Victorian budget 2019-20: new Bendigo law courts funded, central Victoria schools to be upgraded

Premier Daniel Andrews promised the funding ahead of last year's state election, with construction due to start this year.

Lawyers formed a working group back in 2011 to evaluate the future of the city's courts, and a later report found the current courts were woefully inadequate.

The development of a day rehabilitation centre at Bendigo Health is another major announcement.

There is also funding for school upgrades across the region, investment to transform some single-officer crewed ambulance stations to dual crews, and new railway stations.

The government has ticked off a major item on Bendigo's wishlist with $152 million to redevelop the Law Courts on a site next to the TAFE.

The new court precinct will have eight courtrooms, hearing rooms, mediation suites, 16 holding cells and a specialist family violence court.

RELATED: Bendigo Law Courts funded on Victoria budget day

Last year's budget included funding to acquire land for the new courts.

This funding comes under the new $2.6 billion 'Delivering for Regional and Rural Victorians' program, which the government says will create 4500 jobs.

Junortoun's fire station will be upgraded under a $17 million funding program.

Rochester, Ingelwood, Avoca, Charlton and St Arnaud ambulance stations will change from single-officer to dual-officer crews under a $109 million investment in paramedics and vehicles.

Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos said Victoria is home to world-class paramedics.

"They are responding to emergency situations faster than they ever have before," Ms Mikakos said.

"For regional Victoria, it means 15 single-crew stations converted to dual crew ambulance stations."

Funding is provided for custodial and security staff at youth justice centres under a two-year, $45.5 million package.

There is $85 million over four years for responses to perpetrators of family violence, including behavioural change programs.

The budget also contains funding for therapeutic support of victims of family violence and sexual assault, $5.5 million for 10 full-time family violence financial counsellors to address financial abuse, and $3.1 million to expand the family violence workforce.

We started budget day with the news the two towers at Bendigo Health will be demolished and replaced with a day rehabilitation centre under $59.5 million in funding.

The east and north wing towers at Bendigo Health are set for demolition, as construction begins on a new rehabilitation unit by 2021.

RELATED: Bendigo hospital precinct to be completed thanks to $60 million allocation

The state government promised funding for the project prior to the Victorian elections in November 2018.

Read all the details here.

There is $100 million held in contingency for the redevelopment of the Maryborough hospital.

There is also $100 million for the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund over the next two years.

There will be a new parenting centre in Bendigo, under funding confirmed earlier this month.

Girls at all government schools will have access to free tampons and pads under a $20.7 million program.

There is $136 million for 500,000 extra specialist appointments in regional Victoria.

Ms Mikakos called the specialist appointment funding a game-changer.

"We know Victorian patients have to travel to Melbourne for access to specialists or pay hundreds of dollars out of their pockets," she said.

"We want to make life easier for patients in Victoria through additional funding for patients with heart conditions, cancer, diabetes, ear, nose and throat conditions or chronic pain to be able to access specialists in their own communties.

"It's a huge game-changer for patients in regional communities as we provide greater access to specialists closer to home."

The government promises an extra 542 nurses and midwives across the state, as well as stronger nurse-patient ratios.

Free dental care for children will begin roll-out in government schools.

Support for asylum seekers will be funded to $3 million, including mental health and trauma counselling, material aid, health assistance, housing assistance and case co-ordination.

There is also funding to establish a Royal Commission into mental health.

There is $103.5 million over the next four years for the state's contribution to the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement, as well as $50.4 million over the next two years for homelessness services, including after-hours support for those in crisis, on-site treatment services in three crisis accommodation services across the state, and help for those at risk of homelessness to access public housing.

Buloke Shire is among six municipalities where three-year-old kindergarten will be rolled out next year, with Central Goldfields, Loddon and Campaspe Shires to receive it the following year.

This will give every three-year-old access to at least five hours of subsidised kindergarten a week, with the program to expand statewide in 2022.

Regional Development Minister Jaclyn Symes said there was a deliberate decision made to first target regional and low socioeconomic areas first.

Epsom, Inglewood, Marong, White Hills and Winters Flat primary schools will receive funding for upgrades, as will the Echuca Regeneration Project.

East Loddon P-12 College will receive funding to plan for an upgrade, under a package worth $117 million in 2019-20.

The government will acquire land within Macedon Ranges Shire for a new school.

Asbestos removal at Winters Flat Primary School is funded.

Three new railway stations will be built at Goornong, Raywood and Huntly under a $49.5 million package.

There is also more funding to plan for a track upgrade between Bendigo and Kyneton, which the government promises will deliver trains every 40 minutes in off-peak times, and funding to plan the re-opening of a station at Harcourt.

Bendigo shares in $19 million for expanded rail stabling and maintenance facility operations.

There is $356.9 million for regional road maintenance over the next four years, which will include road surface replacement works.

The government says will also be a new road asset manaement transformation plan, and more pavement condition surveys.

There is no funding for the redevelopment of the Bendigo airport terminal, for which the City of Greater Bendigo is looking for $4.5 million.

The government has put $200,000 towards the creation of festivals and events in the Macedon Ranges and Daylesford.

Bendigo will be home to one of seven new basketball hubs around the state, which aim to foster emerging talent.

The State Government announced $5 million in funding for the basketball hubs in Monday's budget.

The training hub would see a dedicated high performance coach work with boys and girls in the under-14, 15, 16 and 18 age groups, while a new program for players with a disability would also be included.

"The Andrews Labor Government's $5 million investment into our High Performance Basketball Hubs, as confirmed in today's State Budget announcement, is a momentous outcome for Victorian basketball community,'' Basketball Victoria chief executive officer Nick Honey said.

"The establishment of these new basketball hubs around the state will provide young players with elite basketball training programs within their local regions, whether in suburban Melbourne or regional Victoria.

"This will allow our future stars to continue to train at the highest level in their area with a clear pathway towards playing elite level basketball in Australia or in the WNBA, NBA or other international leagues.

"Basketball Victoria will announce further details on the High Performance Hubs in upcoming weeks."

Regional sports grants will cover the construction of a Macedon Ranges Regional Sports Precinct, as well as upgrades to the Carisbrook recreation reserve and Charlton Park's mulitpurpose facility.

There will be $2 million towards the new change rooms and social rooms at Harry Trott Oval, $330,000 towards a new synthetic bowls green at Kangaroo Flat Bowls Club and $250,000 towards the pitch'n'putt project at Neangar Park Golf Club.

The Strathfieldsaye and Woodend Scout Halls will be upgraded.

New fishing spots will be opened at Tullaroop, Barkers Creek, Upper Coliban and Malmsbury reservoirs.

There is no funding for the Golden Dragon Museum, which was on the City of Greater Bendigo's wishlist.

There is a $1 million contribution to the development of a 10-megawatt solar farm at Newstead, and $1.3 billion for the next phase of the Solar Homes package, which will provide rebates and loans for solar systems.

Work to protect Hanging Rock will receive $1.4 million over three years, for environmental safeguards, facility upgrades and recognition of the site's Aboriginal cultural significance.

This will include the purchase of the East Paddock which lies adjacent to the landmark.

The government will put $300,000 over three years towards a joint management agreement with the Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wurundjeri traditional owners to work on the Hanging Rock strategic plan.

The budget includes $13.6 million over the next two years to support the transition of case management in the child protection system to Aboriginal community-controlled organisations.

The development of treaty and self-determination for Aboriginal Victorians will receive $30.4 million over two years.

Regional payroll tax will be cut to a quarter of the metro rate by 2022-23, at 1.2125 per cent.

The government says the Bendigo area will see $13.9 million in savings from the regional tax rate in 2019-20.

Land transfer duty of commercial and industrial properties in regional areas will be cut by 50 per cent by 2023-24.

The minerals exploration and mining sector will receive $2.3 million in support.

However, a 2.75 per cent gold royalty on all but small miners was also introduced, in line with the rest of the country and is expected to generate $56 million over four years from January 1.

Regional communities such as Bendigo, Stawell and Ballarat, which were home to hundreds of highly paid, highly skilled mining jobs, had not been consulted on the decision, James Sorahan, Minerals Council of Australia Executive Director Victorian Division, said.

He said the new tax grab further damaged Victoria's reputation as a place for the mining industry to invest and create a pipeline of jobs in regional communities.

The government has also put $5 million towards a 'Wine to the World' initiative to promote the state's wines in international markets.

There is $143 million to expand the state's biosecurity services system.

Meanwhile, $10.2 million will go towards small-scale producers.

Farm safety is getting a $3 million boost, which will include new farm safety officers, a workplace safety campaign and face-to-face health checks.

Learn more about the hopes for Bendigo in the budget here.

Here's what Bendigo was told to expect when Labor won the state election in 2018:

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