Western Victoria Region
Joe McCRACKEN (Western Victoria) (12:57): (263) My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, and it relates to the construction and duplication of the Western Highway between Buangor and Ararat. Can the minister please release the full projected costings of the project, other options considered and any other considerations used to justify the existing route selected? I am asking for a complete and full disclosure, please. I raise this on behalf of Keep Original Route Supporters Inc, a local group of residents in and around Ararat who have taken a keen interest in the matter. They have raised the prospect of other options being available for the route, and one option could be to increase the width of the current road on the existing footprint. Given no work of substance has really begun, there is an opportunity to consider the route carefully given it was first approved in 2013 and the road construction material costs have changed significantly since that time. Is the minister open to hearing from locals about the matter? Will the minister meet with KORS and have a reasonable and honest discussion about the project? Concerns about cost, heritage, environment, traffic safety and road quality could be fully considered and discussed.