Leaders respond to key projects for Ballarat in state budget

Eureka MP Michaela Settle said she was pleased to see the younger generation a highlight of the budget - in particular the $400 payments for students.

The government will be paying families $400 for each student enrolled in a government school to help with uniform and excursion costs.

"This budget continues our government's work to help families with cost-of-living pressures," Ms Settle said.

Previously announced upgrades for Woady Yaloak Primary School have increased by $2 million in order to keep up with increased costs.

The state government is extending their plans for pre-prep, which will not be completed until 2036.

Ms Settle said their commitment continues and was delighted to see the impact three year old kinder was having on people in the region.

Ballarat council have identified the kindergartens that would need infrastructure upgrades to meet demand in the advocacy pipeline.

Mayor Des Hudson said he would continue to be advocating for important upgrades to kindergarten across the council area.

"The state government policy has meant we need to build extra rooms," he said.

"We really do need that funding, to make sure we can deliver the hours."

The Keeping Ballarat Moving project, a 2018 election promise to upgrade six intersections, will cost an additional $10 million.

Five intersections have been completed and last year the Dyson Drive roundabout was delayed because of land acquisition issues.

The total project will now cost $70 million because of a "range of factors, including weather conditions".

The council wanted to see funding for duplication of Ballarat-Carngham Road and planning for Dyson Drive upgrades.

Cr Hudson said the new costs for Keeping Ballarat Moving helps the council understand how the price for key infrastructure is rising.

He said the desire for new projects are there, but "the likely price tag is higher" than what has been estimated.

Money is back in the budget for the Beaufort Bypass which was previously unknown because of the federal government's infrastructure review.

Joint funds from the federal and state government together costs $48 million for planning and preconstruction.

This is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

As part of the regional roads upgrades, there is $1 million going to Miners Rest pedestrian crossings.

This is a key project parents and the Miners Rest Primary School brought to Ripon MP Martha Haylett after the 2022 election.

"I have been working with the school community, they have continued to raise concerns about getting across Howe Street," Ms Haylett said.

"There are going to be a number of happy parents in Miners Rest."

Additions to Ballarat Base Hospital redevelopment have increased the project by $54 million, taking the total project to $650 million.

The women and children's hub is expanding, resulting in the increased cost, to include more maternity beds.

Wendouree MP Juliana Addison said it was important to "meet the local communities health needs now and into the future".

"It is about strengthening the community ... and making sure we have funding to provide essential services."

Budget papers said the project schedule has been revised and is now expected to be completed a year earlier, by the end of 2027.

More details are available about a dedicated mental health, alcohol and drug emergency hub in Ballarat.

The government will spend $5.4 million to deliver the new hub in the emergency department.

It was first announced as part of the 2022-23 budget and is expected to be completed before the end of June 2028.

The trans and gender diverse clinic in Ballarat will continue - funded through a statewide program.

The Ballarat Train Station upgrade, which will build and overpass between the two platforms, will cost an additional $1 million.

The budget papers said this was because parts of the project had been "reclassified" from operational to capital costs.

The Lydiard Street level crossing upgrade has been delayed until the end of 2025.

The Western Rail Plan does not have a completion date because the government is waiting on "detailed planning and development activities".

The project will electrify trains to Melton, creating faster V/Line routes on the Ballarat Line.

Committee for Ballarat chief executive Michael Poulton said this was a key project for a large number of people in the state.

He said it was pleasing to see additional funding for the hospital as well as a railway station upgrades.

Mr Poulton said he acknowledge it was a year of fiscal constraint following the extraordinary amount of spending during the COVID-19 years.

Western Victoria MP Joe McCracken said he wasn't surprised about the lack of spending for Ballarat.

"The state is broke, they can't spend anything," he said.

For Ballarat, he said he welcomed the hospital announcement but wanted to see more elective surgery wait times.

Looking forward to the 2026 election he said his party will be focusing on big ideas rather than big spending.

"We have to spend time and effort repairing what we already have," Mr McCracken said.

"When you have spending commitments that are really focused on one area of the state you can't afford to do everything."

This story has been updated to include comments from Ballarat MPs and leaders.