By Parker McKenzie
All election promises made on the 2022 state election campaign trail in Monbulk and Bayswater have been funded in the 2023/24 Victorian budget.
In Bayswater, Labor’s Jackson Taylor made a raft of promises to see off former Ferntree Gully MP Nick Wakeling, including a huge $60 million for a revamped Boronia Station, millions for local school upgrades and nearly half a million dollars for a new dog park and upgraded playground in Wantirna.
Mr Taylor said the investment in Boronia Station will make it more modern, safe and accessible for locals.
“I’m stoked to have worked tirelessly alongside our community to deliver this huge upgrade to Boronia Station and with funding in this Budget, it shows we’ve listened to locals and are delivering the public transport infrastructure our area needs,” he said.
“Education changes lives and gives kids the best start for the best life. This Budget is huge for schools locally, making sure that wherever local parents choose to send their kids to school, they have access to first-rate facilities.”
Up the hill in Monbulk, Daniela De Martino replaced long-serving MP and former Deputy-Premier James Merlino.
Ms De Martino also made election promises as she saw off the Liberal Party’s Gareth Ward, including money for community groups like Connecting Cockatoo Communities and Treasuring our Trees, and millions for schools and sporting pavilions.
Another election was forming a Youth Advisory Council to advise her on relevant issues for young people, which Ms De Martino confirmed had its first meeting earlier this month.
She said the budget was a great result for Monbulk, with everything “we said we’d do, we’ve delivered.”
“I’m really please the Youth Advisory Committee has commenced, it is a great opportunity to raise issues that matter to them with their local member of parliament,” Mr De Martino said.
“It also gives them the opportunity to have a louder voice.”
Nominees for the committee were held earlier in 2023 and it will next meet in June.
