The Nationals Member for North Western Province Damian Drum has welcomed today’s confirmation of Federal funds for the Calder highway duplication, and praised the central Victorian community for its long campaign to have the highway finished.
“This is great news for the people of central Victoria who have campaigned for the last two decades to have this highway fully duplicated between Melbourne and Bendigo,” Mr Drum said.
“I am particularly delighted to see the commitment of $114 million over five years for the Calder and there is also a commitment to provide additional monies within the five year period providing that the State Government leads each stage of the project.
“These are the two key parts to the funding announcement that I have been working on. We need the ongoing commitment to match state funding to take the “political games” out of the project. We also needed to assure that the funds would be available as each section of the project demanded them.
“There are now no more excuses, no one to blame and we would expect that the Government would be ready to go with all of its planning and environmental processes locked away.
“The onus and responsibility is now clearly on the Bracks State Government. The Premier categorically stated before the election in 2002 that he would finish the Calder by 2006.
“For 18 months we have heard their whingeing and carping on a daily basis.
“As of today, they are already behind the Commonwealth Government in funding, and the pressure is now on the State Labor Government to get the highway duplicated as soon as possible.
“The people of central Victoria are sick of the political games; they just want to see this vital road finished.”
Media inquiries: Damian Drum: 5443-6277
