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Darren Chester slams delayed $10M Mallacoota-Genoa Rd upgrade amid rising costs and bureaucratic inactionDarren Chester criticises delays in the $10 million Mallacoota-Genoa Rd upgrade, citing bureaucratic inefficiency and rising costs, with no construction progress after over three years despite identified safety needs. By news@gippsland - 11th November 2024 - Back to News Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has cast doubts on a $10 million project to upgrade the Mallacoota-Genoa Rd, which has been delayed for more than three years. Mr Chester secured the money from the previous government in May 2021 but has slammed the lack of action to improve the vital link between Mallacoota and the Princes Highway. "The longer we wait, the more money that is being wasted on consultants, and we will see less work done because construction costs have increased." 
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has cast doubts on a $10 million project to upgrade the Mallacoota-Genoa Rd, which has been delayed for more than three years Transport link delays criticisedMr Chester said, "The level of bureaucratic incompetence in the state and federal ministerial offices is hard to believe, and I don't know how much money is left for this project. The funding has been available for more than three years, and they have yet to agree on a plan to get the work started while locals and visitors endure a road that is falling apart." Mr Chester said the need for a better, safer and more resilient transport link between the highway and the coast was identified in the aftermath of the Black Summer bushfires when the road was closed for six weeks. "I have repeatedly raised my concerns with the state and federal ministers, but all we hear back is excuses. According to the latest update on the RRV website, after more than three years, they've managed to identify three proposed upgrades," Mr Chester said. The proposed upgrades include: - Realignment of the hairpin bend (near Coolwater Creek)
- Widening of curves near Horn Bay
- Safety improvements near Double Creek, such as a slow vehicle turn-out lane
"But it gets better. The website also advises that these upgrades are proposed only, and final assessments are now required to identify the environmental approvals and permits required. Now we are being told that technical studies, including preliminary designs, environmental and cultural heritage investigations, and economic evaluations, are currently underway to prepare a detailed submission to the Australian government for the release of funding for construction," said Mr Chester. Road fix demands urgencyThe department says it will keep the community informed as the project progresses. "I can understand why locals are frustrated and angry that after waiting more than three years since the federal government announced the $10 million was in the budget, the road is in worse condition, and no construction has occurred," Mr Chester said. "Everyone is sick of the pathetic excuses and just want to see some action to fix the road. It's farcical that it takes so long to design and implement road safety improvements in our state, and the complete lack of urgency is a disgrace. Even when they don't have to spend a cent of their own money, the state government is slow to act in East Gippsland," concluded Mr Chester. Pictures from Darren Chester MP website.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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Tim Bull criticises Environment Minister Dimopoulos for dismissing concerns about withdrawn G-Wagon firefighting vehicles, warning Gippsland faces reduced fire preparedness and urging clear answers before the upcoming fire season. - Danny O'Brien criticises Labor's police station maintenance cuts despite backflip restoring partial funding for grounds upkeep
Danny O'Brien has criticised Labor's partial backflip on police station maintenance cuts, saying Gippsland officers deserve safe, clean workplaces and stronger government support amid rising regional crime rates. - South Gippsland Shire Council extends footpath trading permits amid system update and upcoming fee changes
South Gippsland Shire Council is updating its Footpath Trading Permit system. Current permits are automatically extended until December, with new fees applying next year. Businesses will receive updated information once finalised. - Martin Cameron criticises WorkSafe, calling system flawed after apprentice Byron Foley’s catastrophic injury
Morwell MP Martin Cameron criticises Victoria’s "fundamentally broken" WorkSafe system, highlighting apprentice Byron Foley’s catastrophic injury, ongoing struggles, and calling for urgent reform, fairer compensation, and better support services. - Melina Bath criticises Labor for six-year delay restoring Thurra River Campground after 2019-20 bushfires
Eastern Victoria MP Melina Bath criticises Labor’s six-year delay restoring Thurra River Campground, highlighting unsafe facilities, limited capacity, and urgent need for infrastructure replacement to support local families and tourism. - Danny O'Brien criticises Labor's fast-track renewable energy policy removing Gippslanders' right to appeal development decisions
Danny O'Brien criticises Labor's fast-track renewable energy policy after Gelliondale Wind Farm reapplies, warning it removes Gippslanders' appeal rights, undermines safeguards, and threatens proper siting of turbines near homes. - Danny O’Brien criticises Labor’s $650M Delburn wind farm investment ignoring local community concerns
Gippsland South MP Danny O’Brien criticises Labor’s $650 million Delburn wind farm investment, calling it a waste of taxpayers’ money that ignores local community concerns about fire, noise, and visual impact. - Tim Bull urges Labor government to stop costly brumby culling amid Parks Victoria job and funding cuts
Tim Bull urges Labor to halt costly brumby culling in East Gippsland, citing job losses, funding cuts, and greater threats from feral pigs, while advocating for more responsible taxpayer spending. - Tim Bull criticises sudden last-minute VLine reductions from six to three carriages, causing tension due to limited rolling stock
Victorian country train passengers are forced to stand up to four hours after last-minute carriage cuts, with MP Tim Bull urging PSOs and additional services to protect booked seating. - Tim Bull criticises Labor government for mismanagement, volunteer cuts, and inadequate fuel reduction ahead of high-risk summer season
Gippsland East MP Tim Bull warns communities face extreme bushfire risk this summer due to Labor’s volunteer cuts, ageing CFA fleet, inadequate fuel reduction, and failure to implement Royal Commission recommendations. - Melina Bath criticises Labor’s digital-only licence system, calling it discriminatory and locking out hunters lacking internet access
Melina Bath urges Minister Dimopoulos to reinstate paper-based licence renewals, ensuring hunters aren’t excluded and focusing on hunting competency over digital skills - Melina Bath criticises politicised VEAC, failing land management, while $1.4M could fund bushfire prevention, environmental services
Melina Bath warns Victorian hunters and anglers against reduced services as Labor pushes VFA-GMA merger, urging proper funding, training, and enforcement to protect compliance, sustainability, and regional outdoor traditions. - Melina Bath criticises Labor government shutting public beekeeping, threatening Victoria's food security and horticultural jobs
Melina Bath condemned the Allan Labor government's closure of public land beekeeping, warning it threatens food security, pollination, horticultural exports, and regional jobs, calling for policy reversal and support for apiarists. - Melina Bath blames Allan government as Victoria's public housing waitlist surges amid worsening housing crisis
Victoria's housing crisis deepens as public housing waitlists surge past 60,000. Melina Bath blames the Allan government's inaction, rising taxes, and mismanagement for worsening homelessness and unaffordable rents across the state. - Martin Cameron criticises Labor’s ensured failure by hastening coal plant closures without planning baseload power replacements
The Victorian Auditor-General warns a "disorderly energy transition" could cause power shortages, soaring prices, and job losses, with Labor’s accelerated coal closures and mismanaged renewable planning worsening the crisis. - Danny O'Brien criticises Labor for closing Sale and Bairnsdale courts on non-sitting days, inconveniencing locals
Danny O'Brien condemns the Labor government for closing Sale and Bairnsdale courts on non-sitting days, restricting public access and causing significant inconvenience for Gippsland communities who rely on local court assistance. - Martin Cameron demands Labor guarantee Traralgon PSOs won’t be removed amid redeployment to retail precincts
Martin Cameron has urged the Allan Labor Government to guarantee PSOs won’t be removed from Traralgon, warning redeployment to shopping centres could compromise safety on the region’s already under-resourced rail network. - Danny O’Brien calls for clarity on free children’s public transport amid Gippsland V/Line concerns
Danny O’Brien urges Labor to clarify free children’s public transport rollout, warning Gippsland families face confusion over youth myki requirements, online access, and unmanned V/Line stations from January 2026. - Wellington Shire Council invites open conversations on financial pressures impacting community services, roads, and facilities
Wellington Shire Council faces rising costs, rate caps, and funding pressures, yet remains committed to delivering essential services and urging government reform to better support regional communities into the future. - Tim Bull says firewood shortage worsened by Labor policies amid abundant bush timber
Tim Bull says Labor’s native timber shutdown has caused firewood shortages in East Gippsland, despite record bush fuel loads, urging practical policy changes to reduce fire risk and supply timber responsibly.
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