THE Coalition's determination to reclaim Indi and boost its chances of retaining power in Canberra has led to the funding floodgates opening.
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The Morrison Government has made a combination of rock-solid commitments or election promises in Wodonga alone of almost $100 million in the lead-up to next Saturday's federal poll.
Wodonga Senior Secondary College was the latest recipient of the Coalition spendathon with $5 million promised for a new indoor sports stadium and community arts centre yesterday.
As the biggest population base, Wodonga is crucial to determining who wins Indi with independent Cathy McGowan's second successive election victory in 2016 helped by a clean-sweep of the city's polling booths.
But the Coalition's confidence in reclaiming Indi is surging with two betting agencies having Liberal candidate Steve Martin ahead of Ms McGowan's replacement Helen Haines.
Tab.com.au had Ms Haines favourite up until Prime Minister Scott Morrison's visit to Albury-Wodonga this week.
Mr Martin is into $1.45 and Ms Haines out to $2.70 with the Nationals $16.
"We're able to invest in Indi as a direct dividend of a strong economy and because we're out hearing the needs of our communities and funneling them straight to those in power in Canberra," Mr Martin said.
"I've heard the community on a number of issues, like securing the future of the Wodonga hospital site and investing in a McKoy Street flyover that will make business more productive and people get home safe.
"When I visited 50 towns in 50 days, getting to all corners of the electorate, a large number of community issues were raised with me.
"These were projects where the community had already raised money or are running initiatives that are adding value to the community."
Ms Haines said there was no guarantee Indi would see the funding come to fruition.
"About 18 per cent of this money was in the federal budget, but that's yet to be approved by parliament," she said.
"The rest is completely unfunded.
"The question that has to be asked is why the Liberals and Nationals only seem to pay attention to projects like these a few weeks out from an election.
"When we last had a Liberal very little was delivered compared with what Cathy McGowan was able to do by engaging communities, setting up transparent processes, and working constructively with them and the government of the day to deliver Commonwealth funding of more than $500 million to Indi over six years.
"The people of Indi can expect that I'll work in the same way."
Wodonga Senior Secondary College principal Vern Hilditch said the school had been lobbying the state government and council for funding support for the project, which includes a dual court indoor sports stadium and refurbished Galvin Hall incorporating community arts space, for at least five years.
"It would be an outstanding outcome for the community," he said.
"It will be one of the biggest venues, when it is redeveloped, in Wodonga.
"We've tried to get city council support and also the department of sport and recreation in Victoria.
"We are a priority, but not a very high one."
Wodonga Brass Band is among the community groups interested in becoming part of the development.
"We're going to have to get out at some stage," committee member Ross Draper said.
"We've got a road right behind, but this does give us a bit of hope something can happen."
COALITION INDI CASH SPLASH
PROMISES
$64 million McKoy Street upgrade
$10 million Baranduda Fields
$5 million Wodonga Senior Secondary College stadium and Galvin Hall refurbishment
$5 million Wodonga veterans wellbeing centre
$500,000 Wodonga Hockey Club refurbishment
$250,000 Baranduda Scout Hall redevelopment
$250,000 Myrtleford Scout Hall construction
$200,000 Mansfield Armchair Cinema refurbishment
BUDGET ITEMS
$14.5 million Wodonga hospital mental health rehab unit specialist clinics centre
$8 million Melbourne to Albury-Wodonga fast rail business case
$5 million Wangaratta study hub
$3.4 million Mansfield Sports Stadium redevelopment
$3.2 million Albury-Wodonga Regional Deal strategic planning
TOTAL: $119.3 million