Mr PALLAS (Treasurer) — I rise to inform the house of the recent completion of the Sneydes Road–Princes Freeway interchange in my electorate of Werribee. It was my privilege to cut the ribbon atop the new bridge and take the first drive on the new road from Sneydes Road to the freeway. The $45 million upgrade is part of the $71 million East Werribee transport improvement project. The upgrade includes new access ramps for the Princes Freeway to and from Melbourne and a new bridge over the Maltby bypass, which will provide an upgraded connection from Werribee through to the growing area of Point Cook. This new development will provide motorists with greater access to the freeway, and it will become the main gateway to the upcoming East Werribee precinct development. East Werribee has been identified as a future national employment cluster, which will allow residents in the west to work close to where they are living. The developments will give people more time with their families, with less travel time and less road congestion.

My neighbouring electorate of Altona will also benefit from the road upgrades, with residents now having an alternative route south in and out of Point Cook. It will assist in easing congestion on roads in Point Cook, which I am sure the member for Altona will be pleased about. Geelong-bound ramps are expected to be completed by the end of the year, creating a complete interchange between Melbourne, Werribee and Geelong.

Congratulations to the team at VicRoads and to the Metropolitan Planning Authority for their efficiency and the high standard they have shown in delivering this project for Wyndham. The Andrews Labor government fully funded the project and is getting it done for the community of Wyndham.