Tuesday, 14 May 2024

 Trung LUU (Western Metropolitan) (20:49): (891) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Transport Infrastructure in regard to the rise in traffic congestion and bottlenecks along the main route in Wyndham, at Ballan Road. The action I seek is for the minister to improve connectivity to accommodate the rapidly growing population in my electorate by duplicating the Ballan Road carriageway between Armstrong Road and Bolton Road. Ballan Road is a major arterial road connecting the Wyndham western suburbs directly to the heartland of Werribee, but sadly it is often crippled by traffic congestion, which is accelerated by the significant population growth in my area.

Before the 2022 election the Liberals committed to addressing this foreseen problem, noting at the time that to travel between Manor Lakes and Werribee, approximately 7 kilometres, had a moderate travel time of 14 to 15 minutes that would blow out to 40 minutes during peak hours. Two years on, with the current population, traffic that was previously taking 40 minutes to travel 7 kilometres now comes closer to an hour. Poor road infrastructure committed to by this Labor government over the years is affecting residents of greater Werribee in conducting their daily chores. Despite the massive population growth in the Wyndham area there is still evidence of a lack of infrastructure investment by this Allan government in this budget. I understand this government has issues managing money, but there is no reason to continue to neglect the western suburbs of Melbourne. I ask the minister: when will this government commit to duplicating Ballan Road to cut down commuting travel times for residents in my area and make Werribee a more livable city?