The Andrews Labor Government is delivering on its promises and delivering for the people of Tarneit, with major investments in local schools, roads, health and public transport in the Victorian Budget 2019/20. 

As part of a massive $1.8 billion investment in schools around the state, this year’s Budget will deliver funding to build brand-new schools for kids in Tarneit. Funding will be provided for additional works required for schools currently under construction and scheduled to be delivered in 2020, including Davis Creek Primary School. We will also provide construction funding for the new Truganina South East Primary School set to open in 2021. These new schools will help to meet the needs of our growing community. 

Students and teachers at The Grange P-12 College are also set to benefit from this year’s Budget, with the Labor Government delivering $9.5 million to make sure students at have the learning spaces they deserve, with a major upgrade to the science block, Block F, Block G and Block H. 

From upgrading the roundabout at the end of your local street to building our state’s biggest transport projects, this Budget will get you where you need to go, with a massive Suburban Transport Blitz. 

Before being elected, we promised to remove 50 level crossings by 2022, with 20 gone by 2018. With 29 crossings already gone for good, this year’s Budget delivers on the Labor Government’s commitment to remove even more dangerous and congested level crossings. 

With a $6.6 billion investment, this Budget ensures a total of 75 level crossings will be gone by 2025 – including Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing, cutting congestion and making our community safer.  

Local commuters can look forward to an easier time finding a car park, with $150 million to improve parking at some of our state’s busiest stations, including 1600 across Tarneit, Wyndham Vale, Werribee and Watergardens Stations. Delivered over four years as part of the new Car Parks for Commuters Fund, this investment will help make life just that little bit less stressful for local commuters, while also unclogging neighbouring streets. 

With our state’s biggest transport build underway, now we’re turning our attention to the next big projects, investing $100 million to begin work on the Western Rail Plan, to begin planning to electrify the rail lines to Melton and Wyndham Vale, separating these lines from the Ballarat and Geelong lines. 

The Labor Government will establish a new parenting centre in Wyndham as part of a $213.7 million investment to provide extra support to new mums and dads. One of nine across the state, the brand-new Wyndham parenting centre will help make sure new mums and dads can get the advice they need, including support with sleeping, feeding and extra care for babies with additional needs.  

And because the most stressful time for sleep deprived parents is often the middle of the night, the Budget includes $7.2 million to expand the 24-hour Maternal and Child Health Line parents can call to speak with experts about sleep and settling issues. 

First-time parents will benefit under the Budget, with the rollout of new Baby Bundles.  These bundles will include all the essentials local mums and dads need to help guide them through the first few months and years of their child’s life, including a nappy bag, growsuit, safe sleeping bag, teething ring, muslin wrap, information on safety and parenting and picture books. 

The Labor Government is determined to make sure our kids are ready for school and set for life, delivering on our commitment to begin the rollout of universal three-year-old kinder. 

Thanks to a $882 million Budget investment, we will ensure that every three-year-old has access to at least five hours per week of subsidised kinder by 2022 – increasing to 15 hours per week. 

A further $28.5 million will see early childhood added to the list of Free TAFE courses, reducing financial barriers for students, encouraging enrolment and supporting the Labor Government’s rollout of universal three-year-old kinder. 

A further $58 million will expand our School Breakfast Clubs and make sure more kids are learning on a full stomach. Building on the existing program, which provides free breakfasts in 500 schools across our state, this investment will see free breakfasts and lunches served up to students at 1000 primary and secondary schools every school day. 

We’re giving local families peace of mind, with this year’s Budget investing in a brand-new Indian aged care facility in Melbourne’s west. 

Part of our promised $27.2 million package for multicultural aged care facilities across the state, this investment will ensure that elderly culturally and linguistically diverse Victorians are getting the care, compassion and understanding they need later in life. 

Our local Indian community can celebrate their culture and traditions with pride, thanks to the Labor Government’s $80,000 investment in the Wyndham Diwali and Holi Festivals in 2019. 

We are also ensuring that local eligible multicultural senior groups, will benefit under this Budget with $4,000 grants – promised and delivered. This investment will ensure groups can continue their important work, with funding to host activities, excursions and religious celebrations as well as to upgrade and purchase new equipment.    

Our sporting clubs are the heart and soul of our community. With this Budget, the Labor Government is ensuring local sporting stars have the facilities they deserve, with $300,000 to deliver new lighting for night soccer games at the sporting ground at Grange Reserve, Hoppers Crossing. 

We promised to put power back in the hands of Victorians. And through our landmark Solar Homes program that’s exactly what we’re doing. 

This year’s Budget delivers on the Labor Government’s positive plan for solar, investing $1.3 billion, to make sure more Victorians can take control and cut their power bills.  

This includes rolling out solar panels, solar hot water or solar batteries to 770,000 homes over the next decade, expanding the program to renters and ensuring the safety and sustainability of the rollout, with funding for training, safety and quality audits. 

This is a Budget that delivers for all Victorians. 

Quotes attributable to Member for Tarneit Sarah Connolly

“This year’s Budget delivers a massive investment in local schools, roads, health and public transport for the west.” 

“I’m proud to be delivering the services the people of Tarneit need.”