Motion lodged to stop bridge plans

Jessica Benton
THE GREENS have lodged a motion in Upper House of parliament to overturn a State Government decision to build a new bridge at Barwon Heads.
Greens Senator Colleen Hartland said she put up the disallowment motion against the bridge’s planning amendment at Wednesday’s Upper House sitting.
The house would debate the motion later this month, she said.
The Independent reported last month that members of the Liberal party and the Greens planned to vote against the bridge plan in the Upper House.
The pledge followed a widespread public backlash against the Government’s bid to replace the existing bridge with two separate downstream bridges for cars and pedestrians.
Ms Hartland said she was still unsure whether the Greens would garner enough support from Liberal and DLP MPs to stop the plan.
“All the parties have to vote in unison for the decision to be overturned,” she said.
“The Liberals and DLP haven’t indicated firmly a yes or no yet.”
DLP Member for Western Victoria Peter Kavanagh said he had raised the issue with other party members who were “not enthusiastic” about the bridge plan.
Mr Kavanagh said he would visit Barwon Heads next week to gauge residents’ opinions.
He would use the feedback to form a decision on the disallowment motion during the parliamentary debate.
State Liberal Member for Western Victoria David Koch said he would continue encouraging colleagues to seek a review of the bridge plan.
He said Vicroads’ approved plan was “out of kilter” with what the community wanted.
Planning Minister Justin Madden did not get back to the Independent’s before the paper went to print.