Tuesday, 20 September 2022

Rowville electorate roads

Mr WELLS (Rowville) (12:44): This members statement condemns the state Labor government for failing to start construction on three major upgrades in Rowville and Lysterfield. The federal coalition government provided the full funding to duplicate these arterial roads in the May 2019 budget, with $50 million for Napoleon Road, $110 million for Wellington Road and $80 million to extend Dorset Road out to Lysterfield Road. VicRoads have sat on this funding for 3½ years. Not a single one of these projects is shovel ready. Rowville and Lysterfield residents have waited years for these upgrades while state Labor strips money from roads budgets and maintenance. All three of these roads are crumbling, with potholes large enough to damage the wheel rim of a car. The risk to young inexperienced drivers or motorcyclists is horrifying. If Napoleon Road had been rebuilt and duplicated in the last 3½ years, it would not be in such a bad state that the entire 2-kilometre section now has to be resurfaced. Major upgrades to the Wellington Road and Lysterfield Road duplications would fix many of the safety issues concerning residents. Labor has undermined basic services in our suburbs like roads and hospitals. Victorian lives are being put at risk. With federal government funds ready and waiting, the Minister for Roads and Road Safety has no excuse for delaying these vital upgrades any further.