A WEEK of much discussion has been generated thanks to the State Opposition’s announcement that it would duplicate Donnybrook Road if elected, with the State Government questioning how the duplication would be completed, while local councils welcomed the announcement.
Last week, the announcement was made by Opposition Leader Jess Wilson, alongside Shadow Minister for Transport Infrastructure Evan Mulholland, outgoing Liberal Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell, Liberal candidate for Yan Yean Amanda Dow and Liberal candidate for Northern Victoria Steve Brooks.
“We will fix traffic congestion on Donnybrook Road by duplicating the road all the way to Epping Road and removing the level crossing, so that families can get home sooner and more safely,” Ms Lovell said.
The City of Whittlesea positioned itself by welcoming the $524 million commitment, saying it was a top priority for council for many years.
“Council has long advocated for Donnybrook Road’s duplication, with the project included as a top priority in its Advocacy Prospectus 2025-29,” they wrote.
“Donnybrook Road is a key road connecting Donnybrook residents to essential services locally, as well as to the Hume Freeway and precincts to the west and northwest.
“With Donnybrook’s population forecast to grow from 9100 in 2025 to more than 60,000 in 2041, the corresponding increase in traffic volumes will place considerable pressure on Donnybrook Road.
“Duplicating the road will increase capacity, reduce congestion and improve safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.”
Mayor Councillor Lawrie Cox said it was a great result for the community to have the duplication promised.
“Donnybrook Road is a vital east-west link that connects residents to employment, education, medical, commercial, sporting and social opportunities,” he said.
“Donnybrook’s rapid growth has placed a lot of pressure on Donnybrook Road, resulting in poor traffic flow and long journey times.
“We have listened to our community’s concerns over Donnybrook Road and advocated strongly for it to be upgraded for a number of years.
“We are pleased that the Liberal-National Coalition has committed to its duplication if they are elected in November.”
The announcement was also welcomed by the Hume City Council.
“This is a huge win for the Hume community. It will help ease congestion, improve travel times and support the rapidly expanding Donnybrook community by delivering a safer and more efficient roadway,” they wrote.
“The funding demonstrates what can be achieved when governments commit to delivering essential infrastructure in the sometimes-overlooked Greater Melbourne suburbs. We thank the Liberal-National Coalition for hearing what our residents truly need.
“This significant investment will be key to ensuring the transport infrastructure in our rapidly growing north keeps pace with demand and supports the long-term needs and wellbeing of people who live and work there.
“Council has been advocating strongly for this outcome, and it is clear our leaders in government are taking notice. We now call upon the Labor Government to match this funding so that our local communities don’t miss out.”
Mayor Councillor Carly Moore said residents in Donnybrook and Kalkallo couldn’t be treated as an ‘afterthought’.
“This commitment is a huge win for our community and a testament to the advocacy of local residents who have consistently called for better transport infrastructure in Melbourne’s north,” she said.
“We thank the Liberal-National Coalition for listening to our community’s needs and recognising the importance of investing in fast-growing areas like Kalkallo and Donnybrook.
“Keeping local families connected cannot be an afterthought. Decisions like this help ensure that as we grow the infrastructure we desperately need grows with us.”
In a video posted to social media during the week, Member for Yan Yean Lauren Kathage spoke about the announcement, saying it just didn’t add up for Donnybrook families.
“Here’s three reasons to be skeptical about the Liberals latest announcement for Donnybrook Road,” she said.
“They got the length of the upgrade wrong by a whole kilometre. If they don’t even know the length of the upgrade, how can their costings be accurate, or if they don’t know the length, have they even done the costings?
“Stage one, the existing works that we’ve already got moving, just the removal of the roundabout at Mitchell Street and installing lights, not including the new bridge over the Hume we’re building is $125 million.
“They say they can do the rest of the upgrade and the level crossing removal for just a few times more than that, and that does not stack up.
“They made the same announcement last year, but with a dollar figure hundreds of millions of dollars different, so were they wrong then, or are they wrong now?
“Donnybrook Road needs a full upgrade, but Donnybrook families deserve more than announcements that fall apart when you look at the detail.”