THE Victorian Budget has been met with a lukewarm reaction from local leaders, disappointed that priority projects are neglected, local issues overlooked or spending is going to areas it isn’t needed.

The government last week announced a handful of local initiatives in the Budget – the $1.25 million upgrade of the Portland Gymnastics Club at Yarraman Park, continued $1 million funding for rangers at Budj Bim World Heritage Cultural Landscape and, without any funding mentioned, a government “owned and operated” Early Learning Centre for Portland, one of the “communities that have the greatest need for more childcare and kindergarten places”.

“They will offer local childcare and kindergarten and where possible, will be located with other valuable community facilities like maternal and child health services, playgroups and schools,” the Budget says.

However, Glenelg Shire Mayor Scott Martin questioned the announcement, given the council’s struggles with childcare.

“Our major issue is not infrastructure, it’s people to man it,” he said.

“We’re still trying to find appropriate solutions for that.

“The burden on councils for three- and four-year-old kinder has been kept at the status quo which is not ideal as we’re going to have to bear more of the cost.”

Cr Martin said cost shifting from state to local government was one of the issues raised in a Municipal Association of Victoria briefing the day after the Budget.

“One council was saying they were looking at their childcare issues and possibly on handing them back to state government, that will be interesting to watch,” he said.

Glenelg Shire Council was also one of a group of 26 councils that was trying to lobby the state government to claw back some of the costs of having to employ school pedestrian crossing operators.

“There doesn’t seem to be any move from (the government) and that’s disappointing,” he said.

“We’re going to have to reassess what we’re doing there.”

Given the council was trying to adopt its own Budget, that left the council with food for thought – especially when the Budget pointed to an inflation rate of seven per cent while capping councils at half that this year, while public sector wage growth at 3.5 per cent over the next few years was also going to be reflected in council budgets.

“We need to look at everything, we need to look at our Budget being responsible for our ratepayers,” he said.

“We start our Budgets six months in advance but we’re still waiting to hear about some of the grants we received last year.

“We don’t know if we’re receiving them again. It’s frustrating.”

Meanwhile, State Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell said while the Budget included an unknown amount of funding for a childcare centre, there was no detail to back up the promise.

Ms Britnell said she had let the Government know repeatedly regarding the dire need for additional childcare services in Portland, so parents could return to work and fill the city’s labour shortages.

“The Andrews Labor Government have continually promised Portland a new childcare facility, yet their own budget doesn’t tell us how or when Portland will receive one,” she said.

“Under the… Government, life is getting harder and Victorians are paying for their financial incompetence.

“Portland families are unable to find childcare and the… Government ignores the urgency this is having on the Portland community with an empty promise for a new facility that has no specific budget or project timeline.

“I will not rest until the… Government have committed to a budget and a timeline, so parents and the Portland community can have confidence to plan for this new facility’s availability.

“This budget is forcing Portland families to pay more in taxes and charges, yet they are getting less from this Government.

“Mums and Dads need this childcare facility so they can go back to work.”

Ms Britnell said it was also disappointing there was no money for the multipurpose sports facility, a “desperately needed facility for Portland’s booming basketball community” that the Liberals made an election promise.

“The Portland community has been waiting for years for much needed investment in more indoor multi-purpose courts,” she said.

“It’s disappointing that the… Government has failed to understand the importance of investing in this critical infrastructure, which is essential for the growth and development of our community, keeping kids happy and healthy in local sport.”