The same federal government cash scheme that funded upgrades to Chirnside Park and Eagle Stadium will no longer cover Wyndham projects.
The boundaries have been redrawn for municipalities eligible to apply to the National Stronger Regions Fund, and while Geelong and sections of Melton are still included, areas like Wyndham and Hobsons Bay will now miss out.
Federal Lalor MP Joanne Ryan said the cash pool, introduced by the former Labor government, was important for infrastructure. She expressed outrage that a fund created for growth areas excluded one of the fastest growing such regions in the state.
“It’s an absolute outrage that they would ignore Wyndham as a growth corridor, minimising local government access to funds,” she said. “We’re now limited to state government injections.
“They’ve reverted to their traditional position that regions are only parts that we in Victoria would call the country”.
The council made an application to the fund last year for $100 million to fund an “integrated community hub” at Werribee, but it was knocked back. The hub is one of the council projects it says will “transform the Werribee city centre”.
Council’s director of city life Jenny McMahon confirmed its application had been unsuccessful.
“We have not been informed why the project was not prioritised for funding,” she said.
“The funds were to assist in financing the development [of the project].
She said the council would continue to take every available opportunity to secure funds from both the state and federal governments.
