Victorian Labor today released Project 10,000 – a transport alternative to the $8 billion East West tunnel that will transform public transport, remove the worst traffic bottlenecks, boost economic growth and create ten thousand jobs. Leader of the Opposition, Daniel Andrews, said Project 10,000 would give country Victorians a very clear choice when they go to vote at the 2014 State Election in just over twelve months’ time. Under Project 10,000 Victorian Labor will guarantee $1 billion in funding for the repair and upgrade of roads in regional communities. Over the past three years Victorian Labor has listened to thousands of country Victorians and heard how crumbling country roads affect their every-day lives, Daniel Andrews said. We listened to the business community, including agricultural producers and industry based in the regions and we heard that country Victorians want safer, well maintained roads to improve travel times. Denis Napthine’s neglect of regional Victoria has seen roads across the State deteriorate to unprecedented levels with highways and local roads falling apart and riddled with dangerous cracks and potholes. Shadow Minister for Regional & Rural Development, Jacinta Allan, said Labor’s fully funded transport plan provides a clear alternative to Denis Napthine’s $8 billion, five kilometre tunnel in Melbourne’s inner city. Country Victorian taxpayers deserve better value for money. They deserve their money spent on making roads where they live safer, Ms Allan said. Denis Napthine’s $8 billion tunnel will do nothing to make country roads safer. Victorian Labor’s $1 billion of vitally needed road funding will see these communities receive a consistent, predictable and guaranteed share of the road funding pie. Ms Allan said this commitment will be funded from the Better Roads Victoria Trust Account over eight years and Victorian Labor will confirm in legislation the compulsory payment of traffic camera and speeding fines into this fund. Also under Project 10,000 Victorian Labor will build the West Gate Distributor that will take 5,000 trucks a day off the West Gate Bridge and make it easier for people traveling from Geelong and Ballarat to access Melbourne. Ms Allan said commuters from Bendigo will also have an easier commute to Melbourne with those using the Calder Freeway to benefit from the widening of the adjoining Tullamarine Freeway to six lanes between the Western Ring Road and Melbourne airport. Victorian Labor’s plan addresses the worst bottlenecks on our roads to make getting into and out of Melbourne easier for commuters and freight traffic, Ms Allan said. Project 10,000 will transform Melbourne, provide generational change and create ten thousand construction jobs making it one of the largest job creation projects in the State’s history. For more information visit: Project10000.au
Posted on: Mon, 18 Nov 2013 23:50:54 +0000