SIGNIFICANT infrastructure investment will be needed for the Mildura electorate to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Member for Mildura Ali Cupper says the Victorian Government needs to consider the electorate’s unique circumstances when considering spending as part of the COVID-19 recovery.

“Premier Daniel Andrews has promised a few times in the past week that the Victorian Government will unveil unprecedented investment in infrastructure as part of the recovery process, to stimulate the economy and provide jobs,” Ms Cupper said.

“I have been pushing hard for an increase in investment in the Mildura electorate, given the impacts of COVID-19 on job losses and the economy, in addition to a history of chronic underfunding by Governments over many decades.”

Ms Cupper said the Victorian Government providing more than $23 million in funding for infrastructure projects in the Mildura electorate since the COVID-19 pandemic started was encouraging.

This includes $4.4 million for infrastructure upgrades at SuniTAFE; $5.5 million for the Mildura riverfront; $4 million for streetscapes in the Buloke Shire and $2 million for Catfish Billabong at Merbein.

“These projects will provide jobs during the construction phase, which is crucial for our region given the number of people who have lost jobs since the start of the pandemic,” Ms Cupper said.

The Victorian Government is expected to hand down its budget in late October or early November.

Ms Cupper said the Federal Government’s winding back of JobSeeker and JobKeeper payments was a blow to employers and employees in the Mildura electorate.

“We need all governments to continue to provide the support we need to get through this extremely challenging time,” she said.

“I would urge both the Victorian and Federal governments to ensure they do everything possible to invest in our region when they announce their respective budgets.”