By Gabrielle Costa
PUBLIC transport, schools and community centres, health services and affordable housing initiatives all deserve a funding boost in today’s 2008-09 State Budget, according to the mayor of the City of Maribyrnong.
Councillor Michelle MacDonald said better train, bus and tram infrastructure would lead to increased patronage that would in turn “mitigate against climate change” and the rising cost of increasingly-scarce oil.
She also called for funding for upgrades and extensions to schools, community centres and other community facilities, such as sporting grounds, to ensure they are water and energy efficient, and for a cash boost for libraries
Health services, particularly mental health services, should be bolstered and there should be recruitment and retention strategies, such as scholarships, for health professionals, particularly those in maternal and child health.
Children’s hubs, where maternal and child health services, kindergartens, playgroups and support agencies are brought together in the one place, were also a good idea, she said.
Older children and young people would also benefit if there were a boost to youth outreach programs, such as FreeZA.
At the other end of the generational spectrum, Cr MacDonald said, there should be more funding for aged care, in particular food services such as Meals on Wheels, and “significant funding” should be injected into affordable housing.
Cr MacDonald also said local governments should be granted more cash for technology and infrastructure, such as broadband, so residents could enjoy greater access.
And she advocated a “skills audit” to identify areas where employers could face a shortfall of qualified staff in future – so people could capitalise on education opportunities that would funnel them into those areas.
