WITH eyes set firmly on the November election, Treasurer Jaclyn Symes has delivered a budget full of sweeteners in the $13.8 billion spending, but very few lollies for Mitchell Shire and surrounding areas in that thick wad of cash handed out last Tuesday to woo voters.
Delivering an operating surplus of $1 billion for 2026-2027 in her second budget as Treasurer, and first since post-COVID, Ms Symes spruiked $1.04 billion as the State Government’s biggest roads investment and says 70 per cent of that will be spent on rebuilding, repairing, and resurfacing roads across northern Victoria. But the details are still not known.
The big-ticket items delivered as part of its cost-of-living package to Mitchell Shire and the rest of Victoria are free travel on public transport extended to this month, and half rates until the end of the year, and 20 per cent off car registrations, as part of the government’s $1 billion spending.
The free travel is claimed to save the average daily commuter in northern Victoria more than $1300.
Of the overall government spending splurge that is expected to reach $107.7 billion in 2026-27, another big spend is $29.85 million for more services on the Shepparton line, which includes Mitchell Shire.
Another budget goody is the $32.5 million commitment to extend a discount to April 21 next year on stamp duty for Victorians buying off-the-plan apartments, units and townhouses.
All this is spread on a platter in the presence of the big demon lurking as the state debt that is projected to hit $199.3 billion in 2029-30.
Other key items for Mitchell Shire and surrounding municipalities include:
• $250,000 for new cricket nets at Kilmore Cricket and Recreation Reserve.
• Additional classroom capacity with two modular classrooms for Broadford Secondary College.
• Funding to expand the Bring Your Bills program to the Mitchell LGA.
• $1.82 million for the Rural Financial Counselling Service, expanded to support geographical expansion to Mitchell Shire, offering free help to families doing it tough
• $2.3 million for land acquisition for a future, brand-new CFA station in Beveridge.
• $2 million for a new SES unit in Kalkallo, with new equipment, vehicles, volunteer recruitment and administration systems.
• Funding to deliver trains every 20 minutes on the Mernda Line all weekend. Bus services on Routes 589 and 525 will be improved with a $13.5 million package, alongside longer hours for Routes 386 and 387 on Monday to Thursday and Sunday.
• $1.8 million to improve pedestrian safety and bicycle parking at Donnybrook Station.
• $465,000 to convert the greens at Wallan Bowls Club from natural grass to synthetic turf
• $250,000 for a new playspace at Wallan East.
• $34 million for improving services at Craigieburn Community Hospital and $20.9 million to continue running nine Urgent Care Clinics, including Craigieburn Urgent Care Clinic.
• The budget also invests nearly $500 million to build and upgrade kinders and government-run childcare centres.
• $104 million to acquire land for future schools in high-growth areas, including a new primary school in the Mitchell LGA.
In the Macedon Ranges, Daylesford Primary School is receiving $6.7 million for an upgrade and modernisation, and Hesket Primary School gets $281,000 for capital improvements.
Ms Symes described the budget as ‘disciplined’ and said it will make life easier, safer and more affordable for families across the regional communities.
“We have invested more than $50 billion in regional Victoria, creating more jobs and services, while ensuring regional Victoria has the second lowest unemployment rate of anywhere in the country.”
Ms Symes, Member for Northern Victoria, said: “We know regional families in northern Victoria are feeling the pinch of higher transport and fuel costs.”
“This budget delivers direct relief for the household budget — slashing costs for those long drives with cheaper regional fares, and taking 20 per cent off car rego, saving a driver with one car up to $186, and a family with two cars up to $372.
“Regional Victoria is at the heart of this budget. We are investing $114 million in regional education. The $75 million Regional Health Infrastructure Fund will go towards supporting regional hospitals and health services. And we’re investing $20 million into the Future Regions Program to boost productivity, liveability and investment in Victoria’s regions.” Ms Symes said.
Member for Kalkallo Ros Spence said the budget delivers real cost-of-living relief for Kalkallo families with cheaper fares, rego rebate, and support for families with the cost of education.
“Only Labor is investing in Kalkallo’s future, upgrading Donnybrook Station, boosting local bus routes, and delivering a new SES unit and school upgrades.”
Member for Yan Yean Lauren Kathage said only Labor is delivering for Yan Yean families – with world-class health care and education for our growing community.
Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas said Labor is investing $1.1 million to continue the Healthy Loddon Campaspe program, helping people in Macedon stay active and eat well.
The budget delivers investment to upgrade Old Kyneton Primary School and open the space into a bold, inclusive community and creative hub.
But Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland described the budget as another bitter blow for regional Victoria, delivering more debt, more taxes and more broken promises.
“This is not a budget built on vision or accountability. It is a budget built on debt,” she said.
Ms Cleeland said planning for a Kilmore Secondary College has failed to progress, leaving families without certainty and reinforcing concerns that Labor has no real plan to deliver a public secondary school for one of Victoria’s fastest-growing regional communities.
At the same time, the Kilmore Bypass continues to symbolise Labor failure, with about $40 million spent since 2023 and still no meaningful work delivered on the ground.
Local schools across the electorate also missed out entirely, despite growing enrolments and increasing pressure on ageing infrastructure, while CFA volunteers were once again overlooked for critical upgrades and support.
Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell said the Macedon electorate has missed out on funding for vital projects essential to supporting growth in the region, including Riddells Creek public infrastructure upgrades, and Lancefield Park Recreation Reserve redevelopment.
Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) Acting President Peter Star said regional Victoria has been left wanting after the budget largely ignored much-needed critical funding and left unanswered questions for the state’s multi-billion dollar agriculture industry.
“For many this budget will be seen to kick the can down the road during an election year,” Mr Star said.
“The much-hyped $1.04 billion for road repairs and resurfacing is a step in the right direction, but fails to deliver the level of investment required to fix Victoria’s deteriorating road network.”
Mr Star said the budget has been sold as Victoria’s vision for the future, but is lacking when it comes to detail for regional Victoria.