Wallington Primary School will receive $2.1 million from today’s State Budget for an upgraded main building.
Geelong East Primary School, Western Heights College and Mount Duneed Regional Primary School also received funding for upgrades.
Stage 2 of the Barwon Heads Road upgrade will receive $250 million, which includes duplicating the road between Reserve Road and Lower Duneed Road building on the work already underway upgrading Barwon Heads Road between Settlement Road and Reserve Road.
A women’s health clinic at Barwon Health will be expanded from operating one day a week to five and will provide care and support for conditions such as endometriosis, pelvic pain, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), perimenopause and menopause.
The budget allocated $20 million towards the delivery of North Bellarine Aquatic and Leisure Centre and will spend $3.15 million to support the delivery of the Portarlington Recreation Reserve masterplan, $2.5 million towards the delivery of pavilion upgrades at Barwon Heads Football Netball Club and $1 million towards upgrades at Collendina Reserve in Ocean Grove.
The budget gave $2.2 million for a new marine search and rescue vehicle for Queenscliff and $20.5 million to upgrade St Leonards Pier and $2.8 million to improve St Leonards Boat Ramp.
SpringDale Neighbourhood Centre will get $50,000 and St Leonards Progress association hall received $100,000 for upgrades.
A total of $30 million has been allocated for a new ambulance station at Armstrong Creek.
“We’re doing what matters for people on the Bellarine Peninsula and delivering every election promise we made for better schools, roads, trains, hospitals and community spaces in our area,” Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant said.
“This budget delivers for local kids and families in Bellarine – from a better school in Wallington to funding for the new North Bellarine Aquatic and Leisure Centre.”
G21 Geelong Region Alliance Giulia Baggio said the budget’s report card for the region was “mixed”.
“As Victoria begins to pay down its $31.5 billion COVID debt with a 10-year repayment strategy, medium and big businesses will bear the brunt with payroll tax increases, while small businesses will be spared the pain. Land tax increases will also apply to investment property owners and medium and large businesses, raising billions of dollars to repair the bottom line,” she said.
“The cost of COVID and Melbourne’s massive infrastructure spend will be borne widely across the state through these measures and the report card for the G21 region is mixed.
“While construction of transport projects continue in Melbourne, the G21 region still requires billions of dollars to upgrade its public transport and active transport networks and this remains a key priority for our communities. The likelihood of any major investment for this fast growing region now on a very delayed timetable.
“Unfortunately the redevelopment of the Geelong Gallery has been overlooked once again. It remains key to central Geelong’s revitalisation and completion of the arts precinct.
“Despite a tough budget, a small amount of funding remains in place for a number of projects and programs.”
