City of Greater Bendigo mayor Margaret O’Rourke was pleased with Bendigo’s financial allocations in the latest state budget, but hopeful of further funding commitments in an election year.
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Voters head to the polls in November, with law and order issues expected to be a focus for the Liberal Party, who recently announced police officer Ian Ellis as candidate for Bendigo East.
Bendigo and Werribee will share in $20 million for acquiring land for new courts as part of the 2018-19 state budget.
Cr O’Rourke said she wasn’t surprised with the budget allocation for new law courts as there are “a number of areas that need to be pulled together in such a large project”.
Bendiog TAFE’s city campus has been identified as the preferred site for new law courts for Bendigo.
Court Services Victoria said in January it was in negotiations to use a portion of the McCrae Street campus for a 10 courtroom facility by mid-2022, complete with mediation suites, interview rooms and safe waiting areas.
Part of the precinct is still privately owned.
“We're all confident it will be happening,” Cr O’Rourke said, adding the council would seek a firm commitment from the Labor and Liberal parties on fully funding the law courts before the election.
Bendigo East MP Jacinta Allan said in the previous state budget, money was allocated to Court Services Victoria to develop a business case for the improvement of the Bendigo Law Courts.
“We're working through each stage of the project as we come to it,” she said.
Elsewhere, funding to upgrade of Bendigo TAFE's city campus, develop a Gov Hub, provide a vital pipeline in northern Victoria and improve roads across the region, was “a real vote of confidence in Bendigo and the projects Bendigo needs”, Ms Allan said.
“Not everything gets funded in the budget but we will continue to work hard on other projects,” she said.
“It’s good to see the treasurer and the premier support these projects for Bendigo.
“It’s a balanced budget that supports our regional centres.”
Cr O’Rourke was similarly positive, especially on aspects designed to improve the vitality of the CBD.
“The TAFE funding is excellent, it fits into the broader picture of revitalising the city centre,” she said.
Funding for the Golden Dragon Museum to develop a dedicated Chinese cultural centre and the terminal building and utilities extension at Bendigo airport was not forthcoming, but council would continue to advocate for these commitments, Cr O’Rourke said.
The decision to cut regional payroll tax to half of the metro rate at 2.425 per cent – down from 3.75 per cent – was “really significant” for regional businesses, she said.
The tax cut will apply to businesses based outside Melbourne who pay at least 85 per cent of their payroll tax to regional employees.
Treasury forecasts about 4000 existing businesses in regional will benefit from the cut.
The Liberal party candidate for Bendigo East, Ian Ellis, was contacted for comment.
