Firstly, if you haven’t already, make sure you claim your households $250 Power Saving Bonus in the new round which opened on 24 March. Just head to the Victorian Government’s Energy Compare website to see if you can get a better deal – you don’t even need to swap to claim the bonus. The Victorian Energy Compare website holds power companies to account and makes sure your household is keeping more money in their pocket.
Locally, we are getting on with making the Alchester Village Roundabout intersection in Boronia safer by fully signalising it, adding more lanes at the intersection and providing safer crossings. Early service works are now complete. Detailed final designs are due to be complete this month with major construction starting later in the year.
A great new cricket net facility for Ferntree Gully Cricket Club and the community is now open and is one of five new nets I’m proud to have delivered (or be delivering) across Knox with new nets also now open at Miller Reserve in Boronia with three others underway across Knox.
The frames are up on the major works at Boronia West Primary School, where over $4 million to create a new central learning hub and is part of over $90 million in school infrastructure funding secured over recent years.
In some (very) big news for the East, major works have kicked back up on the North East Link for 2023 – marking the start of a massive year for Victoria’s largest ever road project. This year will see the completion of Bulleen Park and Ride, contracts awarded for the Ring Road upgrade and the first section of the Eastern Freeway overhaul, and a tender process for the remaining Eastern Freeway upgrades – which will add 45 kilometres of new lanes, saving drivers 11 minutes. This new road will complete the missing piece in the Ring Road and will be a huge benefit to Eastern locals.
We’ve also just announced a 10-cent refund for your used bottles, cans and cartons. Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme will start on 1 November, and it will: cut litter by up to half, reduce waste, by turning old bottles/cans/cartons into new ones, have more than 600 collection points across our state, the most accessible and convenient network in Australia and I’ll ensure I keep our community updated on its progress.
I also want to take this opportunity to thank Boronia and Bayswater RSL’s who hosted moving Anzac commemorative and dawn services recently to honour our fallen and to remember the sacrifices they made so that we may enjoy the freedoms and liberties we have today. I also want to acknowledge Wantirna College, Boronia K-12 and Boronia Rotary who also held wonderful services to mark the day.
I also want to acknowledge Ian Benier, a veteran and Knox Local who spoke at Wantirna College’s service about what Anzac means to him and his over 20 years of service in the Australian Defence Force (ADF). His service took him across the globe. Ian’s two sons have carried on the tradition and have served in the ADF proudly. We thank Ian, his sons and every person who defends our nation and its rights and liberties.
