STATE BUDGET 2014: $15m for aquatic centre at Kangaroo Flat 

STATE BUDGET 2014: No money for Bendigo women's refuge

STATE BUDGET 2014: Unruly councillors face scrutiny

Plans outlined for Sandhurst Residential Services

SANDHURST Residential Services is scheduled to close early 2016, State Budget documents show. 

The government will spend $1.33 million to close the service next financial year.

The total cost to close the facility is $7.93 million, budget documents show.

Staff and family members of users have expressed concern at the closure.

The budget shows the closure date has been revised.

Funding confirmed for Ravenswood interchange

THE State Government has confirmed funding for the Ravenswood Interchange.

Funding to improve the dangerous crossing with the Calder Freeway, which was announced last year, was included in Tuesday's Budget.

The intersection has been labelled one of Victoria's worst intersections.

Schools the big winners

SCHOOLS are the major winner from Tuesday's State Budget.

The government announced funding for several new and existing local school projects.

The Castlemaine Secondary College project, worth $5.5 million, is expected to be finished mid-2018, with $1.1 million to be spent on stage two in the next financial year.

Eaglehawk Primary School will undergo a $1.6-million redevelopment, Maldon Primary School will receive $500,000 in upgrades and Charlton college will receive $600,000.

The government also committed to projects announced last month, including developments at Quarry Hill Primary School, Kyneton Primary School, Kyneton Secondary and Winters Flat Primary School.

Most of the projects will not be completed for at least four years.

Deputy Premier Peter Ryan said more than 30 schools in regional Victoria would be upgraded.

Justice centre to be expanded

In other budget news, the Youth Justice Centre is a step close to being expanded

The government announced $1.6 million to prepare the project for redevelopment.

Corrections Minister Edward O'Donohue said the government would create an additional 871 prison beds, with preliminary work for 300 new beds.

The government will spend $454.3 million on the prison system, with $360 million to create new prisons at existing men's prisons.

Boort to get a new hospital

A NEW hospital with 32 beds will be built at Boort.

The project, worth $14 million, was announced on Tuesday.

Health Minister David Davis said the hospital would replace ageing buildings and bring services together.

"The new hospital will comprise a 25-bed residential aged-care facility providing an integrated ageing in place facility, in addition to seven acute and sub-acute beds," he said.

"It will also have two urgent care bays and will provide an additional six spaces for the provision of a range of primary care and community-based health services."

New police station for Campaspe

THE Campaspe region will have access to a new 24-hour police station, Police and Emergeny Services Minister Kim Wells said.

The state government announced $14.4 million to build the new station at Echuca as part of its State Budget on Tuesday.

Mr Wells said the government was committed to increased community safety.

"The Coalition government has allocated $14.4 million for the construction of a new 24-hour Echuca police station," he said.

"The new station demonstrates the Coalition government's commitment to increasing community safety for Victorians in regional and rural Victoria and providing improved and modernised facilities for Victoria Police."

The new station will house specialist units, which Mr Wells said would help police "control crime in the region".

The redeveloped station would accommodate more police officers to meet future demand in the region, he said.

The project is scheduled to be completed in mid to late 2016.

The Budget includes $33 million set aside for new police stations in Echuca and Melbourne and a new emergency services precinct at Ballarat.

Budget documents also note the government will equip police at all 24-hour stations with tasers, which had already been announced.

Mr Wells said the tasers would be used as an alternative to firearms.

Budget documents also note a $65.6 million redevelopment of Echuca Hospital and $10 million upgrades to Castlemaine Hospital.

Documents also note the $630 million New Bendigo Hospital project, which started last year, would be one of the biggest hospitals in regional Australia.