The Victorian Government has launched the first part of its Building Works package, which will provide $2.7 billion towards projects geared to boost employment.
The package will create 3,700 direct jobs for construction workers, painters, plasterers, gardeners, engineers, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, maintenance workers, administration staff and many others.
Thousands more jobs are predicted to be across Victoria’s supply chains, including manufacturing, logistics, transportation, warehousing and retail – while also pumping extra dollars back into our economy.
The Building Works package includes $1.18 billion in education infrastructure projects that will create space for more than 21,000 extra students in Victoria’s education system, and create more than 1,600 local construction jobs.
This includes the build of ten new schools, delivering a further four stages of new school projects, upgrading or modernising 57 schools, purchasing and refurbishing relocatable school buildings, making modifications for students with disability, as well as carrying out fast and job-creating maintenance on schools and TAFEs across the state.
Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, said, “We’re getting to work on hundreds of new projects across the state, meaning shovels in the ground – and boots in the mud – within a matter of weeks and months.”
The key requirement for these projects is workers who are ready to get on the job and the ability to get going right away, with companies required to find new employees through Working for Victoria in the first instance.
The package also includes a boost for public and community housing, with half-a-billion dollars to upgrade 23,000 dwellings and build 168 new homes across the state.
To assist Victoria’s tourism recover from the economic turmoil of travel restrictions, the package includes $382 million in upgrades, including the addition of 50km of mountain bike trails in the Ararat Hills and upgrades at the Gippsland Lakes.
Funding is also included for local sports facility upgrades, work to improve waterways and coastal areas, and revitalisation and maintenance projects from tree-planting to graffiti removal in communities across the state.
The transport network will see $328 million for resurfacing and patching roads, around 300km of regional track improvements, repairs at more than 15 train stations, maintenance on trains and trams, and local pier upgrades along the coast, adding to Victoria‘s $107 billion job-creating Big Build.
“From upgrading our roads and rail, to critical maintenance for social housing and new projects for our tourist destinations, this package will create jobs for our local tradies and so many others – and support local businesses all over Victoria,” Mr Andrews said.
The State Government will also invest more than $100 million for the critical upgrades of CFA and SES stations, disability accommodation, mental health and aged care facilities across Victoria.
The Victorian Government also plans to establish a $180 million planning and acceleration fund, to keep the recovery momentum going.
Victorian Treasurer, Tim Pallas, said, “We’ve always said Victoria is the engine room of the nation – with this package, we’re cranking the engine and kickstarting our economy.”
