Tuesday, 30 August 2022

West Gate Neighbourhood Fund

Dr CUMMING (Western Metropolitan) (20:15): (2090) My adjournment matter is to the Minister for Transport Infrastructure in the other place, and the action that I seek is for the minister to contribute an additional $10 million to the West Gate Neighbourhood Fund and extend its operation until the end of the project. The West Gate Neighbourhood Fund was established to compensate residents in the inner west for disruption during the construction of the West Gate Tunnel, especially residents of Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong. The $10 million contributed to the fund was offered in two components: partnerships and grants. The West Gate Neighbourhood Fund allows not-for-profit groups to access funding for projects that bring people together and build community capacity. Round 1 has been completed, but round 2 is still in progress. Apparently the grants have been significantly delayed because of COVID.

Construction started on the project in early 2018, and it was meant to be completed this year—that is, the West Gate Tunnel Project. In fact it was meant to be completed on 30 September. It is running not only over budget but over time, and the communities in Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong and a lot of other residents in the west have to cope with this disruption, the noise, the air pollution and the inconvenience for another three years. They have delays in getting to work. They have delays in getting to the shops. They have delays in getting their children to school. They have even more trucks going through their streets. They have delays in even getting home at night, not knowing which exit is going to be open because there just seems to be no proper communication.

The initial funding should have been allocated by now. After all, the tunnel was meant to be nearly completed by now. The minister needs to ensure that the funds are distributed in a timely manner. Instead, 4½ years into the project $3 million is waiting in this fund to be allocated to the community. The residents deserve better than this. They also deserve additional compensation for the extension of the project. An additional $10 million should be immediately transferred to the fund and all future funding rounds should be carried out annually and in a timely manner. My community in the western suburbs deserve this. We were given a pitiful $10 million from this multibillion-dollar project for the disruptions around the West Gate Tunnel in these neighbourhoods, and the government have not allocated these funds. Do not give COVID as an excuse.