The Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller has attacked the Brumby Government’s transport credentials during a debate in State Parliament over Labor’s $38 billion Victorian transport plan.
In Parliament last week, the government chose to dedicate discussion on a matter of public importance to its transport plan which it claimed had provided the state with the best transport network in Australia.
During his speech on the matter, Mr Weller rejected the government’s claims and criticised Labor’s record on the delivery of transport projects since 1999.
He said the government was in denial over the many problems facing the travelling public of Victoria.
“The Premier has forged a reputation for failing to deliver on transport systems across country Victoria,” Mr Weller said.
“In the Rodney electorate the government is trying to force a Murray River bridge crossing at Echuca-Moama despite considerable opposition to its location.
“The Brumby Government has pressured the Campaspe Shire Council into supporting the mid-west bridge corridor by insinuating that they would not get a second river crossing unless they accepted that route.”
Mr Weller said the mid-west bridge alignment was not in the best interests of the Echuca-Moama community.
“The negative aspects of the mid-west bridge corridor include a substantial increase in vehicle noise, the loss of aesthetic appeal in the tourism and residential areas of Echuca, the loss of public recreational and educational facilities within the former secondary college, tennis club and Victoria Park precinct and the potential for increased traffic levels in the port of Echuca precinct.
“The problems associated with the corridor could quite easily be resolved through some alignment modifications and further negotiations, but the government is refusing to work with the community to address those concerns.”
Mr Weller said the government was acting unreasonably in bullying the community into accepting a less than optimal route for a second river crossing.
“The community is not happy about the alignment and nor is it happy about being railroaded on an issue of such critical importance to the region,” he said.
“The government needs to start listening to communities when it comes to transport issues such as the Echuca-Moama bridge rather than carrying on with this unwarranted self-congratulatory praise which Victorians are growing very tired of.”
Media contact: Leonie Canham (03) 5482 2039
