Plans in place for Dandenong

By Bridget Cook
THE Coalition Government has said it has plans and policies in place to ensure Greater Dandenong becomes a safer and fairer community.
The call came from the Liberal South Eastern Metropolitan Region MP Inga Peulich in response to comments made by Dandenong MP John Pandazopoulos following his State Election win.
Mr Pandazopoulos this month told the Star it would be harder to deliver as a Labor MP for the area now that the Coalition was in power.
“I have grave concerns,” he said in the 2 December edition. “The campaign reflected that with no Liberal frontbenchers coming to the area to make any commitments or announcements. There are a number of projects that have a big question mark hanging over them with the Liberals in power. The Dandenong High School is not completed yet, and even the Revitalising Central Dandenong project, the Liberals have never endorsed this sort of project.
“I’m concerned, but I’ll still advocate for the area, but it makes it a lot harder to deliver when your party’s not in government.”
But Ms Peulich has hit back at the claims, saying the Coalition has plans and policies in place to benefit the local community.
“The Victorian Coalition will fix our road and transport network by building the Dingley Bypass connecting the South Gippsland Highway to Warragul Road and improve the Springvale Road level crossing,” Ms Peulich said.
“We will give our children the education they deserve by employing extra specialist maths and sciences teachers and an extra 150 primary welfare officers to help struggling students, restoring education funding for Catholic and independent schools and building better schools infrastructure including a local special school.
“The Victorian Coalition has also moved quickly to provide relief to electricity, gas and water prices by extending the winter concession period to the entire year.
Ms Peulich said the Dandenong Hospital would also benefit from the health policy.
Ms Peulich thanked the thousands of Greater Dandenong residents who voted for their local Liberal candidates.
“I thank them for their support and to the candidates for being prepared to offer a choice and champion issues ignored by Labor MPs who frequently take for granted their constituencies,” she said.