What’s in the state budget for us?

The Victorian Government has allocated millions of dollars in funding in its recent budget for major projects in North Melbourne and Kensington.

The new campus of North Melbourne Primary School, set to open in the first quarter of 2023, will receive $50.15 million.

A program created in the wake of the controversial public housing lockdown in 2020 supporting residents at North Melbourne and Flemington towers will receive an additional $6.5 million funding.

And Flemington & Kensington Community Legal Centre (FKCLC) will receive $200,000 each year for three years to support a raft of initiatives including advocacy for law reform and police accountability.

North Melbourne Primary School’s (NMPS’s) second campus

Located between Molesworth and Haines streets, the new campus will be situated 225 metres away from NMPS according to the plans, with construction starting in May this year and finishing up in 2023. 

In April, the state government backflipped on its decision to keep NMPS’s new second campus – formerly North Melbourne Hill Primary School – as an entirely separate school with different zoning to NMPS.

The move came after concerted campaigning from the North Melbourne community, which argued separating the schools would sew division.

Now with $50.15 million in funding, the government will build the new six-level campus, which includes a kindergarten, catering for 525 students initially and growing to 800 students in five years.

Further details about the new campus have not yet been released.

Paving the Way Forward program

A Victorian Government spokesperson said an additional $6.5 million was being invested in the Paving the Way Forward program (PWFP), supporting residents at North Melbourne and Flemington towers.  

“The pandemic highlighted the importance of a home, this program helps ensure vulnerable Victorians receive the services and support they need to sustain their accommodation and remain healthy,” the spokesperson said.

“The program is working with residents to identify and respond to their priorities around their home, neighbourhood, services they receive and training and employment opportunities – with more than 40 jobs already created.”

Following the snap lockdown of the North Melbourne and Flemington housing towers in December last year, which saw thousands of residents confined in their houses with no notice, the government launched the PWFP.

Although the Victorian ombudsman found many residents were left without food or medicine, the Victorian government denies that the detention broke human rights laws.

“We make no apology for saving people’s lives,” Housing Minister Richard Wynne said at the time.

With $7.5 million in initial funding, the program will receive an additional $6.5 million to build on partnerships with local government, housing sector organisations and community health services to improve the lives of public housing residents, according to the stated objectives.

Specific supports include:

The introduction of health concierges who help residents access health and wellbeing services, including COVID-19 vaccination and testing referrals. 

Job training and opportunities through the Youth Employment Program. 

Improvement of community sporting facilities. 

Fortnightly drop-in sessions to give residents a voice in neighbourhood developments. Feedback will help inform the future directions of the Paving the Way Forward program.

Flemington & Kensington Community Legal Centre

According to the Victorian Government, the $600,000 cash injection over three years will support collaborative, sector-based advocacy for law reform and police accountability, and builds on relationships with key partners such as Women’s Legal Service Victoria and Djirra.

FKCLC provides free, high-quality legal casework, advice and assistance for the community.

It drives and supports law reform and policy advocacy on behalf of and alongside clients and communities.

It also provides community legal education through production of online and offline resources, tailored training, talks, forums and via the media. Legal students and other community members receive training through a volunteer program through Melbourne University Law School internships •