BALLARAT will receive $9.1 million in funding to begin construction of a road and rail freight hub to be built in the new employment development zone in Ballarat’s west.
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But the money will not arrive until 2014 and could be at risk if there is a change of government later this year.
The money is part of $24 billion in infrastructure funding set aside in yesterday’s federal budget handed down by Treasurer Wayne Swan.
There was also $3.5 million for road repairs in the Ballarat region, with local councils to share in the money as part of the Roads to Recovery program.
Further money has also been set aside to fix dangerous traffic blackspots, with $637,000 for new roundabouts and markings at high-risk Ballarat intersections.
Ballarat MP Catherine King said Labor’s last budget before going to the next federal election was a good one for the region.
“It is focused on jobs and growth for the region through funding major infrastructure in freight and roads,” she said.
The planned freight hub will be developed on a 16 hectare site at the southern end of the Ballarat Airport, next to the proposed Ballarat Western Link Road.
Stage one will cost $17.3 million, including $2.75 million to fund road access to the facility, with the federal government chipping in $9.1 million between 2014-2017.
Eventually, it is hoped the hub will develop into a rail terminal for the movement of freight containers between Ballarat and the Port of Melbourne.
Ms King said the project had been championed by local council and the Committee for Ballarat and would help boost jobs in the region.
It is predicted the Ballarat West Employment Zone will generate 9000 new jobs and $5 billion annually in economic benefits.
“That is a critical catalyst for jobs growth in our region and one that will be the key to the Ballarat Employment Zone.”
Liberal candidate John Fitzgibbon said the project sounded like “another promise Labor will break”.
“I’ll believe it when the cheque arrives. Our community is sick and tired of Labor’s broken promises,” he said.
Ms King also pointed to the big ticket national items in the federal budget, including funding for school reforms and the $19.3 billion DisabilityCare insurance scheme.
Cuts include an axing of the $5000 baby bonus in favour of a less generous scheme and a deferral of carbon tax compensation.
“Overall the budget is a very responsible budget, that as well as delivering for Ballarat, delivers very important social reforms,” she said
Mr Fitzgibbon said the budget did nothing to help deal with cost of living pressures, economic uncertainty and poor services.
“They promised no carbon tax and a surplus. Instead we got a carbon tax, record deficits and in this budget, Labor scrapped tax cuts, family payments and the baby bonus.”
As expected, there was no money for the $11 million Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility, with the City of Ballarat instead set to provide $5.6 million to see it completed.
The $80 million redevelopment of Eureka Stadium also remains on the backburner for all levels of government, with no funding forthcoming.
