Thursday, 22 May, 2025
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Peter Benazic named interim CEO
Shire’s financials in-depth
Weeds a prickly issue
Barclay sets sights on return
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SPORT
Lions show no mercy No mercy was shown at Toomuc Reserve on Saturday as Pakenham thrashed Yarra Junction in round six of the Outer East Division 1 competition. The Lions were just plain and simply too good, kicking 25 unanswered goals to rout the Eagles 25.14(164) to 0.1(1). See sport for full story
Pakenham thrashed Yarra Junction over the weekend. (478105)
Growth fund axed Growth area councils say they are “forgotten” by the State Government after a vital infrastructure fund was cut in this year’s budget. The 2025-26 State Budget, released on Tuesday, strips all funding from the Growing Suburbs Fund (GSF). For the past decade, this fund has been used to support the construction and maintenance of local parks, playgrounds, community centres, skate parks, accessible public toilets, and more.
Outer Melbourne Councils (OMC), which represents all major growth areas, said the outer suburbs matter. “There’s another Melbourne beyond the tram tracks that’s being forgotten,” an OMC spokesperson said. “The loss of the Growing Suburbs Fund will mean councils must spend less on critical community infrastructure. “Following the Werribee byelection, it’s as-
tounding the government has opted not to renew this critical funding stream.” The GSF provided over $35 million to fund 23 infrastructure projects in Cardinia Shire and over $40 million to fund 32 projects in the City of Casey. This comes as the state budget will enter an operating surplus this financial year, but net debt has continued to soar, with a projection of over $194 billion by the 2028-29 financial year.
Brunt Road Officer will receive a new specialist school, to open in 2027, as part of a $1.5 billion injection for new schools to finish off the State Government’s promise of 100 new schools by 2026. New hospitals and equipment make up an $11.1 billion investment, which includes new community hospitals in Pakenham, Cranbourne and Phillip Island. Full story page 2
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