VICTORIAN Premier Ted Baillieu yesterday declared Ballarat to be a winner from his government's first budget.Tuesday's state budget delivered promises of more than $85 million to the Ballarat area, including $73.4 million over four years to expand and improve services at Ballarat Base Hospital. Addressing a breakfast of business and community leaders, Mr Baillieu said the issue of quality health care and access to information technology were at the forefront of the region's needs. "I fully expect that Ballarat will continue its historic role in driving the state. "From the time of the gold rush boom in this area, all through the development of Victoria, the Ballarat area has been a driver of the future," Mr Baillieu said. He highlighted the Coalition Government's funding commitments for the Ballarat Base Hospital, Ballarat District Nursing and Healthcare and said a planned local office of the Department of Premier and Cabinet would bring better government access. The planned shopfront office is expected to be operational from July, with five staff members available to the public. "Having staff from the premier's department stationed here will strengthen channels for local people to get direct help and direct access to the premier," Mr Baillieu said.Accompanied by Ballarat Mayor Craig Fletcher and other members of the City of Ballarat council, Mr Baillieu said Ballarat would benefit from statewide funding for 1700 additional police officers, police station upgrades and 940 public safety officers on public transport. Ballarat Railway Station will be one of the regional stations to receive the officers. More train services will use the station under an additional commitment of $1.6 million over four years to run more Ballarat trains to Wendouree. The also budget included $30 million over three years for upgrades and construction of five police stations, including newly announced stations at North Ballarat and Sebastopol.The Premier and Minister for Regional Cities, Ports and Racing, Dr Denis Napthine, visited the Victoria Police Training Facility on Ballarat's Norman Street North, which will be the site of one of the new police stations. "Community safety was one of the top priorities we took to the election last year, and it is one of the top priorities in this budget," Mr Baillieu said. "The budget has been responsible, caring and it has been well received, including here in Ballarat." He restated a commitment to fund a helipad for Ballarat hospitals, but said the funding would come in future years. Mr Baillieu said the $1 billion regional development fund, and $2.5 million to start work on the Ballarat Western Link Road were crucial to help further population growth in Ballarat.