$121m cash flow

By Geelong Story Updates
State Government has allocated $121 million to fund new social infrastructure and capital works projects specific to the Geelong region over the next four years.
The region will also receive its share of $1.3 billion allocated in this week’s state budget to fund programs for regional Victoria.
Treasurer John Brumby said the budget would benefit the region with a raft of improvements to schools and emergency services and health services.
“Our commitment to making provincial Victoria a better place to live, work and invest is as strong now as it was seven years ago,” he said.
A $32.8 million education allocation to upgrade and build new schools was central to the Government’s spending spree in the region, mostly to pay for preelection commitments.
Funding for local school projects included $4.1 million for a new Point Lonsdale Primary School, $13.8 million for a new Western Heights Secondary College, $6.6 million for Torquay’s new preptoyear nine school and $8.3 million for upgrading schools throughout Geelong
Education Minister John Lenders said the money was part of the Government’s election commitment to modernise or rebuild every school in the state over the next 10 years.
“These funds will see these significant projects progress to provide regional Victoria with curriculum and facilities needed for education in the 21st century,” Mr Lenders said.
Other big ticket items for the region included: $7.2 million for a new Lara ambulance station and upgrades at Belmont, Norlane and Geelong stations; $2 million for a Geelong Hospital expansion; $1.6million for mental health beds at McKellar Centre; $62.5 million for Geelong bypass; and $5.7 million to acquire central Geelong properties for a link between the waterfront and a new TAC headquarters.