STATE BUDGET COVERAGE
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State Member for Narracan Gary Blackwood has moved to assure the Moe community he supports the revitalisation of the town’s railway precinct, despite there being no money allocated for the project in next year’s budget.
Labor member for Eastern Victoria Matt Viney hit out at the Coalition, saying while a formal application for funding was yet to be lodged by Latrobe City Council with the government, the project was not even mentioned in the budget’s forward estimates. However, Mr Blackwood said a three-month review of the project by the council had delayed the government’s ability to allocate its portion of the project funding.
“I have been for quite some time working with Latrobe City Council and Regional Development Victoria to target an appropriate funding source for the Moe Activity Centre Plan,” Mr Blackwood said.
“The regional growth fund provides one option and we are considering that at the moment and as soon as we can, we’ll be making an announcement.”
Council’s review of the project ended in March when it settled on a plan.
The revitalisation of Moe’s town centre is estimated to cost $15 million to $20 million and would need to be jointly funded by local, state and federal governments to go ahead. It includes construction of a civic centre, library and skate park along the George Street railway precinct.
