Northern Victoria Region
Wendy LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (14:05): (769) My question is for the Minister for Transport Infrastructure. When will the Hume Freeway–Watson Street diamond interchange upgrade commence, and what is the breakdown of funding over the forward estimates of the budget? In 2019 the previous federal Liberal government pledged $50 million towards this project, a project which passed the recent Commonwealth infrastructure review. In 2022 state Labor announced an election commitment of $130 million, giving the impression that this was in addition to federal funding. The member for McEwen even posted on Facebook that it was. But post the election it was revealed that it includes the feds’ $50 million. During the election the now Premier said that this project was a priority for Labor, but they are dragging their feet and no work has commenced. There was no line item in the May 2023 state budget; the funding is hidden somewhere in a roads blitz package. Residents of Yan Yean are desperate for this project to get started so that the serious traffic congestion – (Time expired)