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Darren Chester demands answers from the Minister for Transport on $14M Lakes Entrance projects stalled by LaborDarren Chester, Federal Member for Gippsland, questions the whereabouts of $14 million allocated to Lakes Entrance projects under the previous Coalition government, now abandoned by Labor. By news@gippsland - 15th July 2024 - Back to News Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester is demanding to know where the money has gone for three Lakes Entrance projects which were funded by the previous Coalition government. Mr Chester said the community was 'owed an explanation' after $14 million in road safety improvements appear to have stalled or been abandoned by the Labor Party. 
Darren Chester is trying to get a straight answer from Labor Minister Catherine King as to when promised pedestrian safety improvements will occur on Kalimna hill Funding delays criticisedMr Chester said, "Despite repeated efforts to get a straight answer from Minister for Transport Catherine King, there is no information available on projects to improve the Kalimna hill pathway, install traffic lights at Eastern Beach Rd and additional funding for major works on Marine Parade. It's a disgrace that Minister King simply ignores letters to her office on behalf of local people who have every right to ask 'where's the money gone'?" Under the previous federal government, funding was announced as part of the Princes Highway corridor package to upgrade Eastern Beach Rd intersection with $4 million, improve Kalimna hill intersection and pedestrian access with $2 million, and an additional $5 million for Marine Parade. "Instead of receiving a full upgrade on Marine Parade, we are being short-changed by more than $5 million and the other two projects are in limbo. This is money that was promised to East Gippslanders to improve road safety and after several years, nothing has happened on the ground," Mr Chester said. Pictures from Darren Chester MP website.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com

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