Ash Bolt
Federal opposition leader Anthony Albanese has committed to providing $125 million of funding to the second stage of the Barwon Heads Road duplication project if Labor wins next year’s federal election.
Mr Albanese was in Geelong over the weekend with Corio MP and deputy opposition leader Richard Marles and Corangamite MP Libby Coker to announce the commitment to duplicate Barwon Heads Road from Reserve Road to Lower Duneed Road.
He said “families in Armstrong Creek, Barwon Heads and across the Bellarine will have quicker and safer commutes to work, to school, to recreational activities” due to the project.
“We know that by 2031 this road is projected to carry some 44,000 trucks and cars every single day. So, we know that this is a major issue for this community,” he said.
“We understand that the population here will grow to some 60,000 people, which is why we need infrastructure and this announcement … building on the work that’s already underway, will make a significant difference to productivity, to safety, to improving the lives of those people in this growing community.”
Mr Albanese said the $125 million commitment would allow the state government to complete the second stage of the project.
“That’s the costing that’s been done by G21 and the Geelong Council, so we believe this will ensure the project can go ahead,” he said.
“We want to make sure that it happens.
“What we’re saying is this funding will be available from our first budget, and it will be included in our first budget.”
Ms Coker said the project would link up with stage one of the duplication, between Belmont and Reserve Road, which the state government has already begun.
“This project will future-proof infrastructure across this growing region, creating local jobs in the construction phase and ensuring that working families can spend less time in the car and more time at home,” Ms Coker said.
“And, unlike so many of the Morrison-Joyce Government’s commitments, an Albanese Labor Government will actually deliver it.”
Stage one of the reduplication is expected to be completed in late 2023.
