By Mikayla van Loon
A review into some of the country’s biggest infrastructure projects has been ordered by the Federal government with the potential to include the proposed Canterbury Road works.
Upgrades to the Montrose end of the major thoroughfare were committed in 2016 with $20 million of funding approved by the then Coalition government.
Widening of Canterbury Road and a new signalised intersection in Montrose was on the cards as part of the upgrade.
Infrastructure Minister Catherine King announced the 90-day review of the Infrastructure Investment Program on Monday 1 May, stating it would allow the government the opportunity to reassess how best to deliver the projects in the pipeline.
“A properly functioning infrastructure investment pipeline means projects can be delivered with more confidence about timeframes and budgets,” she said.
“Easing the pressure on the construction sector will help drive inflation lower and deliver more predictable investment and delivery outcomes from governments.”
Australia’s infrastructure pipeline is worth $120 billion and has 738 projects, 162 of which have a government commitment of $5 million or less, compared with 146 when Labor was last in government 10 years ago.
Ms King claims the Coalition government over-promised and under-delivered in what she termed “press release projects”, something that “clogged pipeline has caused delays and overruns in important, nation building projects”.
The Department of Infrastructure would not confirm which projects have been included in the review.
Casey MP Aaron Violi has written to Ms King asking for clarification on which section of Canterbury Road may be reviewed, with multiple projects totalling $44.5 million meant to be completed.
Concerned that further road funding cuts to the Yarra Ranges region could come within this review, Mr Violi has pleaded with the Federal government to refrain from imparting another blow.
“The government has a track record of cutting vital road funding from our community, and I’m deeply concerned that the Canterbury Road upgrade could be next on Labor’s chopping block,” he said.
In the 2022/23 budget, the Federal government made $1 billion worth of cuts to infrastructure funding, including the Roads for Community program, a road sealing initiative through Yarra Ranges Council.
Knowing the high traffic movement on Canterbury Road, Mr Violi said it would be detrimental to pull funding from an upgrade particularly in Montrose.
“We’ve all been there, sitting in slow-moving traffic trying to get through the Montrose roundabout. It’s the nightly ritual for so many residents of the Yarra Ranges and Outer East who use this road to commute for work and leisure,” he said.
“It would be absolutely devastating to see the Canterbury Road upgrade for Montrose cut or pulled completely by the Albanese Labor Government, particularly given it was slated to start just months from now.”
Ms King confirmed projects already under construction would continue as planned but all other projects would be assessed by the independent panel led by Reece Waldock AM, Clare Gardiner-Barnes and Mike Mrdak AO.
“This process will allow all levels of government time to consider the projects that are actual priorities and assess their cost and deliverability in the current climate,” Monday’s statement said.
“Australia should have a pipeline of land transport infrastructure projects that are genuinely nation-building, economically sustainable and resilient to our changing climate.”
Ms King said the review hopes to understand how communities can benefit from “shorter and safer travel, more liveable cities, suburbs and regions” while the economy recovers.
Mr Violi has called for the government to think of the long term impacts of road funding cuts in the Casey electorate.
“I’m calling on the Labor Government to stop axing vital road upgrades in our community. Pulling these critical projects will only result in more gridlock, unsafe roads and less time at home with family at the end of the day.”
