By Peter Douglas and Bonny Burrows
The Yarra Ranges and Cardinia shires have been dealt a major blow in the Victorian Budget, with the announcement of a 50 per cent cut to the Growing Suburbs Fund.
As part of the group of Interface Councils, the funds have been vital in helping to establish major infrastructure projects in the region, including the Lilydale Lake Playspace, Belgrave South Sports Pavilion and the Montrose Town Centre redevelopment.
Over the past two years, 76 parks, playgrounds, ovals, sports centres and community centres have been built or are underway in Melbourne’s growth corridors, including within the Yarra Ranges, thanks to grants from the $50 million annual fund.
But in a blow to local governments, and another nine interface councils experiencing population boom, the State Budget on 2 May revealed available funding for the next two years had been reduced to $25 million.
Yarra Ranges Council chief executive officer, Glenn Patterson, said the shire representatives would meet with other Interface Councils and the Victorian Government.
“Yarra Ranges Council has been informed about a reduction in allocated funds for the Growing Suburbs Fund in 2017-’18 Victorian Budget,” Mr Patterson said.
“The Growing Suburbs Fund has allowed council to bring forward the delivery of valuable community infrastructure projects.
“Interface Council, such as Yarra Ranges, have demonstrated capacity to deliver Growing Suburbs Fund-supported projects in a timely manner.
“The State Government’s ongoing commitment to this fund is appreciated and we will be meeting with other Interface Councils and the government to discuss the changes in the coming weeks.”
Meanwhile, Cardinia Shire mayor and Interface Councils spokesperson, Cr Brett Owen, said while the two-year commitment to the fund was welcome, the cash cut would halve the number of community projects funded.
This reduction was disappointing, he said, and would be heavily felt by outer suburban communities who already had ‘significantly’ less than inner city areas.
“This means communities will face a much longer wait to see vital facilities such as community, youth and childcare centres, as well as recreational facilities, in their areas,” Cr Owen said.
While he is ‘grateful’ for the projects funded, the mayor said there was still a significant backlog of projects in the pipeline which could miss out.
The ability to cut a $9.6 billion infrastructure gap between metropolitan and outer suburbs would also be decreased, he said, as investment in Melbourne’s outer suburbs didn’t “reflect equal or adequate funding” to ensure infrastructure was on par.
“It feels like we’ve taken two steps forward in addressing the historic underinvestment in outer metropolitan Melbourne, and now we have taken one step back,” Cr Owen said.
The Interface Councils of Melbourne comprise 10 municipalities that form an arc around metropolitan Melbourne and incorporate both the green wedge and the urban growth boundary.
Interface councils include: Mitchell Shire; Melton City; Wyndham City; Hume City; Whitlesea City; Nilumbik Shire; Yarra Ranges Shire; Cardinia Shire; Casey City; Mornington Peninsula Shire
Also among those to speak out on this decision include State Member for Southern Metropolitan Region, David Davis.
“The big cut in this year’s budget is the halving of the Growing Suburbs Fund, which represents a massive cut of $50 million to growth councils in particular over this year and next year,” he said.
“Victorian families in the growth areas will be the losers as vital and necessary local infrastructure projects are put on hold as a result of Daniel Andrews’ savage cuts.”
