Member for Mallee Anne Webster has hit back at an announcement by the Federal Government last week that involved ‘$1.1-billion for a safer, more efficient Western Freeway’.

Dr Webster said Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King’s announcement included only $6.1-million for two bridges in the Mallee electorate.

The remainder of the $1.1-billion package was mostly for the Western Highway in the western suburbs of Melbourne – a pre-election sweetener – to improve ‘capacity and safety along the freeway between Melton and Caroline Springs’, with upgrades to be identified and prioritised between the federal and state governments from a jointly funded business case being finalised by the State Government. 

There was also $100-million towards planning and early works to upgrade the intersection of the freeway with Brewery Tap Road at Warrenheip, near Ballarat.

The bridge strengthening works at the Dimboola bridge over the Melbourne-Adelaide railway line and Dadswells Bridge over the Mt William Creek Floodplain will reduce transit times and providing better efficiency of freight movements between rural industries and manufacturers, while allowing for industry growth and regional development.

The State Government allocated money to the two bridge upgrades in the 2024-25 State Budget. Construction of the bridge upgrades is expected to be completed by the end by 2026. 

Dr Webster said the $6.1-million to strengthening Western Highway bridges at Dimboola and Dadswells Bridge was three years too late.

She said a Coalition government, if elected, would also commit to the bridge works.

“I can confirm that the investment of $6.1-million to strengthen the Dimboola Bridge and Dadswells Bridge will remain in the Budget under a Coalition Government, however it comes three years too late,” she said.
“Let’s be clear, within the 216 kilometres of the Western Highway to the border situated within the Mallee electorate, we are receiving just half-a-per-cent –  $6.1-million – of the $1100-million the minister committed on Thursday,  mostly for a combined distance of 20 kilometres.”
Dr Webster said regional Western Highway projects spent the 2023-24 year under a cloud when Ms King put the $360-million duplication of the highway between Ararat and Stawell through a ‘90-day review’, which ended up running for more than 200 days. 

She said the review delayed progress on four projects: the Western Highway Stawell to South Australian border – Future Priorities; Horsham Junction Upgrade; Seaby Street Intersection Upgrade; and completing the duplication between Ararat and Stawell.

While Ms King acknowledged the Western Highway was a critical transport route for passengers and freight, which links to major freight routes throughout the state including Midland, Sunraysia, Pyrenees, Henty and Wimmera highways, she failed to commit money to further upgrades west of Ararat.

“We’re investing in the transport projects that matter most to Victorians, delivering a rail link to Melbourne Airport, fixing our regional and suburban roads, and strengthening our busiest freeways,” she said.

“We’re investing $2.1-billion in the Western Freeway corridor, $7-billion in the Melbourne Airport rail link, and $1-billion in a suburban road blitz because we care about our cities, our suburbs and our regions.”

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