THE state government has let down south-west residents by failing to fund key projects in its budget, according to Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell.
Funding for South West Healthcare's Warrnambool Base Hospital and the Princes Highway between Warrnambool and Port Fairy were not included.
"Daniel Andrews and Labor have failed to match $140 million for south-west roads delivered by Member for Wannon Dan Tehan," Ms Britnell said.
She said the state government should have matched the federal government's $80 million to fix the region's key freight roads and a further $60 million to improve the Princes Highway between Warrnambool and Port Fairy.
"They are not contributing a single dollar to make sure these key south-west roads are safe for families travelling to and from school, work and sporting commitments.
"They are not contributing a single dollar to ensure they are safe and efficient for freight companies who take our world class produce to market."
Trev Greenberger, spokesman for the Princes Highway West Action Alliance, said the group was very disappointed.
"Member councils have developed some significant business cases that demonstrate a strong need for improvements to the highway," Mr Greenberger said.
"The federal government recently supported this work with a commitment of substantial funding.
"The alliance will continue to work with local members and the roads minister to advocate for the needs of the south-west community and nationally significant industries."
Member for Wannon Dan Tehan said he was bitterly disappointed.
"It beggars belief that the Andrews government has not provided funding for these roads," Mr Tehan said.
"The Commonwealth Government has put the money on the table, it's there - the money will be provided to the Victorian state government.
"It's just a crying shame that they will not at a minimum match it to at least 20 per cent."
Mr Tehan said south-west motorists would be disappointed and he would continue to advocate for funding.
"Safety on our roads is the number one priority in the south-west and I will continue to advocate strongly for the Andrews government to pay their fair share and do their bit to see our roads upgraded to a level where people can not only travel safely, but our goods get transported efficiently."
A state government spokeswoman said south-west roads had received maintenance funding in the budget.
Ms Britnell said Daniel Andrews had also ignored the healthcare needs of the south-west.
"In 2014 former premier and local member Denis Napthine committed to rebuild the Warrnambool Base Hospital, I remade that commitment in 2015, 2016, 2017 and again in 2018," she said.
"This is the fifth year Daniel Andrews has ignored our hard working doctors and nurses and failed to give them facilities they need to do their life-saving work efficiently.
"It is the fifth year Daniel Andrews has been happy to put the community at risk because the facilities are under pressure."
Ms Britnell said it was an insult to south-west residents.
"Today their premier has said to them 'I don't care that your hospital is struggling to keep up with demand," she said.
"He has even ignored the hospital's chief executive officer Craig Fraser, who said in February increasing demand for services was 'putting pressure on our facilities, especially the ageing infrastructure'."
Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos said the budget delivered on the commitments made to Victorians at the last election.
"We've provided South West Healthcare with the funding it needs to get the planning right for future projects and record funding to help doctors and nurses do what they do best," Ms Mikakos said.
"It was Labor who funded the first stage of an upgrade of Warrnambool hospital and it's Labor who stands with nurses, doctors and patients, no matter where they live."
In other budget commitments, south-west residents will have access to free dental care at government schools and the single officer Camperdown and Terang ambulance stations will become dual officer crews.
The government has also committed to funding its share of the Geelong and Shipwreck Coast City Deal in the 2019/20 budget.
Port Fairy's community health centre will be expanded and Heywood's primary health services will be integrated into the local health hub, while Glenormiston agricultural college will receive money to develop a shearing course.
It was also revealed that three-year-old kinder will be rolled out in the Colac-Otway, Corangamite, Glenelg and Southern Grampians shires in 2021.
South-west schools are also set to benefit, with Mortlake College to receive $1.18 million to to replace a building that contains asbestos, Terang College will receive $1.77 million for a similar project, while Baimbridge College in Hamilton will receive $840,000 to complete stage one of a plan to upgrade the school.
Dunkeld Consolidated School and George Street Primary School in Hamilton will receive $1.09 million and $2.27 million, respectively, to replace buildings containing asbestos.
Also included in the budget is $615 million for regional rail.
A state government spokeswoman said works would continue on the Warrnambool Line Upgrade with funds from this commitment.
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