Thursday, 22 February 2024

Napoleon Road

Michael GALEA (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (18:18): (733) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety in the other place, Minister Horne, and the action that I seek is for Napoleon Road to be resurfaced. Napoleon Road is an important arterial road which runs along the Rowville–Lysterfield border in my electorate, connecting my constituents to Ferntree Gully and other areas to the north and east. I have been contacted by many constituents who have told me about the current state of the road, which has particularly deteriorated over recent months. We have seen many years of La Niña and much higher rainfall totals, which has heavily impacted roads right across our state.

I acknowledge and appreciate the keen interest and energy the minister has shown in restoring and maintaining our state’s roads and also note the unprecedented investment which has been delivered by the Allan Labor government in responding to these weather events and the potholes which have emerged as a result. The Victorian government is investing an additional $2.8 billion over 10 years into road maintenance and renewable works, including flood recovery. This will see a total of at least $6.6 billion invested in maintaining our road network over the next decade. This new multiyear funding approach means that the Department of Transport and Planning can plan a long-term road maintenance program and deliver works in a strategic manner across the state. It will also allow the department to take a more efficient and sustainable approach to road maintenance over the next decade. $770 million is being spent in this financial year alone to maintain our roads. Again, the action that I seek on behalf of my constituents in Rowville and Lysterfield is that Napoleon Road be resurfaced between Kelletts Road and Glenfern Road.