Members Statement: Budget 2023-2024

31 May 2023

Watch the video here.

It is a tremendous honour to be representing the community of the Bellarine in this place, and I have not wasted a minute in committing to putting that Bellarine community first at the heart of decision-making, working hard and making a positive difference. I am proud to say that the election commitments I made for the Bellarine have now been delivered through the recent state budget, making sure that Bellarine continues to thrive. We will create a better learning environment at Wallington Primary School by upgrading their classrooms, and we are investing in a world-class indoor aquatic centre, providing swimming and aquatic wellbeing options for residents. We are ensuring safety near the water by rebuilding the St Leonards Pier, an iconic and much-loved pier, and we are delivering better boating and fishing infrastructure by improving the St Leonards boat ramp. We are investing in a new marine search and rescue vessel to assist the volunteers at Coast Guard Queenscliff to continue their work in helping the community.

We are focusing on health and wellbeing for our families by investing in upgrades to sporting facilities at the Barwon Heads Football Netball Club and Portarlington Recreation Reserve, as well as improving safety at the Collendina Reserve. We are supporting the SpringDale Neighbourhood Centre so they can continue to provide that education and connection to the wider community, and we are upgrading the St Leonards hall to benefit the whole community. We will provide a new neighbourhood battery to the Queenscliff area, advancing our renewable energy commitments. I am very excited to be able to deliver these projects and do what we said we would do, ensuring the Bellarine continues to thrive.