By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Upgraded schools, level crossing removals, a new bus route and extra rail services will be funded under the 2019-’20 State Budget.
Dandenong High School’s modernisation continues, with $8.5 million for new STEM, canteen and food technology facilities over the next three years.
Noble Park English Language School will get a $3.4 million upgrade, with a new modular building.
Dandenong West Primary School, Lyndale Secondary College, Keysborough South P-6, Keysborough Secondary College, Noble Park Secondary College, Silverton Primary School and Springvale Rise Primary School also receive capital-works funding.
The Government has “stepped in” with $3 million to help support asylum seekers stripped of their federal Status Resolution Support Services (SRSS) payments.
It will fund services like trauma counselling, food and clothes, subsidised medication and housing assistance.
There are believed to be at least 148 asylum seekers in Greater Dandenong, who have been made effectively destitute after being cut from the SRSS
Other budget highlights include funding to remove Greens Road and Webster Street level crossings, $750,000 towards a sports pavilion at Ross Reserve, Noble Park as well as a new bus route on Chapel Road, Keysborough.
Extra rail services are expected to run on the Dandenong corridor after the completion of the Cranbourne-Pakenham line upgrade and introduction of high-capacity metro trains.
There was an allocation for extra parking at railway stations, including Dandenong (150 spaces), Yarraman (55 spaces) and Lynbrook.
About $340 million was provided for up to 18 new VLocity regional-network trains to be built at Bombardier in Dandenong.
The Dandenong-based RusCare, which provides aged care for residents of Russian and Slavic backgrounds, received $800,000 for upgrades.
The Gurdwara Sahib Temple in Keysborough receives $100,000 towards renovations.
It was a budget that delivered for families and commuters, according to Dandenong Labor MP Gabrielle Williams.
“Families in Dandenong will have the facilities they deserve, which will benefit our community, our kids and our parents,” Ms Williams said.
“This Budget delivers for commuters in Dandenong – no matter how they travel – and supports local jobs at the same time.”
The State Opposition described it as an “economic ticking time bomb” of higher taxes and debt doubling to $59 billion.
“Economic growth is slowing while unemployment and cost of living are rising,” opposition treasurer Louise Staley said.
“And Daniel Andrews’ answer is to introduce more taxes and increase debt.”
South East Metropolitan Liberal MP Gordon Rich-Phillips said the Government failed to provide new road or health commitments in Greater Dandenong for the next four years.
“ Dandenong has missed out on new investment, while Daniel Andrews’ reckless spending blows out debt to a record of $59.4 billion.
“This is more than $23,000 debt for each Victorian household.”
Mr Rich-Phillips said it was “sheer bloody-mindedness” for the Government to turn its back on $4 billion federal funds to build East West Link.
“Instead, motorists moving between the eastern and western suburbs will remain stuck in congestion and that means less time with family and friends.
“Daniel Andrews must not let his ego stop the Federal Liberal Government from delivering this much needed road to Victoria.”
