Tuesday, 23 May 2023

Budget 2023–24

Paul HAMER (Box Hill) (14:39): Last November the Andrews Labor government went to the electors of Box Hill with a clear plan to upgrade local services and infrastructure, and this year’s budget delivers on these commitments by investing in what matters to our community. This includes funding to deliver stage 2 of Koonung Secondary College’s master plan, which will see an extension of the recently completed two-storey building for years 7 to 9. Funding is also provided to start planning on a new STEM centre at Orchard Grove Primary School in Blackburn South so that local students and their hardworking teachers can get the world-class education they deserve.

Sport is such a big part of the Box Hill community, helping local families to stay active and get engaged. In this budget, the Andrews Labor government will invest $1.5 million to upgrade Springfield Park in Box Hill North to ensure that our local Whitehorse Colts football and netball club have not only the football training facilities that they need but also the netball training facilities. We will also deliver $3 million to a pavilion upgrade in Mirrabooka Reserve in Blackburn South and $6 million to upgrade Box Hill City Oval.

Every community deserves great spaces in which to come together to celebrate and share culture and tradition. That is why we are investing $2.5 million to deliver a new Chinese community centre in Box Hill and $150,000 to upgrade the Fo Guang Shan temple in Box Hill and providing $100,000 per year over four years to help make the Whitehorse Lunar New Year festival an even bigger and better celebration.