Hume City Council has seen funding for local infrastructure projects stripped back as a result of Tuesday 20 May’s state budget announcement.
The budget includes cuts to the state’s Growing Suburbs Fund which has been used by the council to part fund projects across the city, including Sunbury’s warm water pool (2015), the town’s Lawn Tennis Club Pavilion (2016) – both in Ligar St – and upgrades to Sunbury Park, Jacksons St (2021). Since 2015, council has received $36m of taxpayers’ cash to help it deliver 37 projects.
In a published statement, a council spokesperson says it is disappointing there’s been a “stripping back of some much-needed funding” for the city’s projects.
A council spokesperson says Hume is one of Melbourne’s fastest growing outer Melbourne municipalities and the fund has been “important in ensuring our infrastructure meets this growth”.
“Council will continue to advocate for funding for projects and services from the state and federal government to improve livability in our community.”
On the upside, council has welcomed the Victorian Government’s agreement to upgrade Donnybrook and Mickleham Rds “…critical pieces of infrastructure for our growing city and we look forward to those works starting soon”.
Other commitments from the state government include:
- Resurfacing of various roundabouts, Sunbury
- Opening and Operating Craigieburn community hospital
- Shared use paths on the Sunbury Line Strategic Cycling Corridor
- Bus service uplifts for Broadmeadows and late-night services for select bus routes in Craigieburn.
- Additional inter-peak train services on the Craigieburn line and additional off-peak train services on the Craigieburn and Upfield lines.
- An upgrade to Meadow Heights Primary School and planning for Greenvale Primary School
State debt is predicted to hit $200 billion by 2030.
