On Monday, Health Minister Daniel Andrews announced $250,000 for a new air-conditioning chiller system at the Upper Ferntree Gully hospital.

Eastern Health chief engineer Bruce Leslie said the system would be installed by April.

Mr Leslie said the announcement was "fantastic" news, after the hospital made an application for funding two years ago.

"Our plan is to replace the chiller which is almost 30 years old, and is on its last legs. We'll tender for a new chiller, and install it by April. So we're hoping the existing chiller will be able to get through the summer period."

Mr Leslie hoped the new chiller would help save on energy costs. He said the cooling towers, which the Department of Health funded a few years ago, would also be of help.

Mr Leslie said that although the cost of upgrading the air-conditioning unit was high, it would allow for it to be operated using the hospital's existing computerised building management system, providing better controls.

Despite a raft of announcements in the region during this week's community cabinet, public transport and education missed out.

Other announcements made on Monday were:

* A $125,000 grant for a new mobile library in Knox.

* Commercial radio stations to join the ABC as official emergency broadcasters ahead of the fire danger period.

Local Government Minister Richard Wynne, who visited Boronia library on Monday, said the funding would provide a replacement vehicle to youth centres, retirement villages and nursing homes.

"This funding grant will help replace the existing service with a smaller vehicle that is more responsive to the community's needs and reduces its environmental footprint."

Speaking at Belgrave Heights and South fire station, Premier John Brumby said that by adding commercial broadcasters to the ABC, more people would be alerted to bushfire warnings.

- with Gilbert Gardiner