By Luke Voogt
The State Government will finally commit $25m to the Great Ocean Road, following six months of pressure from Canberra.
Transport Minister Luke Donnellan’s office confirmed the government would match the Commonwealth’s latest $25m committment to the road.
“We welcome the Commonwealth Government’s announcement and look forward to finalising these discussions as soon as possible,” Mr Donnellan said.
The Federal and State governments made a dual funding commitment of $50m for the road in 2014.
The Commonwealth announced a further $25m in this year’s budget and Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson has since called on State Government to match the amount.
“It is unbelievable that the Andrews government refuses to recognise the economic value of this road,” Ms Henderson told the Indy earlier this year.
“After the Christmas Day bushfires and the recent floods which caused around 150 landslides along the road, local traders are under increasing financial pressure.”
Mr Donnellan confirmed the government would also match the Commonwealth’s recently-announced $1.5b infrastructure package for Victoria.
This would include half of the joint, $690m Rural and Regional Roads package, he said.
Along with the Great Ocean Road the package will provide funds for safety upgrades along the Hamilton Highway between Geelong Ring Road and Cressy.
It will also provide funds to plan the duplication of Grubb Road in Ocean Grove and the Midland Highway between Geelong and Bannockburn.
Mr Donnellan welcomed the package but said the Commonwealth was still short-changing Victorians.
“We’ve said all along that this money belongs to Victorians – and it’s pleasing that Malcolm Turnbull finally recognises this,” he said.
“The funding is nothing more than what our state deserves.”
“Victorians are still not receiving their fair share of national infrastructure spending, with less than 10 per cent of funding – this is simply not good enough.”
Ms Henderson similarly welcomed Labor’s committment.
“Investing in roads and road safety is vital,” she said.
“But we needed matching funding and the co-operation of State Labor and VicRoads to make these projects happen.”
