12 October 2015
Just three Murray Plains bridges will be upgraded under the Stronger Country Bridges Program while the Melbourne Labor Government uses the same program for 10 bridges in and around the Premier’s city electorate.
Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh said it was disgraceful that bridges in genuine country electorates like Murray Plains which cover 12 000 square kilometres were missing out while Labor Government re-directed funds to Melbourne.
“When the program was announced the Premier promised it would “˜strengthen 48 bridges in regional Victoria’ but the list of bridges tabled in Parliament last week shows 10 of those bridges are within 4km of Premier Andrews city electorate of Mulgrave.
“The Andrews Labor Government has dudded regional Victoria on roads and bridges funding again.
“First the successful $160 million Country Roads and Bridges Funding was axed and now the Premier’s been caught red-handed spending funds promised for regional bridges on Melbourne’s road network instead.
“This is more evidence that Daniel Andrews is running a Melbourne-centric government that doesn’t care about important infrastructure in regional areas.”
What Daniel Andrews said on 19 February 2015:
“This $35.8 million in funding will be fast-tracked to strengthen 48 bridges in regional Victoria.”