Heat on state over highway

Alex de Vos
RACV has vowed to turn up the heat on State Government for funding to duplicate the Princes Highway between Waurn Ponds and Winchelsea.
Public policy general manager Brian Negus said the RACV was looking forward to an “early commitment” from State Government after federal Labor pledged before the election to fund half the $220 million project.
The RACV considered the duplication a “priority” project, Mr Negus said.
“We’ll be keeping the pressure on the State Government to get the money,” Mr Negus said.
“The road is a national link to South Australia and there are a significant number of safety problems on the highway.”
State Government has yet to say whether it will commit its share of funding for the project. However, the Government has a policy of contributing 25 per cent to roads funded under the Commonwealth’s Auslink2 program for highways of “national importance”.
Member-elect for Corangamite Darren Cheesman pledged $110 million for the duplication before the election, seeking an equal commitment from Victoria.
Mr Cheeseman was not sure this week when work on the highway would begin.
But Labor was working “hard” to get the project underway “as soon as possible”, he said.
“But we’ll have a briefing with State Government early next year to try to get the project underway as soon as possible.”