The Federal Government’s Independent Strategic Review of the Infrastructure Investment Program was favourable for Mitchell Shire with projects – including the Watson Street interchange – remaining funded.
The Federal Government will contribute $50 million for the O’Herns Road interchange upgrade, $50 million for the Watson Street, Wallan diamond interchange, $11 million for Macedon and Mitchell Shire roads, and $250,000 for Wollert rail feasibility study.
Federal Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell welcomed the review.
“The [review] found the Infrastructure Investment Program inherited from the former Coalition Government was undeliverable,” he said.
“Under the Liberals and Nationals, the number of projects in the Infrastructure Investment Program blew out nationally from nearly 150 to 800.
“Many projects lacked proper planning, didn’t have informed costings and weren’t ready for Commonwealth investment. The review found an estimated $33 billion in known cost pressure across all projects in the program and there is a high risk that figure could increase.”
Liberal Member for Northern Metropolitan Region Evan Mulholland said the Watson Street interchange was ‘finally saved from savage cuts to infrastructure projects across Victoria’.
“Mr Mitchell has consistently claimed that the diamond was not funded under the Liberals. But the terms of reference of the review show this was not the case, as it was to assess projects that had been funded,” he said.
“I’m pleased the Federal Government have been dragged kicking and screaming after a strong campaign to get on with this project.
“The Wallan diamond was committed to by the former Liberal Government while Labor simply used it as a political football. We found out in the Victorian budget in May the Victorian Labor Government hadn’t even begun planning works on Watson Street, which puts a lie to claims that the hold-up was the former Federal Liberal Government’s fault.
“It’s good to see that Labor are finally getting on with it after being dragged by the Liberals to stand up for Wallan.”
But Mr Mitchell said there was no actual funding released for the Watson Street interchange in 2021 under the former government.
“That’s why it sat there and there was never anything done because there was no money released,” he said.
“The former government were really good with delivering press releases but not actually delivering anything. You just have to look at projects across McEwen – they didn’t deliver a thing.
“People can clearly see that we’re doing things and getting on with the job. The review has gone through and it’s reconfirmed everything we said. It’s also shown there were many promises made by the former government that were underfunded and just unachievable.”
The Cameron’s Lane interchange will receive $150 million for construction, however Mr Mulholland said the project was scaled back from the Liberals’ $280 million commitment.
Mr Mitchell disputed Mr Mulholland’s claim and said the Liberals never had any funding for it.
“It was an announcement made after the current Prime Minister had made the announcement of the $150 million,” he said.
“The $280 million is just a fictitious figure made up during the election campaign by the Liberals and the community saw straight through it.”
One source of confusion following the review was whether funding for the Beveridge Intermodal Precinct, BIP, had been affected by the review.
Mr Mulholland said the Federal Government had taken $61.8 million from the project in a ‘devastating blow’ to a business case for terminals at Beveridge and Truganina.
The business case for Melbourne Inland Rail Intermodal Terminal did not receive funding but Mr Mitchell said there were no cuts to the Beveridge project.
National Intermodal stated on its website the Federal Government remained committed to providing $3.4 billion for the Beveridge and Truganina connections with the $1.6 billion for Beveridge not impacted by the review.
“It’s been locked in. It’s supported and everything’s going ahead,” Mr Mitchell said.
Mitchell Shire Mayor Louise Bannister said she was pleased with the review’s outcome.
“Council’s pleased the Federal Government’s review of the infrastructure pipeline has confirmed the government’s commitment to vitally important projects of the Cameron’s Lane interchange and the future Beveridge Intermodal Precinct,” she said.
“These projects will be transformational for our community, bringing local jobs and unlocking thousands of homes.”
