KEILOR MP Natalie Hutchins has thrown her support behind Melton City Council and called on the State Government to urgently fund the duplication of the Melton Highway.
Ms Hutchins wrote to the Minister for Transport and Roads Terry Mulder citing an increase in traffic volumes and the need to address safety hazards along the road as reasons why the duplication is needed in the near future.
In her letter, Ms Hutchins refers to the 13 deaths and 260 injuries on the Melton section of the highway since 1987 and said there has also been a 58 per cent increase in serious collisions in the Melton area compared to the same period last year.
“The duplication is urgently needed to prevent future accidents and deaths, and to increase the liveability of this area,” Ms Hutchins wrote.
However in a letter to the mayor, Kathy Majdlik, the State Government has refused to consider funding this section of the highway and instead said $5.5 million would go towards road safety improvements between Melton and Taylors Lakes.
The safety improvements, which have been funded under the Safer Roads Infrastructure Program, will involve the removal of roadside hazards and reduce the risk of crashes.
The letters were tabled at last week’s council meeting and Cr Sophie Ramsey suggested the State Governments’ funding was simply a “band-aid approach to a major wound”.
Cr Ramsey pleaded with the government to step in and fund the duplication saying the council would continue to do its “damndest to get (road toll) figures down”.
