The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien has again called on the Andrews Labor Government to complete the duplication of the Princes Highway to Sale after the Premier finally visited the region this week.
Mr O’Brien and his federal colleague, Darren Chester, Member for Gippsland have been campaigning for the completion of the highway for several years but the Andrews Labor Government has failed to provide its share of funding.
“After many years we’ve finally got the Premier to travel east of Traralgon so maybe he actually saw the absurdity we have of a partially duplicated highway with two sections incomplete and the surface of the road rapidly deteriorating.
“We’ve campaigned for a long time now for the Premier to actually come and see our local drought conditions firsthand – wouldn’t it be nice if he actually realised his government’s folly when it comes to the Princes Highway?”
Mr O’Brien said the Federal Coalition Government had $132 million on the table and was ready to proceed with the remaining two sections but State Labor had failed at consecutive budgets to stump up its $33 million share.
“The people of Sale and East Gippsland are frustrated that we have put up with road works for a decade and now the finalisation of the project has ground to a halt.
“With the Premier himself having rarely ventured beyond Traralgon he wouldn’t have understood what we were even talking about.
“Maybe I’m naive but perhaps now that he has made it to Sale, he’ll understand the importance of this project.”