NORTH East councils are today looking to the Victorian government to stick to its pre-election commitment and deliver funding for the state’s regional cities in its first budget.
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The Andrews government has promised to provide $100 million specifically for the use of the state’s 10 major regional cities, including Wodonga and Wangaratta.
It has also promised to reintroduce the regional development fund, replacing the former Coalition government’s regional growth fund.
So far there is no announcement as to how much money will be allocated to this fund.
One promise of major importance to all local government areas in regional areas is a commitment to spend $1 billion to spend on regional roads and bridges.
Wodonga mayor Rodney Wangman has highlighted the importance of funding for not only new developments and infrastructure, but also the need for ongoing funding for essential services such as libraries and school crossings.
Cr Wangman says in many of these service areas funding has been stagnant or less than CPI increases.
It’s time for that to change if councils are to meet the needs of their growing communities.