Wednesday, 19 November 2025

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (09:43): Over the weekend more than 50,000 residents took part in discovery day, enjoying an 8 kilometre run or a 2.5 kilometre walk through the West Gate Tunnel before it opens to commuters next month. Taking in the spectacular city views over the new sky road connecting Footscray Road with the tunnel or wandering down from Yarraville Gardens under the 38-metre-high timber net structure and past the new wetlands, the community came together to celebrate this transformative project. The West Gate Tunnel will deliver a much-needed alternative to the West Gate Bridge while cutting congestion and taking 9000 trucks off local roads every day, creating safer neighbourhoods for all who call the western suburbs home. At the heart of discovery day was giving back to the community. More than $175,000 was raised through registrations to support the West Welcome Wagon, a fantastic organisation supporting asylum seekers and refugees to rebuild their lives here in Victoria, and the Community Bike Hub, which provides bike access and education in the west. The Allan Labor government will always deliver for our communities in Melbourne’s west, and only Labor can be trusted to deliver the infrastructure that they deserve.