Major parties deny Lara snub

Erin Pearson
GEELONG’S northern suburbs should look further than the pre-election campaign to see they receive a fair share of State Government funding, according to Labor Member for Lara John Eren.
Mr Eren and Liberal candidate Rob Eyton both denied the major parties had snubbed the electorate of Lara in favour of splurging cash in the marginal seat of South Barwon.
Lara has received almost no funding promises but both parties have committed hundreds of millions of dollars in promises for South Barwon.
“It’s not just about the three-week campaign period, it’s about what’s happened over the last four years and the next four years to come,” Mr Eren said.
“South Barwon is one of those growth areas with Armstrong Creek, so clearly there are some issues relating to infrastructure for the growth there.”
Mr Eren said Lovely Banks would receive a new fire station under a Labor Government.
“My electorate has received somewhere in the vicinity of $300 million in investments in the last four years, which includes new fire, police and CFA stations in Lara and a $14.5 million Lara secondary college.”
“My electorate is in the top three (in Victoria) in terms of education investment, particularly in Corio and Norlane,” he said.
Mr Eren, who holds the seat with a margin of 18 per cent, pointed out that the Labor Government had also committed $40 million for a public housing project in Norlane, although it “won’t make everyone happy”.
Mr Eyton said the project’s four-storey developments were “out of the question” among residents.
“Regeneration with real community consultation is important in Corio and Norlane and there has been a real lack of funding here,” he said.
“Money is being poured into the marginal seats but if we have a tenth of investments being poured into them we could really help. We want to help rebuild the place.”
Mr Eyton said his party had no pre-election funding promises for Lara.