State Budget brings health and education wins for City of Whittlesea

Local schools funding, an early parenting centre and community centres are just some of the wins for the City of Whittlesea in the 2019-20 Victorian State Budget.

Mayor Lawrie Cox welcomed the news that the budget would fund initiatives promised in last year’s state election campaign as well as new projects.

“We have been working hard with our local members of parliament to identify what our community needs and they’ve listened and responded,” he said.

“In order to deliver much needed services for our community councils rely on partnerships with all levels of government. Part of our role is to advocate to the governments on behalf of our community.”

“So we were pleased to see the State Government allocate $50 million for Growing Suburbs Fund, which has been an important source of funding for the City of Whittlesea to achieve community projects.”

Cr Cox said the announced funding for Edgars Creek Secondary College stage 2 and Edgars Creek Primary School would be welcomed by the Wollert community.

“We were also pleased to be chosen as the location for one of seven new early parenting centres and to see funding announced to start planning for the Whittlesea community hospital,” he said.

Other funded local initiatives included:

• A new Scout Hall for Epping North
• $3 million for targeted programs to support communites, including Whittlesea for gambling harm prevention
• $180,000 to upgrade the cricket nets at Laurimar Cricket Club in Doreen.
• The already promised Suburban Roads Upgrade including, Epping Road, Childs Road and Bridge Inn Road funding
• Plenty Road stage 2 funding
• $1.8 million for the O’Herns Road upgrade in Epping
• Money to expand Quarry Hills Parklands