Monday 10 September 2012

 The Baillieu Government’s refusal to develop the interchange at Duncans Road to a full diamond continues to disappoint the community.

 In March 2012, Tim Pallas, State Member for Tarneit, tabled a petition signed by hundreds of local residents calling on the Government to ‘Make Duncans a Diamond’, which was responded to negatively by the Minister for Roads, Terry Mulder, after a delay of two months.

 “The previous Labor Government recognised that this interchange was needed to alleviate the increasing congestion on our local roads and had committed the $18 million funding needed for this project in 2010,” said Mr Pallas.

 “It has been four years since VicRoads identified this interchange as a medium term priority, but the Baillieu State Government shows no sign of funding the creation of a full diamond interchange in this term of government. It appears we are getting no closer to the delivery of this vital interchange despite the passing of time, the evident need and the growth in our community.”

 “It is another example of this Government’s failure to recognise that the real priorities for people living in the West of Melbourne.”

 The Sneydes Road interchange, a cynical move aimed at appeasing the community while avoiding acknowledging that Labor had the right plan, is contingent on Federal money and not in the location it is most needed.