Tuesday 10 May 2011
VOL 4. No 19
www.bellarinetimes.com.au
Bellarine Times
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Barwon Heads Kindergarten Futures Committee members from left, Eliza Leake, Anissa Yttrup and Kristen Dillen celebrate the $1million State Budget injection with the children. While Barwon Heads – which comes under the seat of South Barwon – fared well, the rest of the Bellarine received little funding. See full story on the kindergarten on page 5.
WAITING GAME Photo: ELEANOR WOODS
Just $453,000 allocated to Bellarine in the State Budget as communities told to wait
BY NATHAN HALE THE BELLARINE will have to wait another 12 months before it sees any State Government money following the release of this year’s State Budget. While millions of dollars has been poured into Geelong and the neighbouring Surf Coast Shire, the Bellarine has largely been neglected, with just $453,000 being allocated to local projects. Labor Member for Bellarine, Lisa Neville, labelled the Budget “very disappointing for the local community” while Coalition Member for Western Victoria Region, David Koch, said the Bellarine will not be forgotten.
Surf Forecast
“This is the first of four annual budgets and in the first year the premier gives his commitment that all pre-election promises will be forthcoming – which they will be,” Koch said. “Over the next three budgets we will be endeavouring to make resources available to assist in gaining some of the outcomes that are necessary for better enjoyment and living for those on the Bellarine. “We look forward to further working with the communities over this time.” Four Budget commitments make up the $453,000 funding for the Bellarine; they are: • $200,000 for Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club • $200,000 for Point Lonsdale Surf Life Saving
Club • $50,000 to reseal the road leading to Wallington Primary School • $3,000 for the Bellarine Art Group. “It is not a heap of money, but by the same token we have looked after the Ocean Grove and Point Lonsdale surf life saving clubs, as well as the art group in Indented Head,” Koch said. Neville, who retained her seat at the election as the Coalition Government was formed, said the Bellarine communities had been given little assurance from the Budget. “The government hasn’t indicated when it is going to fund its election commitments to the Bellarine – which were quite small anyway,” she said.
“And there is no indication that they will do anything around other projects, like the Shell Road Reserve and Portarlington Primary School. “These were commitments from Labor that were ready to go. “In my view it is the lowest ever spend in the Bellarine in my time and it is very disappointing.” Neville also said the Budget failed to deliver for regional centres. “Most of the money has gone to help keep commitments in Melbourne Liberal seats… it’s not a great budget for regional centres, and that includes Geelong and the Bellarine,” she said. “It is really about governing for all of the state – but it looks as though they have budgeted just for Melbourne.”
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