Donnybrook road safety
John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:19): My question is to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety. Last week I visited the Yan Yean electorate and spoke with Michelle Mitchell. Michelle and other residents of the Olivine estate are forced to dodge trucks as they walk on the side of busy Donnybrook Road on the way to the train station because Labor has not funded a continuous footpath. In the words of Michelle, ‘It’s so dangerous.’ Why is Labor putting Donnybrook residents’ lives at risk by refusing to build a footpath?
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER: Order! Members will be removed from the chamber without warning.
Melissa HORNE (Williamstown – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Local Government, Minister for Ports and Freight, Minister for Roads and Road Safety) (14:20): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question, and I would also like to thank the member for Yan Yean and the member for Kalkallo for much of the advocacy that they have done in this space. As you can appreciate, many of these complex infrastructure projects require additional funds through the PSP and through developer contributions but also require us to work with councils to be able to deliver some of these funds. We will continue this important work to make sure that road safety is always top of mind. If the Leader of the Opposition would like to provide me with Michelle’s details, I am happy to have this conversation with her directly.
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER: The member for Narre Warren North will leave the chamber for half an hour.
Member for Narre Warren North withdrew from chamber.
John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:21): Will the minister guarantee that she will provide a footpath to Donnybrook station for local residents before someone is killed?
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER: The member for Yan Yean will leave the chamber for an hour.
Member for Yan Yean withdrew from chamber.
Melissa HORNE (Williamstown – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Local Government, Minister for Ports and Freight, Minister for Roads and Road Safety) (14:21): It is a shame that the member for Yan Yean is leaving, because she has been a passionate advocate in this space. I will continue to work with the council, the minister for active transport, the local community and the local MPs to make sure that we have this infrastructure in place.