Committing $5m to North East Link plan
A Shorten Labor government will commit $5m towards a feasibility study for Melbourne’s North East Link. Labor’s shadow families and payments minister Jenny Macklin said this is the first step towards dealing with the dangerously high levels of congestion across the north-eastern suburbs of Melbourne.
“Right now, residents in suburbs like Rosanna and Greensborough know that the current suburban road network is inadequate, congested and dangerous,” Macklin said.
“Make the local road network safer for local families.”
“Traffic congestion on Rosanna Road, Lower Plenty Road, Fitzsimmons Lane and the Greensborough Highway is a major problem for residents of Melbourne’s north east.
“We need long-term solutions to the transport issues in these suburbs, and federal Labor is committed to finding those solutions,” she said.
The funding would ensure planning takes place so any new development will reduce congestion and make the local road network safer for local families.
Jenny Macklin, the local Member for Jagajaga recently met with the Resolve Rosanna Road group to discuss traffic congestion and safety concerns along Rosanna Road.
“We need long-term solutions to traffic congestion.”
“I know traffic congestion is a huge problem for local residents,” Macklin said.
Shadow infrastructure and transport minister Anthony Albanese said a recent VicRoads report highlighted the very serious safety problems on Rosanna Road.
“We need long-term solutions to traffic congestion in Melbourne’s north east,” he said.
“We need to get trucks off local suburban streets like Rosanna Road and the only way we can do that is if we seriously examine building a North East Link.
“That’s why Labor is committing $5m to examine building a North East Link,” he said.
“Comprehensive plan for dealing with the transport issues in the north east will be developed.”
Infrastructure Victoria, an independent authority, is examining Melbourne’s top infrastructure priorities — including North East Link.
“Infrastructure Victoria is expected to finalise its report later this year,” Macklin said.
“Together with the planning that will be undertaken by a Shorten Labor government, a comprehensive plan for dealing with the transport issues in the north east will be developed,” she added.
This article originally appeared in the Labor Herald.
