Liberal MPs have questioned the State Government’s integrity on the Wallan Diamond Interchange in Parliament after Major Roads Projects Victoria, MRPV, documents have revealed a shortchange of funding.
MRPV documents revealed that the State Government contribution is inclusive of the former Federal Coalition Government’s 2019 $50 million contribution, meaning Labor has only committed $80 million towards the project despite a $130 million election commitment.
Liberal Member for Northern Metropolitan Region Evan Mulholland questioned the project in Parliament.
“We never once saw Victorian Labor MPs before the election state that their contribution was only $80 million for this project,” he said.
“In fact, they had big signs and billboards and made a big deal in the media about the contribution being $130 million.”
“Labor has clearly misled the people of Wallan and are penny-pinching critical infrastructure projects across the state because of their decision to put all of their eggs in one basket, the $216 billion Suburban Rail Loop.”
Liberal Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell said the Victorian Government was ‘dragging its feet on the project.’
“There was no line item for this project in the May ‘23 State Budget, the funding is hidden somewhere in the ‘Road Blitz’ package,” she said.
“Residents of Yan Yean are desperate for this project to get started so that the serious traffic congestion at the junction can be eased as soon as possible.”
Member for Yan Yean Lauren Kathage said only Labor could be trusted to deliver infrastructure upgrades in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
She cited projects including the Wallan Splash Park, Wallan Town Centre Upgrade, Wallan Train Station Carpark and Station Upgrade, Our Lady of the Way Primary School senior building, Maternal and Child Health Centre, Wallan East Family and Children’s Centre, the new pavilion at Wallan Secondary College, the upgrade of Greenhill Recreation Reserve, along with the ongoing construction of a new gym at Wallan Primary School, an allocation of $5 million for stage one of the Greenhill Recreation Precinct project, and the planned establishment of the new Wallan East Primary School as evidence of Labor-delivered projects in the region.
“The Watson Street Interchange is part of Labor’s $674 million Road Blitz to Get Families Home Sooner and Safer package and it is well underway, with planning and the business case near completion following extensive community consultation,” Ms Kathage said.
“Like everyone else, I drive on this road every day and I can’t wait for the improvements this project will bring.
“This record of investment is in stark contrast to when the Liberals were last in government as they failed to deliver a single major infrastructure project in our community.”
Just get on with it and get it done it was promised at the last state election, enough is enough from both parties both are as bad as one another