Reports today that up to 100 vital infrastructure projects across Victoria are poised to be cut by the Albanese Labor Government are a cruel blow to rural and regional Victorians who rely on road and rail connections to help them and their families each and every day.
Infrastructure Minister, Catherine King, announced yet another Labor review, this time into the Coalition’s $120 billion infrastructure investment pipeline, putting more than $11 billion of projects in Victoria at risk.
Senator Sarah Henderson said she was deeply concerned that a number of ‘nation building’ projects including Geelong Fast Rail and the Melbourne Airport Rail Link appeared destined for the scrap heap.
“After almost 12 months in office, Labor is showing its true colours as the party of the capital cities, rather than for all Australians, with its infrastructure hit list,” Senator Henderson said.
“Labor is planning to cut significant infrastructure projects designed to help regional communities and local business, yet guaranteeing funding for the discredited Suburban Rail Loop despite which has been broadly condemned by the Victorian Auditor-General and many planning experts as an expensive white elephant.”
“In Corangamite, I am appalled that funding for critical road safety projects such as Grubb Rd, Ocean Grove and Murradoc Rd on the Bellarine Peninsula, for which we fought so hard, are in the firing line.”
“Libby Coker can’t even guarantee the funding for stage 2 of the Barwon Heads Rd upgrade which is another broken promise by this dishonourable Labor government. Why would Labor be reviewing funding for the Waurn Ponds rail duplication when this project is well under construction?” Senator Henderson said.
“From Geelong to Ballarat to Bendigo to Mildura, this is a disgraceful attack by Labor on the infrastructure needs of regional Victorians.”
Senator Henderson said she would be carefully watching Labor’s budget next week to ensure rural and regional Victorians were not further dudded.
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The list of projects facing the axe and the total cost of each project include:
• Melbourne Airport Rail Link – $10 billion
• Geelong Fast Rail – $4 billion
Corangamite, Corio & Hawke
• Grubb Road upgrade, Ocean Grove – $5m
• Barwon Heads Road upgrade – $250m
• Western Freeway realignment, Pykes Hill – $10m
• Surf Coast Highway, Reserve Road & Felix Street intersection – $2.1m
• Midland Highway and Clyde Road upgrade – $6.5m
• Geelong-Portarlington Road and Wilsons Road intersection – $2.5m
• Corio-Waurn Ponds Road, Separation Street bridge improvements – $4.2m
• Murradoc Road upgrade – $5m
• Western Rail further planning – $130m
• South Geelong to Waurn Ponds duplication – $893m
• Outer Metropolitan E6 corridor preservation – $10m
Ballarat & Bendigo
• Melbourne to Mildura upgrade – $58m
• Ballarat to Ouyen upgrade – $39m
• Macedon and Mitchell Shire roads upgrades – $11m
• Western Highway upgrade between Ballarat and Stawell – $450m
• Western Freeway Safety Improvements, Miners Rest – $10m
• Ballarat intermodal Freight Hub – $9.1m
• Midland Link Highway safety upgrades – $4m
Mallee, Nicholls & Indi
• Hume Freeway upgrade – $210m
• Calder Freeway to Ring Road upgrade – $100m
• Melbourne to Mildura upgrade – $58m
• Green Triangle upgrades – $66m
• Goulburn Valley Highway, Shepparton Bypass – $260m
• Rutherglen Heavy Vehicle Alternative Route – $4m