AS A member of the former Coalition government I was proud to commit to the shovel-ready Warburton Mountain Bike Hub project which will create jobs and boost our local economy.
The State Government’s Interface Growth Fund provided an avenue for funding to complete this high-priority project but Premier Daniel Andrews has failed to support local jobs in the Upper Yarra.
In an extraordinary move, this government put a playground ahead of this project, as well as investing $720,000 in the Belgrave community hub to support the Deputy Premier.
Very sadly, the Premier has put politics well and truly above jobs where they are needed in the Upper Yarra.
Last year in Parliament I raised this matter directly with the Minister for Local Government Natalie Hutchins who, in a response months later, failed to commit to this greatly needed project.
Yet again, the hopes of so many in the Upper Yarra who support this project have been put on the backburner.
The Mountain Bike Hub project is expected to inject an estimated $23 million into the local economy, creating 175 jobs.
An additional 130,000 new visitors are expected to be attracted to Warburton every year.
Victorian Deputy Premier Matthew Guy and I will always fight for jobs in our region.
Locals will always be assured that we will continue to fight for and deliver the Warburton Mountain Bike Hub.
Cindy McLeish,
Member for Eildon.
