Tuesday, 1 April 2025

Templestowe traffic upgrades

Matthew GUY (Bulleen) (12:50): I walked into this chamber some months ago and said that the Labor government plan to redesign the Porter Street–Fitzsimons Lane intersection was going to lock out MarketPlace Fresh, Templestowe – that whole business – from being able to operate because the Labor government designed the intersection off a Google Maps analysis. They did not go onsite to look at it; it was done from a Google Maps analysis. It blocked left-hand entry into Templestowe Park, and the supposed upgrade, which put a median strip through Porter Street, blocked the entrance to MarketPlace Fresh. Lo and behold, some months later a very popular local business has shut its doors because it has gone broke, because the Labor government just cannot get projects like this right and support small business.

Now what is happening at Bridge Street–Templestowe Road is all the businesses there have suddenly realised, dear God, that the same geniuses who sent MarketPlace Fresh broke and destroyed Templestowe Park now want to redo the road at the front of their businesses. God help them. That is why I raise today a disastrous Labor government which does not understand small business, does not listen to local ideas and does road rebuilds via Google Maps analysis. It had better start listening to local people and not stuff up this one too.