By Cameron Lucadou-Wells
THERE are some crumbs for Melbourne’s east and south-east residents in what treasurer Kim Wells has dubbed a ‘‘tough, responsible’’ state budget.
Some much-needed roads projects to come include the duplication of Stud Road between Mountain Highway and Boronia Road by late 2014 and the elimination of level crossings in Springvale and Mitcham by 2015-16.
Also funded is the duplication of Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road between Pound and Thompsons roads, and a Dingley bypass to relieve the truck traffic in residential areas.
But the RACV called for more road and public transport upgrades to relieve traffic congestion in growth suburbs.
Public Transport Users Association bemoaned the lack of funding for new bus routes.
The government announced one new bus route, a Monash University express shuttle bus to-and-from Huntingdale station.
In education, some schools such as Ashwood Secondary College and Dandenong High School scored funding for major upgrades but TAFEs have received a $100 million haircut and families will lose the $300 school start bonus.
In a $618 million boost to health spending, $7 million has been allocated towards a new $250 million Monash children’s hospital and 43 additional mental health beds will be funded at Dandenong Hospital.
But no commitment was made on an $20.5 million election promise for a Box Hill Hospital upgrade.
Victorian Council of Social Service hailed extra funding for helping vulnerable and abused children and young people but community services’ funding won’t cover rising costs for petrol, rent and utility bills.
