NEWS DESK
Voting material mailed out
PRIME Minister Scott Morrison announcing funding for Ballarto Road before the federal election in 2019. Picture: Supplied
Promised project on the road to nowhere IN February 2019, Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited Ballarto Road in Skye to announce that it would receive $30 million in funding for upgrades. Nearly two years has passed since that announcement and contruction has not begun. Dunkley MP Peta Murphy has called on the government to update the community on the project. “For almost 20 months, we haven’t heard a word out of the federal government about this upgrade, our community needs and deserves certainty,” she said. “We know the Morrison government is always there for the photo op, let’s hope they are there for the follow up.” The upgrades were expected to be funded through the federal government’s urban congestion fund, a program which shadow infrastructure minister Catherine King says was
“underspent by $572m last year alone, with only $148m of the promised $720m getting out the door”. The upgrade plans were not finalised when the Prime Minister made the announcement last year, but they were expected to include works at Greenwood Drive, Dion Drive, and Potts Road (“Cash splash on busy Ballarto Road”, The Times, 11/2/19). The 2020/2021 federal budget was announced this week, featuring new funding announcements for a number of local roads. The budget included millions of dollars in taxpayer funds toward works on South Road, Western Port Highway, Hall Road, and Narre Warren North Road. The federal government says that $84.5 million will be spent on Hall Road in Skye and Cranbourne West to increase traffic lanes, bike paths, and safety measures. Narre Warren Road
BALLOT packs were mailed to voters last week ahead of the upcoming local government elections. Any registered voter who does not receive a ballot paper by 16 October should call 8619 1420 to arrange for one. Votes must be mailed by 6pm on 23 October. Electoral commissioner Warwick Gately said “with the election being conducted by post, voters must complete and return their ballot material as soon as possible to make sure their vote counts.” Election results are expected on 13 November. 35 candidates are running for
Frankston Council this year. The Times emailed questions to candidates last week. Their responses can be read online at baysidenews.com.au/category/council-watch/
FRANKSTON Council election votes must be mailed in by 23 October Picture: Gary Sissons
was provided a sum of $31 million for additional lanes and safety features. $27.15 million was put aside for the enhancement of Western Port Highway roundabouts at Ballarto Road and Frankston-Cranbourne Road, while $22.5 million was set aside for new turning lanes, traffic lights and safety features at South Road in Moorabbin between Nepean Highway and Warrigal Road. “Commuters in greater south-east Melbourne will benefit from reduced travel times due to improved traffic flow and improvements in road safety due to these road upgrades,” Victorian Senator David Van said. The federal government touted 264 jobs would be created as a result of the works, which are expected to be completed over the next four years. Laura Green
Calls continue to fund rail works Continued from Page 1 “If the federal government was really committed and the business case stacked up, they would release it to our community and fund the project appropriately as promised,” Mr Edbrooke said. Committee for Greater Frankston CEO Ginevra Hosking said her advocacy group was “greatly relieved” that the funding “remains locked in the federal budget”, but called on the state government to come forward with funding of their own. “There was little progress made on the project last year due to the state government delaying and refusing to commit to the project, which will extend the metropolitan electrified train line beyond Frankston to Langwarrin and/or Baxter, at an estimated cost of
$500 million plus.” she said. “Many people in the community thought the project was a done deal after the 2018 federal budget. It is not. If the Victorian government does not back the project, and match the federal commitment, it cannot go ahead. State inaction places our federal funding in jeopardy.” The proposed project would see two new stations at Langwarrin and Frankston East constructed. Earlier this year, a report endorsed by local MPs and council employees suggested that the rail line could be extended with twin tracks to Langwarrin at a cheaper cost. That report estimated that electrifying the track through to Baxter could cost more than $550 million (“Report backs shorter rail extension”, The Times, 22/6/20).
Frankston Times
13 October 2020
PAGE 3