News

Roads | November 17, 2016

Kealy – Federal Government roads funding

The Nationals Member for Lowan Emma Kealy MP says the Lowan electorate will receive a number of road upgrades following agreement by the Federal Government to reallocate the $1.5 billion previously committed to the abandoned East-West Link.

“The Nationals Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Darren Chester has ensured that a significant portion of this funding will be spent on rural and regional roads,” Ms Kealy said.

The following highways in the Lowan electorate have been earmarked to receive funding:

• $20 million for the Henty Highway between Portland to Hamilton;
• $20 million for the Princes Highway between Colac and the South Australian border;
• $10 million for the Western Highway between Stawell and the South Australian border; and,
• $5 million for the Hamilton Highway

“While this reallocated Federal funding is welcomed, unfortunately it’s only a fraction of the extensive road repairs needed right across the Lowan electorate,” Ms Kealy said.

“Country Victoria has been neglected by Daniel Andrews, with Labor scrapping the $160 million Country Roads and Bridges Program and slashing the VicRoads Road Asset Management Budget.

“The appalling condition of our roads is costing motorists a fortune in vehicle repairs and putting local lives at risk.

“Labour must act to deliver road repair funding to all our damaged state roads.

“The 50-year lease of the Port of Melbourne secured $9.7 billion for Victoria. Thanks to The Nationals, we secured $970 million to spend on regional transport infrastructure. The Melbourne Labor Government has no excuse not to fix our crumbling country roads.

“Daniel Andrew's failure to even acknowledge the appalling condition of our local ‘death trap’ roads as part of a recent road safety message campaign, shows how out of touch Labor is with country Victoria” she said.

Emma Kealy MP continues her call for road hazards to be reported directly to VicRoads through her website www.emmakealy.com or by phoning 13 11 70. This will help give VicRoads the data they need to demonstrate that Labor’s funding cuts are devastating our roads.