DOING WHAT MATTERS FOR NORTHCOTE

The Andrews Labor Government is getting on with delivering on its election promises for our community - investing in what matters for the people of Northcote.

We haven't wasted a day delivering the services and projects that matter to Victorians. With the

Victorian Budget 2023/24, we're getting on with doing what we said we'd do.

Victorians remember the State Electricity Commission (SEC): it meant a fair deal on your power prices and good, stable jobs for workers.

That's why we're eringing it back - to drive down power bills and create thousands of jobs in renewable, government-owned energy.

An initial $1 billion investment in the SEC will help deliver 4.5 gigawatts of power - the equivalent replacement capacity of Loy Yang A- through renewable energy projects.

Bringing back the SEC won't just mean more renewable energy, lower power bills and reduced carbon emissions - it'll also help create 59,000 jobs.

We're investing $15 million to deliver a new Northcote Early Parenting Centre Centre, where local parents and their children will be able to access the crucial support they need in those first days of becoming a parent.

With 90 per cent of a child's brain developing before the age of five, early education has a profound effect on the way our kids develop. We know kinder gives the youngest Victorians the very best start in life and gives parents - particularly working mums - the choice to do what's best for their families.

We'll give more families across Victoria access to local, affordable childcare - investing to establish the first of 50 government-owned and operated, affordable integrated childcare centres, which will open in 2025.

Every family should have a great local school. As part of a more than $2 billion investment in Schools across Victoria we'll kickstart planning to upgrade Thornbury Primary, so students can get the world­ class education they deserve.

We're ensuring women and their health are given the focus, funding and respect they deserve with new comprehensive women's health clinics at the Mercy Hospital for Women, St Vincent's Hospital and the Royal Women's Hospital.

These clinics will change the way women's health issues are treated, providing care and support for conditions like endometriosis, pelvic pain, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), perimenopause and menopause.

We're investing in planning, development and early works for upgrading the emergency department at the Northern Hospital and the expanded emergency department at the Austin Hospital at Heidelberg as part of our Hospital Pion for the North.

We're building our mental health system from the ground up. A new Mental Health and Wellbeing Local in Northcote willactas a 'front door' to mental health services, offering welcoming and inclusive spaces staffed by qualified mental health professionals - including peer support workers to cater for the diverse needs of the local community.

Sport is such a big part of our community, helping families in Northcote and Thornbury to stay active and get engaged. We'll invest $1 million for the Deep Rock Road Sporting Precinct and $500,000 for Northcote City FC will go towards upgraded facilities for women and girls, giving locals more opportunities to come together while supporting the next generation of sporting stars.

We're backing the community organisations that provide care, support and services to help Victorians when they need it the most.

Everyone in Northcote knows what a massive contribution our neighbourhood houses make to improving local lives. That's why we're supporting Alphington Community Centre with a $100,000 grant and Jika Jika Community Centre with a $50,000 grant.

We'll provide $50,000 for the Good Samaritan Inn, which provides essential accommodation to people experiencing family violence.

We promised to upgrade Our Lady of Lebanon Church, and we're doing just that with a $250,000 investment towards better facilities.

We're also investing $800,000 for the Lonsdale St Festival to help Greek Victorians come together to r connect, celebrate and share their culture.

A Greek community infrastructure fund as part of the Government's multicultural infrastructure fund will support the Greek community to build, upgrade and renovate spaces where they come together to celebrate and share in culture and tradition.

We'll make sure residents in high-rise public housing towers are comfortable year-round, with a $141 million investment to start delivering air-conditioning to these buildings.

As our neighborhoods grow, it's important we invest in quality open and green spaces. That's why we're providing $1.5 million to design and deliver a new vision for the Merri Common Pocket Park.

These are the things that matter - and the things we promised to Victorians.

And with this Budget, we're getting on with delivering every election commitment we made at the last election.

Quotes attributable to Member for Northcote Kat Theophanous

"No amount of planning can prepare you for the joys and challenges of becoming a parent - which is why Northcote's very own Early Parenting Centre will be so important for our growing community, giving young parents the peace of mind and care they need."

"Every Victorian should be able to get the healthcare they need, when they need it, close to home. Our new women's health clinics will help women across the inner north with acute and chronic conditions that so often go undiagnosed."