2022
Incorporating
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
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www.mansfieldcourier.com.au
Edu Page 17
EDUCATION WEEK
CONGRATULATIONS MPS: Raising a grand total of $12,117, year six students from Mansfield Primary School committed to the big chop, shaving their heads to raise funds for the Leukaemia Foundation. More than 20 students took part in the World’s Greatest Shave on Monday with (from left) Dylan Gibney-Schelfhout, Mia Olver and Digby Scott-Barber all losing their locks for the worthwhile cause.
Sport
MANSFIELD MARATHON SUCCESS
■ Full story in next week’s Mansfield Courier.
PHOTO: Emma Oliver
Slap in the face Government hands down tight budget for regional communities THE Victorian Labor government tabled its 2024 budget last week, delivering several cost-of living support measures while also stalling and cancelling other major projects to curb the state’s ballooning debt. Similar to last year, Mansfield shire received limited funding, leaving many community members, stakeholders and regional ministers frustrated. Mansfield Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said the lack of investment in regional Victoria was disappointing, especially given the pressure local councils were under.
BY HANNAH KENNELLY hkennelly@ nemedia.com.au
“The people of Mansfield shire and our economy depend on the state government to invest in the infrastructure we need in our communities,” he said. Mayor Cr Rabie was especially critical of the government’s new waste levy, which will be increased in line with New South Wales and South Australia. The metropolitan industrial and municipal waste levy will increase to $167.9
TRACTOR SERVICE SPECIAL
a tonne starting in mid-2025, up from the current $129.27. The levy will be proportionally increased at rural landfills. “In the face of rising costs and demands on waste services, council has worked hard to achieve a ten percent reduction in our proposed budget for waste costs to households who aren’t receiving a green bin,” said Cr Rabie. “It is a shame that council’s waste cost reduction will be offset by the state government’s waste charge increase, with a further massive increase to EPA
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levies included in the state budget.” This year’s tight budget has also meant projects like the Emergency Services Precinct and potential expansions of capabilities at the Mansfield District Hospital, which have sought more funding for years, are still left waiting. Mansfield District Hospital chief executive officer Cameron Butler said the hospital received a small injection of cash for daily operations, however it was “not the amount they were hoping for”. “We will still be in a finan-
cial deficit as of June 30,” Mr Butler explained. “We are currently dealing with some government-imposed cost-saving initiatives which when coupled with other changes, leaves the hospital in a tenuous position.” Local MP Cindy McLeish said she was sick of seeing billions of dollars allocated to a “suburban rail loop from nowhere to nowhere” whilst critical community and emergency services infrastructure was being ignored. “This week’s state budget revealed, yet again, that
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Mansfield is not a priority for the Labor State Government,” she said. “Despite being briefed by Mansfield Shire Council and receiving their list of priorities, the state government has chosen to not fund the much-needed Mansfield Emergency Services Precinct. “I am disappointed that another state budget has come and gone without investment in this project - a project that the Minister for Emergency Services knows is a priority project and has been for some time now.” ■ Continued page 2
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