By JESSE GRAHAM
THE Yarra Valley will receive a boost in funding for local roads under the latest Federal Budget, with Roads to Recovery funding doubled, according to Casey MP Tony Smith.
In a post-budget statement, Mr Smith praised a number of measures in his government’s budget, including a number of packages to assist small businesses.
Mr Smith said one standout measure was an immediate tax deduction for assets under $20,000 purchased by small businesses from Budget Night (12 May) until 30 June 2017.
“The new $5.5 billion Growing Jobs and Small Business package will help local small businesses in the outer-east and Yarra Valley to invest more, grow their enterprises and employ more locals,” he said.
The Roads to Recovery program, which supports maintenance of local roads by funding councils, has been doubled under the budget, and the Yarra Ranges will receive $3.3 million in the 2015-’16 year.
The money will be allocated to Yarra Ranges Council to use for local road improvements.
Meanwhile, La Trobe MP, Jason Wood, announced that the Yarra Ranges would receive $3.835 million to fund the construction of a Multi-Purpose Health Hub in Belgrave.
Mr Wood said the Belgrave hub would be a “one-stop health hub” for communities surrounding the town, with numerous Yarra Ranges Council and external groups based under one roof.
Yarra Ranges Youth Services, Maternal and Child Health, Aged and Disability Services, Inspiro and the Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Services will all be located in the hub, which will sit at the current Youth Services site next to the Cameo Theatre.
The funding accompanies $1 million in State Government funding in last year’s budget, and the Yarra Ranges Council has said it would fund the remaining costs for the $8.3 million building.
Yarra Ranges Council Director of Social and Economic Development, Ali Wastie, said the grant was the largest community infrastructure grant the council had ever received.
For more information on the budget, and articles on all three recently-released budgets, see mail.starcommunity.com.au.
