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Council

15 May, 2024

State gov’ “delivering nothing”

MEMBER for Polwarth Richard Riordan has accused the state government of “delivering nothing” to the Corangamite Shire in last week’s state budget, despite the Cobden Technical School receiving more than $6.5 million.

By wd-news

He questioned why a pre-election funding promise of $1.8 million to the Lismore Primary School was not delivered.

Mr Riordan said the whole electorate has seen an increase in land tax, rent tax, payroll tax, workcover charges, fire service levies and land fill charges.

He said every person across the Corangamite Shire from employer to employee, from landlord to tenant to residents young and old were paying increases in extra taxes across the local economy.

According to Mr Riordan, the local road funding saw a 96 per cent reduction in maintenance work over the past 12 months with no real improvements or catchups foreshadowed in coming years.

He also raised concerns over shortfalls for health services in Cobden and Timboon.

“Residents of the Corangamite Shire like so much of regional Victoria must travel to Melbourne if they have any hope of seeing their taxes at work,” Mr Riordan said.

“The failure of the Allan Government to responsibly share the burden of its mismanagement, is an indictment on its fiscal management that voters will have to endure to 2026.”

Mr Riordan also raised concerns over what he described as slow funding roll outs for commitments under the Geelong City Deal.

“The Geelong City Deal funding projects were fully costed and funded almost six years ago, our communities are no closer today to having them realised,” he said.

“Millions extra each year are being ripped from our Great Ocean Road communities in tax, and yet none of the promised upgrades our communities have been promised are being delivered.

“The State Government is happy to use our Great Ocean Road for marketing, but is not prepared to back it with our fair share in funding.”

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