$412m road projects await support: Libs

THE Geelong region’s two biggest road projects have yet to earn state opposition backing, according to Liberal MPs.
State Transport and Roads Minister Terry Mulder and federal Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson called on Labor to clarify its support for the Great Ocean Road upgrade and the Princes Hwy duplication.
The projects have a combined coalition state and federal funding commitments of $412 million.
“The Princes Highway carries more than 6500 vehicles a day and the Great Ocean Road can attract up to 16,000 vehicles a day in the peak holiday season,” Mr Mulder said
“Local residents have been calling for these road upgrades for years and the benefits are just over the horizon. I personally signed agreements for these projects to be delivered into the south-west.
“We have already seen Labor leader, Daniel Andrews, recklessly promise to rip up the East West Link contracts and refuse to support the Country Roads and Bridges Program. Labor needs to come clean on whether they’ll also abandon the Princes Highway duplication and the Great Ocean Road upgrade.”
Ms Henderson said Labor must join the federal and state governments by committing to these projects.
“Labor has had every opportunity to commit to these projects yet they have failed to do so, leaving local residents in the dark,” she said.
The state opposition had not responded to the Independent’s request for comment before the paper went to press.