Young Wyndham families are big winners from this year’s state budget, with millions going towards the construction of two new schools in the area, planning for two more and building upgrades for one existing school.
More than $13.8 million apiece has been allocated to the construction of the new Sanctuary Lakes South P-9 school and the Truganina East P-9 school, while money has also been put aside to acquire land for a new school in Wyndham South.
A spokeswoman for Altona MP Jill Hennessy said the government was “facing challenges” in acquiring land for the new Sanctuary Lakes school, with compulsory acquisition on the cards if an agreement could not be reached.
The government has allocated $1 million for architectural planning and community consultations for a new Point Cook senior campus catering for years 10 to 12, and has also put money towards upgrades for the Grange P-12 College.
Other big ticket items from the 2017-18 state budget:
•$3.7 million for planning to expand and upgrade the Werribee Law Court as part of the Wyndham Justice Precinct.
•$2 million to build a new SES unit in Point Cook, with the location still to be determined.
•Eight more train services on the Werribee line as part of a $67 million boost to metropolitan public transport services and upgrades to the Werribee bus interchange.
•Three new parks in Werribee, Kororoit Creek and Cranbourne.
The state government has also allocated funding for a number of already-announced projects, including money for the $1.8 billion upgrade of Wyndham roads, the Werribee police station rebuild and the Werribee youth detention centre.
The budget papers reveal that the government will also allocate some of the funds from the Growth Area Infrastructure Contribution to purchase land for the new Manor Lakes ambulance station.
The state government has slashed its Growing Suburbs funding – of which Wyndham is a recipient – in half, pledging to spend $50 million in the next two financial years.
Meanwhile, Footscray Hospital will be rebuilt from scratch on the back of a $50 million funding allocation
The funds will be used to develop a business case, start design work and purchase nearby land if it is required.
Health Minister Jill Hennessy said the hospital no longer met the needs of a rapidly growing community.
“The business case will identify the best way to deliver a new hospital for Footscray – either a rebuild from the ground up on the existing site, or on a new location,” she said.
Footscray MP Marsha Thomson welcomed the funding, while Greens MP Colleen Hartland said the hospital rebuild was well overdue.
Western Health board chair Bronwyn Pike said rebuilding the hospital had long been a top priority for the community.
“Footscray Hospital has been at the heart of our community for 60 years, and so we are thrilled that it will soon become the world-class, modern facility that our patients deserve,” she said.
– With Benjamin Millar
