Several election promises including the Epsom railway station, the redevelopment of the Golden Square Primary School and funding for the new Bendigo hospital were honoured in yesterday’s budget.

Ms Lovell said Bendigo would benefit from these initiatives, plus statewide funding to improve roads, social housing and rail services.

“All in all it’s a fairly good budget for Bendigo,” she said. “I’m happy the government is supporting the region and I think the initiatives further highlight how the Napthine government cares about the community.

“There’s always obviously more which can be done, but I think the budget has exceeded my expectations this year.”

Mr Drum said the budget showed the government honours its promises.

“It continues to provide the funding which underpins an era of record state development in the region and continues to show we are doing what we said we would.

“This budget is very much a continuation of the work begun in the previous two Coalition budgets.”

Mr Drum said Bendigo and central Victoria would continue to enjoy investment from the Regional Growth Fund. 

He said a State Treasury analysis of grants since December 2010 showed that more than $21 million had gone to local government and community organisations in Bendigo, Castlemaine and Loddon Shire.

“The analysis shows that about 80 regional grants in all have gone so far to our communities, ranging from multi-million dollar grants for major infrastructure such as the Bendigo Theatre in the Jail, to a few thousand dollars to help organisations run local events and festivals,” he said.