Bulla bypass
Dr CUMMING (Western Metropolitan) (11:51): I must thank the Liberals for bringing up two questions for the western suburbs. It is wonderful to hear that this morning. My question is to the Minister for Transport Infrastructure in the other place. Can the minister provide details of what funding, if any, has been included in the 2022–23 budget for the Bulla bypass? Population forecasts are predicting Sunbury’s population will increase from 42 494 to over 86 000 in the next 20 years, which is a doubling. The Sunbury South and Lancefield Road precinct structure plans have been approved, enabling the development of more than 19 000 additional dwellings. The vehicle volumes along the Sunbury–Bulla road are in excess of 25 000 vehicles per day, which alone identifies the Sunbury–Bulla road as requiring duplication. While the government has funded the duplication of the Sunbury–Bulla road from Macedon Street, Sunbury, to Bulla, traffic comes to a standstill within the Bulla township.
Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Resources) (11:52): I thank Dr Cumming for her question, and I will seek a response in accordance with our standing orders from Minister Allan.
Dr CUMMING (Western Metropolitan) (11:52): It is more important now than ever that the Bulla bypass is funded, so I look forward to the minister’s response. Will the minister please provide an update on the business case, including the date for its release? In October 2016 the Minister for Planning blocked VicRoads’ plans for the Bulla bypass. He rejected the advice of a panel of planning experts that the land for the freeway should be reserved at that time for future compulsory acquisition. The minister said:
We know there is a need for the Bulla bypass as Melbourne’s west continues to grow.
Yet here we are, 5½ years later, and still no bypass. I have been raising the issue of the Bulla bypass for over three years, and I keep being told that options are being investigated. Surely those investigations must be complete by now. We need the funding within the budget.
Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Resources) (11:53): Again I will seek a written response in accordance with our standing orders for Dr Cumming from Minister Allan.