Over $25 million has been injected into more than 80 projects in the Benalla Electorate over the past six months and the money will continue to flow according to Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes.
Dr Sykes gave this assurance in the context of few specific funding announcements for the Benalla Electorate in the State Budget announced on 2 May 2012.
Dr Sykes said, “It’s not all about what is announced on one day in May, it’s about what is delivered as an ongoing commitment to regional Victoria.
Specific projects in the 2012 Budget for Benalla Electorate include;
• $1 million for Moyhu sewerage project;
• New CFA sheds for Eildon and Boho; and
• $500,000 over two years to Mansfield Autism Statewide Services (MASS) Travelling Teaching Service.
Dr Sykes said, “I am particularly pleased about the allocation of $500,000 to MASS Travelling Teaching Service.
“This service has helped hundreds of families and continues to help people with autism enjoy a quality of life and to achieve to their potential.
“I will continue to lobby hard for further support.”
Dr Sykes said, “We are in very difficult economic times and the Budget reflects that but I am confident that it will provide a firm foundation upon which to rebuild the Victorian economy.
“Specific projects which I will continue to lobby hard for include;
• Benalla Education Regeneration Project;
• Mansfield Secondary School upgrade;
• Myrtleford P12 School upgrade;
• Bright Hospital and Aged Care Facility;
• Improved funding for servicing public patients in Strathbogie Shire;
• Mansfield Hospital upgrade and Primary Care Clinic; and
• Benalla Hospital Aged Care facilities.
Dr Sykes said the $1 billion Regional Growth Fund announced in 2011 will continue to fund many projects which will deliver better community infrastructure and facilitate new jobs and generally improve our quality of life.
Examples of recently funded projects in the Benalla Electorate include;
Benalla: $242,700 for Benalla Skate Park, $129,000 Benalla Gardens Oval Grandstand, $1.9 m Local Government Infrastructure Program, $70,000 Benalla College Year 12 Retention Fund, $810,000 Advancing Country Towns.
Mansfield: $99,000 Mansfield Netball Court, $299,650 Mansfield Community Gathering Place, $90,000 Maindample Community Park Project, $1.7 m Local Government Infrastructure Program, $2.2 m MACE U2Uni, Mansfield Bowls Club $100,000.
Strathbogie: $300,000 Avenel Recreation Reserve, $25,000 Nagambie Scout Group, $3,050 Violet Town Men’s Shed, $75,580 Tolmie Tea Rooms, $1.8 m Local Government Infrastructure Program, Nagambie Presbytery $45,000, 3.5 m Nagambie Revitalisation Project.
Alpine: $650,000 Mt Buffalo National Park, $500,000 Mt Buffalo Development Plan, $750,000 Mt Buffalo National Park/Lake Catani, $2 m Local Government Infrastructure Program, $25,000 Mt Beauty Urban Design Strategy, $100,000 Bright P-12/Myrtleford P-12/Marian College Year 12 Retention Fund, Myrtleford Museum $48,000.
Murrindindi: $923,000 Jerusalem Creek Road, $21,340 and $113,416 Lake Eildon Boating Safety Fund.

Benalla Electorate Funded Projects

A ‘back to basics’ budget is what Nationals Member for Benalla is calling for from the Brumby Government.
Dr Sykes said, “The most critical needs of the Electorate of Benalla is funding for the basics – roads and bridges, health, education and reducing energy costs. None of this is sexy but without it, the social disadvantage gap between country people and their metropolitan counterparts will continue to widen.
“Of the seven local councils in the Benalla Electorate, five (Benalla, Mansfield, Alpine, Strathbogie and Murrindindi) are amongst the most financially stressed councils in Victoria, due mainly to a small rate payer base and a large number of roads and bridges.
“There is an urgent need to change funding arrangements so that these small rate payer base shires get a larger contribution from state and federal governments.
“At this stage we have an unsustainable situation being made worse weekly by more cost shifting and burgeoning (often senseless) bureaucratic requirements.
“In relation to education, Year 12 completion rates and the uptake of academic tertiary education by country students are appalling compared with students living in metropolitan areas.
“Several independent enquiries have reported this and recommended increased support for country students including funding for all students who have to move away from home to undertake tertiary education.
“Unless this widening education achievement gap is reduced the widening social disadvantage gap between country and city will grow rapidly.”
“I recently visited all six hospitals in my electorate and whilst each are doing an excellent job in providing a wide range of health services, most sail very close to the wind financially.
“One outstanding health need is additional mental health services and more outreach workers to connect those in need of help to appropriate services.
“High energy costs continue to be a burden on residents and businesses and are a major disincentive to the establishment of new businesses. Connection of more towns to natural gas, as promised eight years ago by the Brumby Government would be a great start.
“The Brumby Government must also significantly reduce crippling liquor licence fees and replace the Fire Service Levy with a more equitable way of funding fire services.
“Myriads of other excessive fees charged by government agencies such as VicRoads and Goulburn Murray Water must also be reduced.”
Dr Sykes said that given proper funding some of the many key projects which local communities have put forward could commence.
Key projects include;
Alpine Shire
Expanding aged care facilities in Bright, adequate funding for Alpine Health Services; upgrading the Bright Art Gallery, improved public transport in the Ovens and Kiewa Valleys, improved accessibility to the Victorian Public Transport Assistance Scheme, securing Bright’s water supply, and adequate funding for Mt Buffalo Chalet so that it can be leased, restored and returned to its former glory.
King Valley
Retaining of General Practitioner Services at Whitfield and Moyhu, upgrade of facilities at Whitfield recreational reserve and the continuation of the upgrading of the Wangaratta Whitfield Road.
Glenrowan
Securing reticulated water and sewerage service, redevelopment of community centre, progress Ned Kelly Interpretative Centre and link it to development of Winton Wetlands and Warby Range Park.
Benalla Rural City
Funding for the Benalla West Drain project, funding a new library and relocation of council offices, the upgrade of the Skate Park and Squash Courts and commitment to fund the Benalla Education Regeneration Project.
Mansfield
Funding for childcare centre, expand aged care facilities, upgrade the recreational oval and upgrade of the Mansfield Secondary College.
Euroa
Funding of new Community Health Services and upgrade of facilities at the Memorial Oval.
Nagambie
Repair and restoration of Kirwans Bridge.
Eildon
Provision of local GP services and a general sprucing up of the town centre.