Vic budget 2015/16

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ABC Rural --> Rail funding for Wimmera and Mallee in Victorian budget

Rail funding for Wimmera and Mallee in Victorian budget

Updated 10 minutes agoTue 5 May 2015, 2:37pm

A major rail upgrade in the Wimmera and Mallee is among the flagship announcements for regional Victoria in the state budget.

The Treasurer Tim Pallas today released his first budget since Labor won government in November last year.

The budget includes up to $220 million for the Murray Basin Rail Project.

The budget papers show the State Government expects to spend at least $30 million during the 2015-16 financial year.

Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford said full details of the project, and when the government would spend money on it, would be announced once officials completed the project's business case.

"The business case will be released within weeks," she said.

"The new government found there wasn't quite as much preparation and work done on this as we'd been led to believe by the former government.

"Progress is sufficiently advanced that we can confidently say in the Budget our commitment will be between $180 and $220 million and that we will build this."
Victorian finances

The budget papers show the Victorian Government is projecting a surplus of $1.2 billion in 2015-16, increasing to $1.8 billion by 2018-19.

The government is forecasting the economy to grow 2.5 per cent in the next financial year, increasing to 2.75 per cent in the following year.

The government is championing its $500 million Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund, and a $300 million so-called 'TAFE Rescue Fund'.

The Treasurer and senior ministers say the Budget is framed "for families" and say it will honour "96 per cent" of its pre-election commitments.

"The budget I hand down today has fairness at its heart and families in its reach," Mr Pallas said.

"It gets us back to basics. Jobs, schools, hospitals and transport - the things that families need to live a good and healthy life."
Agricultural commitments

From an agricultural perspective, the State Government says it will honour all its pre-election commitments.

The government will spend an additional $45 million on agricultural industries.

Ms Pulford said a $20 million Food Source Victoria program would grow exports, create new jobs, carry out research and develop new marketing plans.

"It's about finding opportunity and investing in industries where we can lead the world," she said.

While there is no line item for saleyard upgrades at Euroa and Wangaratta, the government says the funds will come from a regional jobs and infrastructure fund.

The government will allocate money from its TAFE funding program to create a food and fibre centre at Bendigo TAFE.

The National Centre for Farmer Health, at Hamilton in western Victoria, will receive $4 million - $1 million each year during the government's first term.

The government will spend $1 million on a horticulture innovation fund, $1 million to promote cellar door visits and expand wine exports, $130,000 for a wine industry advisory council and almost $800,000 in scholarships to attract young people into farming.

The budget allocates $9.4 million to support biosecurity services, $5.2 million for trade negotiations and $600,000 to examine food labelling laws.

The Rural Financial Counselling Service will receive $1.54 million and the fox bounty $1 million during 2015-16.

The government will spend $5 million over four years to phase out puppy farming, $5.2 million to position agriculture at the forefront of the state's exports and $20 million on a recreational fishing strategy.
Murray Basin Rail

Farmers have long campaigned for improved rail services throughout the state's west.

They say increasing the amount of rail freight would reduce costs, prevent degradation of roads and improve road safety.

The issue tackling the problem is that the tracks are different widths apart.

Standard gauge, which has rail tracks 1.4 metres apart, is throughout western Victoria, connecting Hopetoun, Horsham, Ararat and the Port of Portland.

Broad gauge, which has tracks 1.6 metres apart, is throughout the state's north-west.

The Murray Basin Rail Project, which the former Coalition government initiated and budgeted for, aims to convert the broad gauge into standard gauge.

Rail currently transports about half of the Wimmera and Mallee's grain across the state.

The horticultural and mineral sands industries also use the line and hope to expand the amount they transport via rail once the project is completed.

The Victorian Farmers Federation wanted funds from the $400 million sale of Rural Finance to pay for the project.

The State Government says it will continue negotiations with its federal counterparts for Commonwealth contribution to the project.
Other regional projects

    $76 million over three years to strengthen key bridges on key freight routes
    $50.5 million to improve 52 level crossings
    $286 million for 21 new train carriages
    $2 million for a Bendigo metro rail project
    $45.5 million for an ice action taskforce
    $40 million for ambulance stations, vehicles and equipment
    $10 million for cardiovascular services in Ballarat
    $1 million for planning at Goulburn Valley Health in Shepparton
    $12 million to plan new technical schools in Gippsland, Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong
    Two new schools in Sale and Bannockburn
    Upgrade and refurbish 21 "crowded and outdated" schools
    $7.8 million over four years for 15 new sworn police in Geelong and Bellarine
    $11.5 million for regional emergency services communication upgrades
    $50 million for planned burns
    $44 million for new Country Fire Authority equipment
    $300,000 to plan for a new CFA training facility
    $11 million to upgrade park infrastructure

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