Northern Victoria Region
Wendy LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (12:48): (1558) My question is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety. Minister, can you confirm that funding to upgrade the Howard Street and Midland Highway intersection in Epsom will be included in the 2025–26 Victorian state budget? Three years ago the state government spent $600,000 to design and plan the upgrade of the intersection, and almost one year ago the minister said that project development was nearly complete. But work has still not started, even though this upgrade is a top priority for the City of Greater Bendigo. The intersection is very busy and notoriously dangerous. It has been the site of many traffic accidents in recent years, some involving schoolchildren, and last year’s RACV report said it was the worst intersection in Victoria. The Howard Street–Midland Highway junction is in the Premier’s own electorate, and yet the Allan Labor government has still not committed the funds to upgrade this intersection. This is a tragedy waiting to happen, and the Labor government must stop delaying the project and provide the funds in this year’s budget.