Victorian drivers are running the gauntlet on hazardous country roads with Labor’s poor management of major projects putting the skids on critical upgrades that are now overdue or over budget.
Labor’s Budget papers show again the Andrews Labor Government can’t manage money or a major project.
The 2021/22 State Budget shows six key rural road upgrades are either over budget or overdue including:
- Barwon Heads road upgrade
Cost increase of $47 Million or 15 per cent
- Echuca-Moama Bridge
Cost increase of $38.4 Million or 28 per cent
- Improving the South Gippsland Highway
Cost increase of $62 Million, or 130 per cent due to market escalation
Completion date pushed out by 12 months
- Western Port Highway
Cost increase of $59 Million or 109 per cent
- Bridge Strengthening for freight efficiency
Completion date pushed out by 2.5 years since FY20 Budget Papers and more than five years since the project was announced
- Kilmore Bypass
Completion date pushed out by three years since last reported in the FY20 Budget to enable completion of land acquisition
These important projects are aimed at getting country people home quicker and improving efficiency for freight operators, but Labor is dragging the chain and it’s country Victorian’s who are left suffering.
Labor has no plan to deal with regional Victoria’s crumbling roads.
Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Rural Roads Roma Britnell
Stuffing up major projects is what the Andrews Labor Government does best.
Take the Kilmore Bypass – it’s been on the books since 2014 and should have been finished by now – but Labor still haven’t acquired the land and its completion is pushed out another three years.
Labor has an abysmal track record when it comes to major projects and it’s Victorians who suffer for their mismanagement.
