By ALESHA CAPONE
FUNDS to build a roundabout at a St Albans traffic black spot have been allocated in the new Federal Government budget.
When Prime Minister Julia Gillard and her team released their 2013-2014 budget last week, $240,000 was announced to upgrade the intersection of Alfrieda St and Conrad St.
In addition to the roundabout, the funds will be used to install an impact-absorbing bollard, street lighting and remove a tree.
Federal Maribyrnong MP Bill Shorten – whose electorate covers Braybrook, Kealba, Keilor East, St Albans and Sunshine North – said other budget items would also help out residents.
The Federal Government has allocated $1.4 million for three city councils, including Brimbank, to take part in the Roads to Recovery program.
The budget has also provided funds for new equipment at the Broadband for Seniors kiosks in Sunshine RSL and Mekong Vietnamese Aged Care in Keilor East.
However, the State Government has expressed disappointment the Federal Budget devoted $3 billion to preliminary work on the Metro Rail tunnel, which will stretch from South Yarra to Kensington, rather than the East-West Link.
The East-West Link road, if built, would connect the Eastern Freeway to the Western Ring Rd in Sunshine West.
It is estimated the project will cost up to $8 billion.
The State Government’s own 2013-2014 budget has allocated $224 million to the East-West Link.
Despite being left out of the Federal Budget, the State Government has announced a formal planning process and consultation for the East-West Link will soon start.
“This work will concentrate on any social, heritage and environmental impacts of the project and how they can be best avoided or mitigated,” Roads Minister Terry Mulder said.
The Linking Melbourne Authority will be holding a series of public information displays about the link on
Saturday 1 June, 11am to 3pm at St Brendan’s Hall, corner of Church and High streets, Flemington.
