
Millions in funding has flowed from the state budget for some long-awaited projects in the south-west.
Warrnambool and Camperdown will get new boat ramps, the homeless Port Fairy SES unit will get a new headquarters and design work will begin on a new aged-care facility in Camperdown with a cash splash from the budget.
The region is also set to get its share of millions directed to homelessness, mental health and housing projects.
Warrnambool's long-awaited boat ramp upgrade secured $3.5 million for critical repair works while Lake Bullen Merri in Camperdown will get $2.5 million for its boat ramp.
Mayor Vicki Jellie said a lot of hard work had gone into the project and she was just thrilled by the news. "It's something we've been waiting for for a long time. It's great for Warrnambool and great for the region," she said.
Port Fairy's embattled SES has been given $4 million for a new facility after its Sackville Street base was condemned on Friday.
An additional five acute mental health beds will be available for the region's most vulnerable at the Warrnambool Base Hospital by next year, thanks to a $10.9 million investment.
In one of the largest allocations in the south-west, Portland received $17.4 million towards job creation and economic diversification across the Glenelg Shire which included funding for local freight road upgrades, stage two of the Henty Employment Precinct Infrastructure upgrades, a new Portland Diversification Fund and a new Victorian government office in the city.
Camperdown received $4.952 million to complete detailed design and plans for redevelopments of public residential aged care facilities while the Corangamite Shire was allocated $2.9 million for decontaminating public parkland.
Corangamite mayor Ruth Gstrein welcomed the funding for projects for her shire but said its number one priority - the Port Campbell streetscape project - appeared to have missed out.
She said she was hopeful the money would arrive sooner rather than later for the project so disruptive roadworks could be completed before the return of international tourists.
The budget also directs $10,000 to the city council for the Warrnambool Botanic Gardens.
READ MORE:
The Warrnambool homelessness outreach team will receive a share of the $47 million Homelessness Rough Sleeping Action Plan.
The budget also delivers $7 million to strengthen youth participation and connection through projects including the Regional Presence Project in Warrnambool.
The budget includes $141 million for five new Youth Prevention and Recovery Care Units (YPARCs), including locations in the Barwon South West, and Grampians. This investment will deliver 50 beds across the state, offering a 'step up' from community care or 'step down' from hospital, with 24-hour support delivered in a home-style setting.
Western Region Alcohol and other Drug centre director Geoff Soma said it wasn't clear if there was any money in the budget for The Lookout project, but he was holding out hope that it might be in the finer details.
Mr Soma said $1.4 million in recurrent funding, as well as capital funding, was needed for The Lookout residential rehabilitation centre for alcohol and other drugs in Dennington.
Key transport projects across regional Victoria will be delivered to improve the state's transport network and kickstart work on vital projects for regional communities, primary producer supply chains and the tourism sector, including the Surf Coast Highway corridor in the state's south-west.
The Labor Government will invest $4.46 million to ensure the Great Ocean Road and its beautiful surrounds are properly managed with the transfer of management to the new Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority. The Eastern Maar and Wadawurrung Traditional Owners will also be supported to actively participate in the management of traditional lands
Warrnambool's HOPE service which provides aftercare to adults who attend the emergency department after a suicide attempt is one of nine sites that will receive ongoing support, expand referral pathways into the program, extend service hours and provides additional outreach to regional areas.
The budget delivers on the government's promise to introduce kinder for every three-year-old child. Having begun its rollout in select regional communities first - including the Corangamite and Colac Otway shires this year - $167 million will see this support delivered across regional Victoria, reaching every local government area for the first time.
The south-west is home to some of Victoria's most visited tourist destinations. To preserve the environment, the budget will remediate public land at Princetown Recreation Reserve and Kennett River Recreation Reserve to minimise harm to the community and the environment and provide safe recreation and visitation sites.
In Colac, the budget also funds the removal of existing cricket pitches and replacement with brand new synthetic pitches including at Elliminyt Recreation Reserve, Alvie Recreation Reserve and Pirron Yallock Recreation Reserve.

Katrina Lovell
Katrina Lovell is a senior journalist at The Standard who covers council news and human interest stories.
Katrina Lovell is a senior journalist at The Standard who covers council news and human interest stories.