Bad brake for Casey roads

By Lia Bichel
A LACK of federal funding for local roads and public transport will increase frustration and congestion on busy roads, the RACV said last week.
The Federal Government allocated $999,335 funding for the Roads to Recovery program to Casey Council.
Cardinia Shire Council will receive $1,190,593 for the same program.
RACV general manager of public policy Brian Negus said the lack of funding for roads and transport was disappointing.
“Despite being the engine room for jobs growth and efficiency gains, Victoria has been short-changed by the Federal Government, which has not recognised the contribution of Victoria’s growth to the national economy,” he said.
“The lack of funding will put the brakes on a number of critical projects in Victoria.
“RACV is disappointed the Federal Government has failed to deliver those necessary funds.”
While there was less than $1 million allocated for roads in Casey, local families, business people and seniors will benefit from other funds from the Federal Budget.
Holt MP Anthony Byrne said one of the highlights of the budget was the education tax rebate, which was extended to include school uniforms. Up to 8700 local families could be eligible for an extra $4200 per child aged between 16 and 19 years under changes to the family tax benefit.
“These projects are providing employment and training opportunities for local workers and state of the art education and sporting facilities for our kids,” he said.
For education, one of the highlights from the Federal Government budget was an investment of $425 million over four years to reward to performing teachers and $200 million to support school students with a disability and extend the National School Chaplaincy program. The budget also included $100 million for a national apprenticeship mentoring program to support apprentices finish their training, $100 million to develop new apprenticeship models and $281 million support package for additional tax free payments to encourage apprentices in critical trades to complete their qualifications.
The $1700 trades apprentice income bonus is expected to support 200,000 trade apprentices over four years in skills shortage occupations to stain in their training and get a skilled job. Mr Byrne said 3005 apprentices in Holt could benefit from these investments.
For small businesses, the government will allow small businesses to claim $5000 as an immediate deduction for motor vehicles purchased from 2012 to 2013.
Berwick seniors will also benefit from the budget, with the Federal Government investing in Broadband for Seniors kiosks to allow older Australians to stay connected to family and friends through broadband internet.
Of this, $8000 has been allocated to the Berwick Bowling Club at Edwin Flack Reserve, $8500 for Berwick Brae Retirement Village, $7400 for Fiddlers Green Village and $7500 for Woodlands Park Retirement living.
LaTrobe sporting clubs have also received a funding boost, with two redevelopment projects benefiting from the Federal Budget.
Berwick’s Arch Brown Reserve received $65,000 to install a new scoreboard and upgrade security lighting and Officer Recreation Reserve received $50,000 towards stage one development of the pavilion at its newer ground.
In other Federal Government funding, $110,000 was allocated for landscape and development works at Pioneers Park, Berwick under the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program.