13 February 2015
The Nationals Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh has called on Daniel Andrews and the Labor government to cough up and pay for the second Murray River crossing at Echuca Moama.
After several decades of lobbying Echuca Moama became a significant step closer to a second Murray River crossing in November 2014 when the Liberal-Nationals Coalition Government committed $96 million to build the bridge.
In State Parliament yesterday Mr Walsh called on the Andrews Government to honour that commitment to the Echuca community.
He said that on the weekend of the Southern 80 alone it was estimated that 50 000 people visited Echuca.
“Having all these people in that part of Victoria surely must reinforce to the Labor Government the need to commit to funding the project “ Mr Walsh said.
The Echuca community had consistently expressed its support for the mid-west option and that position had been strongly and consistently advocated by the Shire of Campaspe and the Shire of Murray.
“The $96 million for the bridge is in the forward estimates of the State Budget which means it is already accounted for. Daniel Andrews has no excuse not to go ahead and fund it “ Mr Walsh said.
“There has been a tremendous amount of work done over decades from local governments the roads authorities in both states and the community.
“It would be bitterly disappointing if the momentum of the new bridge is stopped while the Labor government decides whether to fund it or cut the funding allocated by the Coalition.
“I call Daniel Andrews to acknowledge how important this new bridge is for this region and to cough up and pay for it.”