THE state Opposition says it will pay $1.4 million over four years for headspace to provide outreach services to 12 to 25 year olds in regional Victoria and Melbourne, including the Mornington Peninsula.
“Young people on the peninsula will be able to access mental health support easier and closer to home under an elected Liberal Nationals government,” Hastings MP Neale Burgess said.
The state election is on Saturday 24 November.
Russell Joseph, Mr Burgess’s Liberal colleague who is standing for the seat of Nepean, said he had “been a strong supporter of the headspace model and the establishment of a satellite/outreach service in Rosebud from the Frankston centre”.
Mr Burgess said the peninsula needed extra support “as it is critical that youth in our local community have access to more social events that keep them occupied, focused and engaged”.
“Programs could include social events for young people or regular services in communities without a permanent headspace location.”
All three candidates have also been promising, if re-elected and their party gains government, to improve sports grounds within their respective electorates.
“Currently only serviced by portable buildings, the Emil Madsen soccer and netball facility in Mt Eliza is desperately in need of a fit-for-purpose sporting pavilion, access roads and paths to cater for the local sporting clubs,” Mr Morris said on Friday.
“The $5.3 million project could fund an appropriate home base for clubs and provide female friendly facilities.
“Only a Liberal government will provide our community sports clubs with the backing they need to get back in control and build the facilities they need to support local population growth.”
Mr Morris said the centrepiece of “this record investment in suburban and country sports” was a $89 million “grassroots sport fund”.
Meanwhile, Mr Burgess teamed up with his federal counterpart, Dunkley MP Chris Crewther, in announcing a $6 million “commitment” to the “re-development” of Lloyd Park, Langwarrin.
A joint news release stated “the project will see Lloyd Park re-developed for the benefit of local community groups including the Langwarrin football, netball, cricket and tennis clubs as well as the Langwarrin scouts”.
“The funding boost will see the federal Liberal government provide $3 million, with an elected state Liberal government to match this contribution.”
Lloyd park is within the Frankston municipality and Frankston Council has not made any commitment to the plan outlined by the politicians.
Mr Crewther did not say if the federal government’s commitment was dependent on the LNP being re-elected next year.
First published in the Mornington News – 6 November 2018