Melbourne’s growth area councils received just 7 per cent of the infra- structure funding included in this year’s state budget – down from an 18 per cent share two years ago.
The drop in funding has prompted the Interface Councils from municipalities around Melbourne’s urban fringe to hold a series of public meetings to demand fairer funding for their communities.
The group of 10 councils said it was unfair that interface municipalities received only 7 per cent funding for infrastructure despite hosting close to half of Victoria’s population growth in the past five years.
Interface Councils spokesman and Wyndham mayor Bob Fairclough said the state budget was inequitable. Negative impacts of growth without financial support could create an irreversible “downward spiral” if allowed to continue.
“This translates to an $810 million shortfall in the outer suburban, Interface Council areas,” Cr Fairclough said.
“And that means the Interface Council areas have been short-changed four new buildings for early childhood centres, 10 new secondary schools, three new TAFE campuses and five new hospitals, and they’re unable to cater for more than 9000 new public service users.”
A public meeting about the funding will be held at the civic centre, 45 Princes Highway, Werribee, on Wednesday, July 16, from 6.30pm.
To attend, visit wyndham.vic.gov.au/fairerfunding
