Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester says the removal of roadside signs advertising upcoming safety works is an indication that motorists will be waiting longer for much-needed improvements across the region.
Mr Chester said advertising signs had been taken from the McEacharn St roundabout project in Bairnsdale and the Sale alternative route following the Federal Government’s decision to review the infrastructure investment program.
“It’s a bad sign for Gippsland because the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Catherine King has failed to start any new projects in the past 16 months,” Mr Chester said.
“If you see a grader, a bulldozer, or a crane at work on a major public project anywhere in Gippsland today, you can be sure of one thing, the current Minister for Infrastructure and Transport had absolutely nothing to do with it.
“This is the Minister who has hit the ground reviewing… it’s now more than 140 days since she announced her 90 day razor gang review.
“Right across Gippsland, lives are being put at risk because road safety projects have been stalled while this review drags on.
“This is serious because delays caused by the review of the infrastructure pipeline mean that prices will increase, less work will be done, and the failure to start delivering road safety projects is putting people’s lives at risk right now.”
Mr Chester said he was concerned that more than $30 million of planned road safety works in Mallacoota, Lakes Entrance, Bairnsdale and Sale will not proceed.
“The signs which proudly announced the road safety works scheduled to occur have disappeared because everything has been put on hold and the road authorities have no idea whether the work will ever be supported by the Labor Party,” Mr Chester said.
The Regional Roads Victoria website provides the following advice in relation to local projects that were scheduled to start this year.
“The Commonwealth Government announced it will undertake a 90-day review of the National Infrastructure Investment Program. State Governments have been advised that no new contracts can be entered into during the review period without the express permission of the Commonwealth Government. As a Commonwealth-funded project, this project will be subject to the review. Further information will be provided following the conclusion of the Commonwealth’s review.”
“So the signs have been removed and motorists safety will be put at risk because Minister King can’t do her job, and approve projects that were well advanced, and had been identified as a regional priority,” Mr Chester said.
“It’s a complete disgrace. I fear that lives will be lost and people will be seriously injured on sections of road we had secured funding for in the past, but this incompetent Minister is now blocking the upgrades.”
