MEMBER for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford said the state government’s $10 million allocation to the next stage of the Western Highway duplication would help improve road safety for drivers.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The government announced the $10 million as part of the state budget on Wednesday.
Duplication works between Stawell and Ararat will make up part of the next stage of the project.
Ms Pulford said the money would fund geotechnical investigations and environmental assessments.
It will also help the development of a cultural heritage management plan.
Ms Pulford said a wide range of people would benefit from the duplication project.
“We are investing in better and safer roads that will help local agriculture, industry and regional tourism,” she said.
“The local community has been calling for the next section of the Western Highway to be completed.
“We’ve listened and this funding will begin work.
“Regional communities want safe, reliable roads. The Andrews Labor government is getting it done.”
VicRoads recently opened the completed duplicated road between Beaufort and Buangor.
This includes a bypass around Buangor.
Expressions of interest have now been called for to duplicate the next section between Buangor and Ararat.
Following this section, the Stawell to Ararat section, the Beaufort bypass and the Ararat bypass are all still to be funded.
Ms Pulford said western Victoria was a big winner in the 2016-17 state budget announcements.
She said a number of big ticket items would help people across the region including;
- $325 million in job initiatives for infrastructure services, with upgrades to irrigation, water security, mobile blackspots and street-scaping.
- $1.6 billion to improve regional public transport and roads, which includes a 4518 million upgrade to the Ballarat line.
- A $101 million regional tourism infrastructure fund.
- $15.3 million for six school upgrades across western Victoria.
- A payroll tax cut for about 36,000 businesses, thanks to the lifting of the payroll threshold to $650,000 during the next four years.
The Ballarat train line upgrades will duplicate 17 kilometres of track between Deer Park West and Melton.
There will also be passing loops built at Bacchus Marsh, Ballan and Bungaree so trains can run more frequently.
It will allow for two extra peak hour services.
There is also a $280 million investment in 27 new VLocity carriages.
