Liberals pledge cash for west roads

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Three Melton roads will be upgraded as part of a $1.5 billion west roads package if the Liberals and Nationals win the November 26 state election.

Opposition leader Matt Guy visited Melton on Saturday to pledge $700 million to upgrade the Western Highway between the Western Ring Road and Melton, $117 million to duplicate the Melton Highway between Melton and Hillside, and $91 million to duplicate Taylors Road between Kings and Gourlay roads.

Melton council has been campaigning for upgrades to the Western and Melton highways as part of its ‘Fix Our Roads’ campaign.

It also wants upgrades to Christies Road, Hopkins Road and the Robinsons Road, Westwood Drive, Calder Park Drive corridor.

The Labor Party is yet to commit to funding upgrades for any of the six roads.

In September, Melton MP Steve McGhie said only the Western Highway was in his electorate, and while he would continue to advocate for it to be upgraded, the road was part of the national highway network and as such has some responsibility of the federal government.

Sydenham MP Natalie Hutchins has not responded to questions from Star Weekly about the roads campaign, while Labor candidate for Kororoit Luba Grigorovitch declined to answer.

Melton mayor Goran Kesic said council welcomed the Liberal-National pledge.

“These are critical road links that are in major need of investment. Upgrading these roads will help ensure that our residents can get to work, education and services on time, and return home safely every day,” he said.

“Together with our community, we’ve called on all major parties and candidates to commit to a roads package for the City of Melton through the ‘Fix Our Roads Campaign’.”