Having already made many popular local funding commitments for the Wellington Shire, Nationals MP Tim Bull says residents will also benefit from a returned Putting Locals First Fund under an elected Liberal Nationals Government.

 

“With the $13.4 million for the Phase 2 of the Macalister Irrigation District modernisation, $100,000 for Boisdale Recreation Reserve lights and $125,000 for both Stratford RSL Sub Branch and Heyfield Tennis Club refurbishments already committed to, it is pleasing to announce we will bring back the Putting Locals First Fund,” Mr Bull said.

 

“This fund was critical in delivering good outcomes for local communities, including Heyfield (Apex Park upgrade), Boisdale (Stables refurbishment) and Tinamba (Meeting Rooms refurbishment) to name a few, when we were last in government, and I am sure will fund a number of other badly needed local investments, on top of the projects and policies to which we have already committed.”

 

“The Putting Locals First Fund is part of the $1 billion Decentralisation Fund, a targeted investment to deliver better infrastructure and create the jobs required to support growing communities in regional Victoria.”

 

Mr Bull said while Melbourne was growing at more than 126,000 people per year, just over 20,000 people move to regional Victoria in 12 months.

 

“Regional and rural areas such as the Wellington Shire are missing out under Daniel Andrews, while unplanned, unmanaged population growth in Melbourne spirals out of control, worsening traffic congestion and putting the squeeze on housing availability, which is why we want to decentralise the state and have therefore launched this new funding stream,” he said.

 

“While the Decentralisation Fund is a new initiative, Putting Locals First was scrapped by Daniel Andrews and Labor upon coming to government, abandoning local groups, including service clubs and sporting clubs, which are at the heart of communities.

 

“Unlike Labor, we believe local people know their community best, which is why a Liberal Nationals Government will back local ideas to drive local development.

 

“From funding much-wanted upgrades to buildings and amenities, improvements to tourist trails and better facilities at our grassroots sporting clubs – an elected Liberal Nationals Government will right Labor’s wrong.”

 

Mr Bull said the Decentralisation Fund would also include targeted investment, which will support business growth and local job creation, enable communities to attract and retain new residents and raise education outcomes for the youngest Victorians.

 

In addition to the MID modernisation and upgrades to Boisdale Recreation Reserve, Stratford RSL Sub Branch and Heyfield Tennis Club, the Liberal Nationals’ commitments include:

 

• Delivering new, faster trains for the Gippsland line;
• Providing an additional $1b to fix country roads;
• Establishing a Livestock and Rural Crime Squad;
• Introducing presumptive legislation for CFA volunteers;
• Increasing country patient transport subsidies;
• Making rate changes to benefit our farmers; and
• Providing $50m to better support families touched by autism.

 

Wednesday, November 14, 2018