Four years after securing funding for a $10 million upgrade of the Mallacoota-Genoa Rd, local MP Darren Chester says he’s ‘angry and frustrated’ that nothing has been done to actually fix the road.
Mr Chester secured the $10 million from the previous Coalition Government to improve the safety and resilience of the road, which was closed for six weeks after the Black Summer bushfires in 2019-20.
Four years later, no construction work has occurred on the road despite repeated requests from Mr Chester for the State Government to fast track the project and he’s written to the Prime Minister, seeking an explanation.
“This is not a happy anniversary because it’s been four years since the money was secured in the budget with 100% of the funding coming from the previous Federal Government,” Mr Chester said.
“The world can hold the Olympics every four years, you can finish a university degree in four years, but the Labor Government in Victoria can’t fix the Mallacoota-Genoa Rd in four years, even when it’s not costing them a cent.
“Even though constructing a more resilient and safer transport route was identified as a high-priority project by the local community after the bushfires, there is no sense of urgency in Minister Melissa Horne’s office or amongst the bureaucracy to get the work started.
“It’s become a complete farce, and we can’t get a straight answer about when work will actually start to improve road safety.”
Mr Chester said he had received no updates on the project since the Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne confirmed in January that $500,000 of the original funding had been spent on studies and consultation.
“I am advised that technical studies, including preliminary designs and environmental and cultural heritage investigations, have been completed,” Ms Horne wrote at the time.
“These investigations and evaluations are essential to ensure the Department of Transport and Planning meets the planning and environment legislative requirements and understand the associated approval pathways, timeframes, and costs.
“Now that these details have been confirmed, DTP has lodged a detailed submission to the Australian Government for the release of the remaining $9.5 million funding to construct this project.”
Mr Chester has now written to the Prime Minister seeking an urgent meeting to discuss the project and other road transport priorities across Gippsland.
“Surely it is time to prioritise human life over a few gum trees in Gippsland when we already have an extensive network of National Parks and reserves across our state?” Mr Chester wrote.
“It’s well-known that regional motorists are disproportionately represented in road trauma statistics, and the majority of crashes occur on roads with limited safety features. Commonwealth-funded rural and regional road safety projects are life-saving endeavours that should be pursued with a sense of urgency in partnership with other levels of government.
“The entire Infrastructure Investment Program should have an increased focus on saving lives in our regions, not just saving minutes for city commuters.”
