South West Healthcare chief executive officer Craig Fraser, board chairman Bill Brown and their hard-working teams should be congratulated in presenting a compelling case after a six-year campaign.

The funding commitment is overdue but nonetheless Mr Andrews and Mr Pallas deserve praise and sincere thanks for ensuring this vital project happens. Mr Andrews was Health Minister when the $100m first-stage redevelopment was funded by a Labor government a decade ago and his contributions to the city's hospital are beyond significant.

The budget contained several other major victories for the region, including $140 million for works on the Great Ocean Road and $115 million on routes linking the Princes Highway to the coastal drive. There was also a further $17m for upgrades to dairy supply chain roads, $25m for much-needed social housing in Warrnambool, $10.5 million for the Hampden Specialist School which has campuses in Terang and Cobden and $5m for Merrivale Primary School.

But there was a glaring omission. The budget contained no funds for the dilapidated Princes Highway west across not only this financial year but the next three years. The budget again contained more funds for the Princes Highway east, $240m for duplication works. Mr Andrews and Mr Pallas are clearly not listening when it comes to our section of highway. The federal government announced $60m for highway works on a state road 18 months ago conditional on some state funding. As little as 20 per cent, $12m, is required. Imagine the bang the state could get for its bucks? Wannon MP Dan Tehan said the lack of state funding was ' highly unusual' and he was exploring whether Canberra could find "a way around it". The federal government has added our section to its national network meaning Canberra pays 50 per cent of maintenance for a state road yet the state government isn't willing to fund upgrades. We can't let this ride.