By XAVIER SMERDON
WESTERN suburbs drivers are taking a risk every time they get behind the wheel as they are exposed to roads that have become dangerous and fallen into disrepair, according to local politicians.
Shadow Minister for Roads, Luke Donnellan joined Western MPs Natalie Hutchins and Cesar Melhem to launch the www.FixOurRoads.com.au website.
Mr Donnellan said Labor launched the website because new analysis of VicRoads documents shows the Napthine Government was short-changing families and businesses across Melbourne’s West on road infrastructure.
Mr Donnellan said the VicRoads Metropolitan North West Region had capital funding dropped by $48 million or 58.6 per cent.
Capital funding for the North West Region was $81.9 million in 2011-12 and in 2012-13 dropped to $33 million.
“Documents obtained from VicRoads under FOI reveal that funding for roads projects across Melbourne’s West has been cut dramatically,” Mr Donnellan said.
Ms Hutchins, Member for Keilor said local residents were losing out with 450 staff cut from VicRoads, causing long delays for much needed projects in the area, such as the Melton Highway rail crossing in Sydenham.
“We are seeing no action on major arterials, intersections and rail crossings that need safety upgrades,” Ms Hutchins said.
Ms Hutchins said the Melton Highway boom gates were down for 52 minutes every two hours during peak times, delaying journeys by 20 minutes, with heavy traffic increasing risks for local children.
Mr Melhem said he was concerned by the lack of movement on road upgrades in Melbourne’s West, including another grade separation at Main Road in St Albans.
“A single grade separation costs upwards of $150 million but the Napthine Government has only provided $52.3 million to be stretched across nine projects,” Mr Melham said.
“The fact is, this money does nothing to remove the Main Road rail crossing.”
Mr Donnellan said the Opposition’s campaign would allow motorists across Melbourne’s Western Suburbs to tell Labor which roads had been neglected and forgotten by the Napthine Government.
But Liberal politician and Member for the Western Metropolitan Region, Andrew Elsbury, said any neglect of the West’s roads was inherited from the previous Labor government.
“Claims by the Labor opposition about roads funding is close to laughable. When Labor was in Government our roads were left to crumble while major traffic issues were given complete lips service,” Mr Elsbury said.
“Under Labor, even with the former roads minister Tim Pallas as a member of the area, the western suburbs did not get our fair share of funding.”
“By comparison the Coalition in the 2013/14 budget has committed an extra $170 million in road maintenance funding. We have committed to projects like the Sneyeds Road overpass, and other associated works to the tune of $72 million.
“Further safety upgrades have been undertaken on Derrimut/Hopkins and the Melton Hwy,” Mr Elsbury said.
“Meanwhile notorious intersections like that at K Rd and Duncan’s Rd in Werribee, Forsyth Rd and Old Geelong Rd in Hoppers Crossing and Sunshine Ave and Odessa Ave in Keilor Downs, will receive upgrades and traffic signalisation where it is needed.”
