Thursday, 31 October 2019

 Ms ALLAN (Bendigo East—Leader of the House, Minister for Transport Infrastructure) (17:49): The member for Bulleen raised a matter. He did direct it to the Minister for Roads. However, I can advise the member for Bulleen that it is a matter to do with the allocation of the funding that the federal government have made to Victorian infrastructure projects, and particularly this one at Tram Road does come in the area of my responsibility.

I can advise the member for Bulleen that we are having a lot of lengthy conversations with the federal government about how we can accommodate their election commitments in the pipeline of Victorian government infrastructure projects. I can advise the member for Bulleen that I have noted that he has a particular view about where this signalised pedestrian crossing on Tram Road should be located. He indicated, I think, that there were some media reports on this a little while ago saying that it needs to be near the retirement village. We will take that feedback into our planning process.

I will also advise the member for Bulleen, as we have the federal government, that, as with all of the commitments the federal government have made to do with changing the road network, we do have to look at the other consequences that that proposal may cause across the road network in that local area. That comment should not be interpreted as our not wanting to cooperate with that particular location, it is just simply that our roads authority staff and team have to make sure that by making this intervention there are no unintended consequences. We are working well through this and other projects, and I hope this information is useful for the member for Bulleen.

The member for Kew raised a matter for the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change which is also one that falls under my portfolio responsibility as the issues around acquisition of properties to do with the North East Link Project are something that I am responsible for. He was particularly referring to the issue that I think is in the media today regarding the Yarra Junior Football League and the need to find them an alternate location given the works that are coming with the North East Link Project.

I can advise the member for Kew that the North East Link Project team have been working and talking with the football league for some 18 months about both what needs to be done in the short term to find an alternate location in the local community and also the longer term needs of the club, recognising that the growth in junior football and also particularly, as the member for Kew identified, the growth in women’s football are putting some stresses and strains on our sporting facilities right across the state.

What has been identified by the North East Link team is a new facility to be constructed at Ford Park. That would involve the construction of a new headquarters for the league, female-friendly changing facilities and other improvements. I can appreciate that this is a difficult set of processes for the league to go through. It is a big league. It is a great part of the local community. It is always challenging with projects of this size and scale to work through with local communities some of the challenges that come through the construction phase, but we do not shy away from those challenges and we have been working, as I said, through the North East Link Project team with the league.

The member also raised the issue of the acquisition of the former seed farm site. That is something that has been examined. However, it is understood, and I am advised, that there is an existing tenant on that site who has recently signed a 15-year lease, so that obviously puts that location beyond the reach of something that we may be able to do to accommodate the Yarra Junior Football League on that site in the shorter term. We will continue to work with the league through the North East Link Project team and indeed with all clubs and community groups.

I know, Speaker, you are well aware of this as well through your local role as we get on and deliver what is an important road project. It is important for freight, it is important to get trucks off local roads and it is important for the movement and traffic of people around our city, but at the same time we are also doing it very carefully to make sure that we support groups, businesses and residents along the way during both the planning and the construction phases.

Another eight members have raised matters for various ministers, and they will referred for their action and response.

The SPEAKER: The house now stands adjourned.

House adjourned 5.54 pm. until Tuesday, 12 November.