Tuesday, 18 November 2025

 Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (23:26): (2132) My adjournment is to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety. It concerns a matter of concern in the neglectorate of Greenvale. I am seeking the action of the minister to commit to the duplication of Somerton Road, particularly upgrading the intersection at Roxburgh Park Drive onto Somerton Road. I continue to hear from residents that this is something they are concerned about. There is a growing safety risk along Somerton Road as the traffic increases, particularly at the Roxburgh Park Drive intersection. Accidents are becoming more and more frequent. There is not often a time where it is not severely congested during peak periods, and near misses are becoming all too common.

In that frame I recently wrote to the minister seeking action. However, the minister’s response made it clear that there are no plans to duplicate Somerton Road or upgrade the Roxburgh Park Drive intersection. This is despite the fact that Major Road Projects Victoria completed planning works for future projects back in 2023. Three years later there is no commitment, no funding, not a peep from the government about what it is doing about Somerton Road. This is a critical road connecting multiple communities in one of the fastest growing areas in Victoria. I guess the government can just spend another $35 billion on the Suburban Rail Loop in the eastern suburbs. I am telling you a tiny fraction of that will duplicate Somerton Road and ease the traffic burden on my community.

The minister in her response to me rightly identifies the northern suburbs trajectory of growth and the increasing pressure on our road network that that seems to be placing but at the same time ignores the need to actually duplicate Somerton Road. If relevant authorities have recognised the need for an upgrade, planning has been completed three years ago and residents have clearly expressed concern, the question must be asked: what is the government actually waiting for? This government only knows neglect when it comes to the outer north. I seek the action of the minister to get on with it and commit to duplicating Somerton Road and upgrading the Roxburgh Park Drive intersection.