Labor bypass pledge

Jane Emerick
LABOR yesterday committed $62.5 million to fund stage 4a of Geelong’s bypass.
Shadow transport and roads minister Martin Ferguson made the announcement yesterday at Waurn Ponds.
But Mr Ferguson wouldn’t commit to use federal funds on further stages to link the freeway to the Surf Coast Highway.
Labor’s pledge matches State Government’s $62.5 million for the project, which includes overpasses crossing Pigdons Road and Princes Highway, and a connection with the Princes Highway at Rossack Drive.
“The Geelong Ring Road is the most important infrastructure project in Geelong for decades, and with construction now started on Stage 3, it is time to get cracking on the Anglesea overpass and related works,” Mr Ferguson said.
“This additional funding for Stage 4a will bring total investment in the Geelong Ring Road to $505 million, a huge commitment to better roads for Geelong and the surrounding region.”
But Mr Ferguson would not be drawn on whether a Labor federal government would provide funding to further stages of the bypass linking to Surf Coast Highway.
“We’re doing this stage by stage,” he said.
“The Howard Government was asked for the funding last year and they refused to make the commitment. A Rudd Government has given that commitment today.”
Liberal Member for Corangamite Stewart McArthur has called for the road to run further west of Geelong.
Labor candidate for Corangamite Darren Cheeseman welcomed the funding.
“These works will greatly reduce commuter times for residents travelling from Waurn Ponds, Belmont, Highton and Grovedale to other Geelong suburbs and Melbourne,” he said.
But Mr Cheeseman also wouldn’t say whether Labor would fund further stages.
Mr Ferguson’s announcement turns the tables on the Liberal Party, which last election used the bypass as a trump card to turn sagging polls.
That decision was widely considered to have helped Mr McArthur defeat Labor’s Peter McMullin at the last election.