The never-ending saga of the Bank Street intersection has taken another turn, with Labor now blaming local flora and fauna for delays with the installation of traffic lights.
The latest in a string of excuses offered up by the Carroll Labor Government, Minster for Roads Ros Spence said “potentially sensitive species” in the rail reserve meant the long-promised safety upgrades had stalled… again.
Works at the Bank Street intersection have been fully funded twice – by the Victorian Government in 2017, then again by the Federal Government in the 2021-22 Budget – but still the project remains unfinished.
The Nationals’ Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, said he was dismayed though not surprised by the Carroll Labor Government’s sustained incompetence.
“We’ve waited nearly eight years for much-needed traffic lights at the Bank Street intersection, but unfortunately we’ll have to wait even longer,” Mr Cameron said.
“After promising the lights would be operational mid-2026, Labor has shifted the goalposts again and can’t provide a timeline for delivery because of a new ‘complexity’ it refers to as ‘potentially sensitive species’.”
In response to Mr Cameron’s questions about the reason for the ongoing delays, the Minister for Roads claimed the Department of Transport and Planning needed to conduct “environmental studies that can only be undertaken in spring” and would also require “cultural heritage approvals”.
“I’ve written to the Minister for Roads countless times, raised the issue of Bank Street in Parliament 12 times, and at no point has local flora and fauna been identified as an issue,” Mr Cameron said.
“I can’t see how placing traffic lights on poles that already exist would impact the ecosystem in a neighbouring reserve.
“Further to this, if local flora and fauna is a concern, why is Latrobe City Council currently undertaking works at Bank Street to resurface the road and pavement?
“Labor is more concerned about potentially sensitive species than it is the safety of the 20,000 motorists who pass through this deathtrap intersection every day.
“This is a new low for a citycentric Labor Government that has run out of excuses for its own incompetence.
“There is a new captain at the helm in Ben Carroll, but don’t be fooled – it’s the same old tired, corrupt, sinking Labor ship.”
Caption: The Nationals’ Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, said he was dismayed by the latest excuse from Labor about its failure to deliver the Bank Street intersection upgrades.
