Thursday, 10 February 2022

Constituency questions

Eastern Metropolitan Region

Dr BACH (Eastern Metropolitan) (12:34): (1610) My constituency question is for the Minister for Transport Infrastructure, and it refers to the progress and costs of the much-needed Hurstbridge rail line duplication. Recently I was fortunate enough to speak with Jason McClintock, who is a powerful local community advocate. He is a small business person in Melbourne’s north-east, and he is also the newly named Liberal candidate for the seat of Eltham. He shared with me the many concerns he has heard about this project from residents. The scope of this project has been reduced by about 950 metres between Montmorency and Eltham after the failure of the level crossing removal authority to identify habitat areas for the Eltham copper butterfly. As a result the LXRA has scrapped its initial plans to construct a widened road bridge at Mountain View Road. When residents have asked questions of the minister, she has cited the redesign costs of the elements, which should have already been included in the original scope. The local member, Vicki Ward, has also said that the reduction of the project’s scope will result in a budget surplus which could be put towards bike and walking trails. My question to the minister is: will this be the case, or is this reduction simply to recoup losses from another infrastructure blowout?