Budget pumps track into Yackandandah

A NEW pump truck is set to be constructed in Yackandandah following the announcement of up to $250,000 funding in the 2025-26 Victorian Budget. The purpose-built BMX cycling track will be situated among the Yackandandah Sports Park precinct which already consists of the Indigo Epic Trail and the Yackandandah Rail Trail. Yack Tracks president James Lacey said the project has been championed by the community for years and envisioned the area to become a “cycling hub” for the region. “The North East is a really key area for all sorts of cycling infrastructure but this is more of a local facility,” he said. “The pump track will attract families and tie all of that infrastructure together. “We’ve had a really nice riding season through this area, we were super busy through ANZAC and Easter school holidays.” Mr Lacey said the mountain biking club would be aiming to see the pump track constructed by next year’s November state election. Other key announcements in the budget included free public transport across Victoria for people under 18 years old and those 60 and over from 1 January 2026. The Wangaratta High School were recipients of a major $11.7 million development of two new large school buildings to meet contemporary and future learning needs under stage one of the school’s masterplan. Some $175,000 has been granted to Mt Beauty United Cricket Club for new practice nets for the club, and Benalla will receive $150k for netball court resurfacing. Another $250k will support the continuation of Rural Women's Leadership and Mentoring Program. The Fox Bounty will be ongoing, costing $9.2m. Solar rebates will continue, with the government reporting that it will save installers up to $400 a year on energy bills. Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said, "With this budget – my first as treasurer – we’re focused on what matters most to Victorian families". "That means real help with the cost of living and more investment in frontline services,” she said. Net debt is expected to be $155.5 billion at June 2025 and increase to $185.2 billion by June 2028. It is then forecast to increase to $194 billion by June 2029. As a proportion of GSP, net debt is projected to be 25.2 per cent at June 2027 before reducing to 25pc by June 2028 and then declining further to 24.9pc by June 2029. Some estimates indicate the state (taxpayers) will pay $7.6 billion in interest in 2025-26 — or $20.7 million a day. Those repayments will jump to $10.6 billion annually or $28.9 million a day in three years' time. The budget includes a $600 million surplus, helped along by the controversial Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, which will tip $1.6 billion into government coffers in the coming financial year. The treasurer has promised to save $3.3 billion over the forward estimates by "stripping back inefficiency" in the public service sector.

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