Tuesday, 30 April 2024

Ministers statements: growth areas infrastructure

Sonya KILKENNY (Carrum – Minister for Planning, Minister for the Suburbs) (14:44): I am absolutely delighted to update the house on how the Allan Labor government is supporting Victorian families in our fastest growing suburbs with the critical infrastructure and services they need. Last Wednesday I attended the Whittlesea Early Parenting Centre with the Premier, and what an outstanding centre this is, supporting new mums and dads in the northern suburbs with access to specialised support close to home as they navigate not only some of the most precious moments with their newborns but also some of the most stressful and difficult times too. It was there that we announced more than $400 million in funding from the growth areas infrastructure contribution to fund 37 projects right across our growth areas of Cardinia, Casey, Hume, Melton, Mitchell, Whittlesea and Wyndham. This is the biggest funding round of GAIC projects we have ever made. Projects include $35 million towards a new school in Cobblebank; more than $150 million for new bus services across the north, the west and the south-east; $9.6 million for the Wallara Waters enhanced parenting centre; and nearly $3 million for upgrades to the Sunbury community hospital.

As we create the conditions for 800,000 new homes over the next decade, we want to make sure our communities continue to be thriving and livable – that we are not just building houses, we are building communities too. Unlike those opposite, we will support and invest in the families in our growing suburbs. Unlike those opposite, we will not abandon our communities or lock them out of having a home in the places they want to live, near services, near transport, near schools and close to families and jobs. We will continue to work with communities in partnership with local government and with industry to build the homes Victorians need and deserve.

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, I have questions overdue and not answered by the ministers: question 476, a constituency question to the Minister for Public and Active Transport – an important issue about a new bus service on Clegg Road in Mount Evelyn to Wandin; adjournment matter 535 to the Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC; and questions on notice 943, 945, 957, 1050, 1051, 1052, 1053, 1055, 1076, 1077, 1078, 1079, 1080, 1081, 1082, 1083, 1084, 1085, 1086, 1087, 1111, 1112 and 1113 to the Minister for Skills and TAFE, the Minister for Economic Growth and the Minister for Education. I would appreciate those being answered.

The SPEAKER: Member for Evelyn, would you to pass your list to the clerks, please.