​Dei – Australia: Victorian Government approves budget committing more funds for infrastucture

The Victorian Government approved its 2016/17 Budget providing for greater investment to deliver infrastructure and more funds for its schools, health system and the less developed areas of the State. The centrepiece of the infrastructure plan is the construction of a new underground metropolitan railway line that will cost nearly $11 billion dollars (more than seven billion euros). Approximately $3 billion dollars have already been allocated and the rest of the money will come from a medium-term plan to collect funds. The Budget also envisages funds for other major public works: almost $2 billion dollars will be invested to extend the existing rail network and another $1.5 billion dollars for the construction of a new bridge over the Yarra River. The government will commit $1 billion dollars to build new schools and $3 billion to upgrade the hospitals in the areas most remote from the Melbourne city centre.