Yarriambiack Mayor Andrew McLean said improving roads was the most critical issue for the region.

He said roads in Yarriambiack Shire had been neglected by state government funding in the past, including the blow of losing the $160-million Country Roads and Bridges Program earlier this year.

‘‘There are sections of the Sunraysia Highway that are pretty poor, and there are sections of the Henty Highway that are pretty poor, as well,’’ he said.

Cr McLean said he hoped local government would also be looked after with adequate funding.

‘‘Any money that comes into local government is welcome to ease the burden from rate-payers,’’ he said.

‘‘If we can get anything for tourism, that’s great. If we can get anything for new industries, that would be even better.’’

Victorian Farmers Federation vice-president and Murra Warra farmer David Jochinke said road and rail were imperative to the success of the farming community and the wider Wimmera community.

‘‘It’s what we shift our product with – there are not too many roads I would class as up to standard,’’ he said.

‘‘I’d like to see funding to ensure they are maintained and improved. That’s why it’s the driving force of every budget submission we put in.’’

Mr Jochinke said councils needed to have financial support to tackle the issue.

‘‘I think this budget will once again not provide a lot of joy for the shortfall they are seeing in their road funding,’’ he said.

Mr Jochinke said a major upgrade of the Wimmera and Mallee rail infrastructure was sorely needed.

‘‘If we can get that grain shifted by rail, and horticulture by rail, it will take pressure off the roads – we’re looking at the bigger picture,’’ he said.

‘‘This is a chance for state government – which has spoken a lot about the importance of agriculture – to fund initiatives adequately and support local government.’’

Member for Lowan Emma Kealy said the state government had previously ignored the region.

‘‘At this point in time, the Andrews Labor government hasn’t spent a cent of infrastructure west of the Grampians,’’ she said.

‘‘That’s not good enough.

‘‘We contribute a lot to the economy and deserve to have a return on that fantastic contribution.’’

Ms Kealy said a range of funding initiatives needed attention, including Horsham’s Grains Centre of Excellence, Dimboola Memorial Secondary College refurbishments and the Warracknabeal education precinct, along with rural and regional road maintenance.

She said one of the most important initiatives the state government should fund was the Wimmera Cancer Centre in Horsham.

The state government announced last week it would include $32 million for Victorian Local Learning and Employment Networks in tomorrow’s budget.

Two of the state’s 31 LLENs are in the Wimmera – Wimmera Southern Mallee LLEN in Horsham and Central Grampians LLEN in Ararat.

Many other regional initiatives are still in doubt.