SHADOW Minister for Major Projects Evan Mulholland has slammed the Labor Government, saying that the Allan Government is sitting on its hands on the Donnybrook Road project.
Mr Mulholland was particularly scathing of the process of consultation, which he believes is nothing more than a ‘box-ticking’ exercise.
“This so-called consultation is nothing more than a box-ticking exercise designed to give the illusion of community input,” Mr Mulholland said.
“Locals who have sat in gridlock on Donnybrook Road day in and day out know exactly what’s needed, duplication and proper long-term planning to support the booming population. Instead, they’ve been given a multiple-choice survey that doesn’t offer practical solutions.”
Mr Mulholland highlighted the government’s plan to replace a recently installed roundabout and slip lane with traffic lights, calling it a patchwork decision that ignores the bridge over the Hume Freeway.
“A roundabout they have just installed and a slip lane they just installed a couple of years ago—they have now decided they are going to spend millions to blow it up and put in traffic lights rather than tackling the actual issue, which is the bridge over the Hume,” he said.
“Residents in Donnybrook, Mickleham, Kalkallo, and beyond are sick of the spin. They want action, not another online form that goes straight into the bin.
“The traffic chaos on Donnybrook Road isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a safety issue and a major drag on the daily lives of hardworking families.”
Mr Mulholland called on the Government to release the full results of the consultation and commit to a timeline for genuine upgrades.
“If Labor is serious about supporting growth in Melbourne’s north, they need to stop the charade and start delivering. That means proper engagement with residents, transparent planning, and a clear funding commitment to fixing Donnybrook Road—not more spin.”
The City of Whittlesea has earlier described the Donnybook Road project as a “game-changer” for the community, saying the road is a critical transport link and an investment in the road’s improvement will make a real difference in easing congestion, improving safety and ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with growth.
The City of Whittlesea has for a long time advocated for upgrades to ensure residents have better access to jobs, education and services.
Victoria’s Big Build options being explored for an upgrade of Donnybrook Road between Mickleham Road, Mickleham and Epping Road, Woodstock include adding more road lanes, upgrading intersections, upgrading the Hume Freeway Interchange, removing the Donnybrook Road level crossing and building new cycling and walking paths.
The project is currently in the planning phase and will be used to inform government decisions. It is expected initial planning work to be complete in late 2025.