Kinglake West Primary School principal Mark Portman, left, school council member Steve Fleming, second from right, and Seymour MP Ben Hardman, far right, with students, rear row from left, Nicole Burton, Daniel Burton, Jamie Burton and Daniel Johns. Front row, from left, Tamara Draper and Thomas Burton. The Burton family has been part of the school for four generations.By Melissa Donchi
A NEW fire station for Badger Creek and million dollar upgrades to Kinglake West Primary School were just some of the highlights for the Yarra Valley in this year’s State Budget.
Kinglake West Primary celebrated its $3.16 million win last week with a visit from Seymour MP Ben Hardman, who had been campaigning on the school’s behalf for some time.
Last month Mr Hardman stood up in parliament to remind Education Minister John Lenders to keep a promise to upgrade the dilapidated primary school.
School council member Steve Fleming said he was delighted with the outcome after years of campaigning.
“We’ve been campaigning for these funds since the mid 1990s and we’re very excited about building a new school,” Mr Fleming said.
“The school is 100 years old and all the classrooms except one are relocatable and are all in a very bad state of disrepair.”
Badger Creek CFA members were just as happy with a promise to upgrade their fire station, which Captain Nick Rodway said had come just in time.
The brigade will share in $8.8 million allocated to upgrade 18 CFAs.
“We’ve had a waiting list of people wanting to join the brigade for some time,” Mr Rodway said. “We just haven’t had the resources of the space to fit them in but I guess that’s about to change.”
Other major funding commitments included $8 million for a new operating theatre and 28 medical beds for Maroondah Hospital and $7.5 million to deliver accommodation for young homeless people in areas such as Yarra Ranges.
Manager of Executive Services for Community Housing Ltd, Paul Ryan said the money for housing was a welcome surprise.
“This money will translate into a significant number of affordable housing units which will assist a wide range of people,” Mr Ryan said.
“While it won’t eliminate the list it will certainly decrease it significantly.”
Lyster Ward councillor Samantha Dunn was equally impressed with the funds for public housing saying it was one of the shire’s biggest concerns for young people.
“There is very little public housing for young people in the shire,” Ms Dunn said.
“Essentially, we hope this funding will translate into genuine housing options because this is a big issue for young people.”
Regional tourism got a $23 million boost but local tourism operators will have to wait and see if this applies to them.
Of the $23 million, $2 million will go to regional community tourism events, $1.2 million will market regional wineries and food to interstate markets while another $1 million will expand the use of the Internet by regional tourist operators.
