Wednesday, 27 November 2024

 Bridget VALLENCE (Evelyn) (19:09): (955) The Coldstream community has been patient, very patient, waiting for this state Labor government to start works on the long-overdue upgrade to the Maroondah Highway, Coldstream, and to fix the dangerous intersection at Killara Road. For over eight years I have been campaigning together with the community, pledging to upgrade the dangerous intersection at Killara Road, Coldstream, and working with the former federal MP Tony Smith to secure $20 million in funding for that project. Back in 2019 that funding was secured, 5½ years ago, and still our community waits for this dangerous and congested road to be upgraded.

Unsurprisingly, the matter I raise is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety and is in relation to the Maroondah Highway, Coldstream, project, and the action I seek is for the Victorian government to outline a detailed project plan and timetable, including when the works will actually commence to duplicate Maroondah Highway, Coldstream, and upgrade the dangerous intersection at Killara Road. Coldstream, Yering and Gruyere residents, the Coldstream and Gruyere CFA fire brigades, local traders and in fact people right across the Yarra Valley deserve certainty from the Victorian government and its transport department about the long-awaited Maroondah Highway, Coldstream, project and when the project will emerge from the protracted planning phase into actual works to fix this road.

While there has been some talk of project construction commencing mid-2025, that really cannot be believed. That is because the Allan Labor government has done nothing to progress this project beyond the protracted planning phase and has done nothing to guarantee a 2025 construction timeframe. That is why as the local member in this state Parliament I am calling on the minister who is responsible for the delivery of this project to respond with the detailed project plan and timetable to fix this state government road. Even the federal government’s infrastructure project website, as at today, clearly states in relation to the timetable for the Maroondah Highway, Coldstream, project that still:

Project delivery timeframes for commencement and completion are being confirmed by the Victorian Government.

It is not yet confirmed. No timeframe is confirmed. It is absolutely outrageous, and my community deserves to know. They want to know whether planning has been approved, the works have been tendered or a contractor has been appointed and when the residents and traders will be engaged in the design, consulted and informed about how long the impact of construction will be.

This is just one of the many state government roads that need fixing, but it is one that, as the local state MP, I have raised here in Parliament repeatedly for six years now, calling on the government to get this job done. Dare I say this project will only be delivered under a state Liberal government. I invite the state Labor government to prove me wrong on that. Seriously, it makes no sense for Labor to keep delaying this vital road safety project for Coldstream. Just get it done.