Wyndham welcomes Budget funding

Wyndham Council has welcomed significant funding for schools, roads and rail in today’s State Budget.

According to the Budget papers, funding has been provided for the construction of five new schools to open in 2023 and 2024, plus land acquisition for four more.

The five new schools include Holyoake Parade Primary School in Manor Lakes – 2023; Riverdale East Primary School in Tarneit – 2023; Tarneit Mission House in Tarneit – 2023; Lollypop Creek Primary in Werribee – 2023 and Truganina North Secondary College in Truganina – 2024.

More than $15 million has also been set aside for upgrades and expansions at Alamanda P-9 College in Point Cook, Manor Lakes P-12 College and Tarneit Senior College.

Wyndham Mayor Adele Hegedich said: “This funding is extremely welcome and was urgently needed to meet demand in our fast growing suburbs.”

“Wyndham is the fastest growing City in Victoria and we need continued investment to make us a more liveable City.”

“About 100 babies are currently being born each week in Wyndham, which means we need to plan for at least an extra new classroom every week just to keep pace with this ongoing boom.”

There was also positive news for Wyndham road and rail users. A total of $10 million has been funded to progress early works for the long-awaited construction of a bridge over the Geelong-Melbourne rail line to connect Ison Road through Wyndham West and the Princes Freeway corridor.

“Once completed, this will allow for direct travel between developing residential areas in Wyndham and employment and education precincts,” Cr Hegedich said.

“It will give residents from Wyndham Vale and Manor Lakes direct access to the freeway, rather than funnelling through Werribee.”

“Providing a freeway connection to these growth areas will support the existing and future population growth.”

According to the Budget, the State Government has also allocated funding to upgrade the dangerous intersection at Derrimut and Boundary Roads, as well as an additional bus route for Tarneit.

The Budget also allocated $71.6m over two years, including $22 million in 2021-22, for rail capacity improvements along the Wyndham Vale and Melton corridors to enable the future operation of higher capacity trains.

Further funding was also allocated for construction of the Point Cook Community Hospital and planning for the expansion of emergency facilities at Werribee Mercy Hospital.