THE allocation of $4.4 million for infrastructure improvements at SuniTAFE brings the Victorian Government’s commitment to the Mildura electorate to more than $23 million since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Member for Mildura Ali Cupper said the Victorian Government’s investment in the Mildura electorate in recent months was substantial.
“I have been lobbying tirelessly for infrastructure spending in our electorate since being elected and the investment over the last six months is evidence my advocacy has been effective,” she said.
SuniTAFE will receive $1.6m to upgrade the Mildura campus’ entrance and renovations to the Skills and Jobs Centre while $2.8m will be spent on upgrading the Benetook Avenue carpark including lighting and security, and improving stormwater infrastructure.
“This is a significant investment both for SuniTAFE and the Mildura electorate and I thank Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education Gayle Tierney and the Victorian Government for recognising the needs of our community,” Ms Cupper said.
There have been a number of substantial investments in the Mildura electorate in recent months including $5.5 million for the Mildura riverfront; $4 million for streetcapes in the Buloke Shire; $2 million for Catfish Billabong at Merbein and almost $2 million for the Cann Group’s medicinal cannabis facility project.
There have been 21 separate funding allocations for projects in the electorate ranging from $1000 grants for 16 sporting clubs to funding of more than $500,000 for different road, school and recreation reserve upgrades.
Ms Cupper continues to lobby the Victorian Government for $10 million to complete Mildura South Regional Sporting Precinct as a priority in the upcoming Budget.
“The Budget will be held late next month or early November and given the dire impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions and lockdowns, there has never been a more important time for the Government to continue infrastructure spending in the Mildura electorate,” she said.
“What we’ve seen over the last six months has been very encouraging but we are facing a long road to recovery and that will require substantial investment in our region.”
