PM praises MP during flying visit for highway

Erin Pearson
DUPLICATION of the Princes Highway from Winchelsea to Colac has been guaranteed Prime Minister Julia Gillard visited Geelong this week to announce a returned Labor Government would fund the project.
An earlier Liberal commitment to the project means motorists will eventually drive on dual-lane highway from Waurn Ponds to Colac no matter which party wins next week’s federal election.
Ms Gillard phoned the Independent after touring Belmont’s GP Superclinic on Tuesday to spruik the highway commitment.
“It will be a Gillard Government and a State Government partnership that will see a $515 million investment to build on the investment already made,” she said.
“After almost 12 years under the Liberals the area was neglected and there was no start on the highway duplication.”
Ms Gillard attributed the funding promise to Labor MP Darren Cheeseman’s “strong advocacy” for his marginal seat of Corangamite.
She called him a “fierce campaigner” for Corangamite.
“I believe the people of Corangamite will look at the results and look at what Darren has achieved.”
Mr Cheeseman said a returned Gillard Government would cover half of the stage two cost after committing $110 million to helping the Victorian Government duplicate the highway from Waurn Ponds to Winchelsea.
Stage two from Winchelsea to Colac would cost the Gillard Government $257.5 million, he said.
Liberal candidate for Corangamite Sarah Henderson rejected Labor claims the Liberals had under-costed the project in their funding commitment.
“The coalition is committed to seeing the Princes Highway duplicated from Geelong to Colac and this means providing half of the funds needed,” Ms Henderson said.
“In June the Coalition pledged to upgrade this stretch of the Princes Highway out of recognition that this road is a major thoroughfare in south-west Victoria and vital to the region’s communities and economy.”
Regional councils alliance group G21 welcomed both commitments.
Chief executive officer Elaine Carbines said 31 people died and 223 people were seriously injured on the stretch of highway from 2005 to 2009.
“Regardless of which party is successful in the federal election, this important regional project is guaranteed.”