Gary's Speeches

Princes Freeway and Sand Road Intersection Upgrade

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"I raise a matter for the attention of the Minister for Roads and Ports. The action I seek is for the minister to review the time lines for the construction of a freeway overpass at the Sand Road intersection with the Princes Freeway at Longwarry. "

"This intersection was identified by the Baw Baw shire in 1998 as being in serious need of an upgrade. In response to a request by the Baw Baw shire to VicRoads manager for eastern Victoria, Norm Butler, to revise the priority for the construction of this interchange, Mr Butler made these comments: "

" The construction of an interchange at Sand Road is part of the route 1, route 620, Princes Highway East strategy released by the Minister for Roads and Ports at Moe on 26 November 1997. "

" In this strategy the Sand Road interchange works were programmed with an indicative timing of 2004 to 2007. It should be noted that this is an indicative program and that the dates could vary depending on availability of funding. The order that works are carried out are, however, unlikely to vary significantly. "

"We have just had the 2009-10 budget delivered and there is still no funding for the Sand Road intersection. Since the late 1990s the population of West Gippsland has increased by almost 20 per cent. Visitor numbers to the area have also increased enormously as the fantastic tourism opportunities available in Gippsland have become very popular. Additionally, more than 15 per cent of the working population of Baw Baw shire commute to Melbourne or the eastern suburbs to work, many of them by road, especially since the opening of the Pakenham and Hallam bypasses. "

"In 2007 the BP service centres on the east and westbound sides of the freeway at Sand Road were opened. All these increases in traffic and activity at the Sand Road intersection have increased the potential for a serious accident or fatality to occur. Sadly, lives were lost at this intersection even before the significant increase in traffic movement we have seen in recent times. At the moment plans are being considered by Baw Baw shire for the development of an industrial park in Longwarry, which will increase the volume of large vehicle traffic using Sand Road to access the Princes Freeway. In recent times there have been accidents occurring on a weekly basis at this intersection. "

"In the state budget delivered yesterday debt is forecast to reach $31 billion by 2013. One of the excuses of the Brumby government for not doing things has been the need to invest in infrastructure projects to stimulate economic activity. Almost all the projects announced will deliver improved services to metropolitan Melbourne. "

"Without any significant improvement in country infrastructure, country Victorians will share in the debt burden that their children will have to inherit. "

I call on the Minister for Roads and Ports to take the opportunity to deliver the Sand Road intersection upgrade in the interests of the safety of residents and visitors in the Narracan electorate and balance the inequity in spending between country and city-based Victorians forecast in this year's budget. "