Established in 1981 as the
proudly serving Melton and Moorabool
14 MAY, 2024
Houses a hive of activity Ever wanted to put your furry best friend onto some art work? Well here is your chance. Neighbourhood houses in Melton will be a hive of activity for Neighbourhood Houses Victoria Week. The week runs from May 13-19 and celebrates the impact neighbourhood houses and community centres have on communities There are eight funded neighbourhood houses in Melton, five council-operated and three non-council operated, which run alongside other community centres. Melton council is facilitating a series of free workshops throughout the week. Some of those activities include a super science kids workshop, hand building pottery for beginners, restorative yoga and candle making workshop, a pet portrait workshop, elder rights workshop and a zero food waste cooking workshop. Details: htttps://meltonlearning.com.au/ nhweek2024/
Lisa Fitzpatrick with her dog Evie and Lisa’s painting of Evie. (Damjan Janevski). 405984_01
Calder funding put on ice Melton commuters’ hopes of faster and smoother journeys in and out of the municipality have been dashed in the state budget, with funding to upgrade the Calder Freeway delayed indefinitely. The 2024-25 state budget, handed down by treasurer Tim Pallas on May 7, confirmed the future of the Calder Freeway improvements project remains uncertain, with the state government detailing that it has paused the project as it works with the federal government to “understand the impact” of its decision to withdraw federal funding from the project last year. In November last year, the federal government released its long-awaited
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national infrastructure review detailing that the Calder Freeway would not be receiving the multi-million dollar funding that was promised. The federal government had allocated $50 million in funding in 2019, with the state government announcing it would also allocate $50 million to the project in 2021. Since then, question marks have hung over the state government’s $50-million funding, with it refusing to confirm whether its investment for Calder Freeway upgrades would go ahead. Calder Action Group president Russell Mowatt said community members are “appalled” by the decision to pause the funding. “Talking with other community members
there is a sense of prejudice against the north-west communities, councils and [the] Calder Highway Improvement Committee who have recently voiced their unanimous voice to fund the Calder Freeway at a ‘Fix the Calder’ campaign,” he said. The budget also contained no additional funding for the Western Freeway upgrade between Melton and Caroline Springs. The Labor party pledged in the lead up to the last state election that it would allocate $10 million for a business case, following the federal government having made the same commitment. The federal government axed funding to the Western Freeway Upgrade from the M80 Ring
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Road to Ferris Road in November however, it wasn’t expected to affect the $20 million Western Freeway business case that is already underway. The business case was expected to be completed later this year, but Star Weekly understands it is still in progress. In some good news for the Melton municipality, $6.4 million has been promised to upgrade Toolern Vale and District Primary School, while new schools will be built at Cobblebank and Weir Views. Funding was also set aside for land acquisition for Aintree North Primary School. ■ Continued: page 4
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Massive Sale on Cleaning Products Bendable Chenille Duster
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1 week only 14.05.24 to 20.05.24.
Opening Hours 9am - 5:30pm (Mon - Sat), and 10am - 5pm (Sun)
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Shop 1C, 415-429 High Street (cnr Station Rd.) MELTON | VIC | 3337
8716 3679 | www.facebook/ilovethisshopmelton 12687625-FC20-24