By Esther Lauaki
The long-awaited removal of the level crossing at Old Geelong Road in Hoppers Crossing has been funded in the state budget.
The state government has allocated a further $6.6 billion, as part of its 2019-20 budget released this week, to remove 25 more crossings across the state by 2025.
Werribee MP Tim Pallas said, when plans for the crossing’s removal were first made late last year, that there had been three serious accidents since 2005 and 20 near-misses at the Old Geelong Road level crossing. About 18,000 vehicles travel through the level crossing each day.
“What is clear is that this crossing meets this criteria, certainly in terms of safety, efficiency and community connectedness,” he said.
Wyndham’s budget wins also included:
•A share of $214 million for seven early parenting centres across the state, including one in Wyndham;
• $12.3 billion towards the Suburban Rail Loop, a 90-kilometre rail line circling Melbourne’s suburbs with 12 new underground stations that connect every major rail line from the Werribee line to the Frankston line;
•A share of $1.4 million to continue Victoria Police youth outreach in Werribee, under which police officers and youth workers are paired to provide support and referral for vulnerable young people;
•A share of $5 million to develop the next generation of sports stars, with seven high-performance basketball hubs to include a new “hub” in Werribee;
•$150 million to upgrade 11,000 carparks at train stations across the state in the next four years, including at Aircraft station; and
•$2 million towards construction and expansion of 10 community hospitals across the state, including the new Point Cook Community Hospital.
• New construction at Truganina South East Primary School.
Altona MP Jill Hennessy said the government was delivering on its promises with major investments in education, healthcare and transport.
“This is the first step in delivering the Point Cook Community Hospital, which will give local families confidence that the very best care is just around the corner,” Ms Hennessy said.
