tax for regional business to 2.425 per cent, and as part of the Budget, we are going even further, reducing regional payroll tax to a quarter of the metro rate – down to 1.2125 per cent by 2022-23.

This is a Budget that delivers for all Victorians.

Quotes attributable to Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison

“I’m proud to be part of Labor Government delivering a record investment in education – and our kids’ futures.”

“This Budget delivers for community sports across Ballarat, from footy to basketball – and will help to ensure future generations of performers can tread the floors at Her Maj for decades to come.”