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Worst sections of Great Alpine Road gets $2.6M funding for rebuild from Victorian government

Darren Chester has welcomed the state government's announcement of $2.6 million for the Great Alpine Road but said it isn't enough.

By news@gippsland - 3rd February 2023 - Back to News

Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said that while the funding would completely rebuild one of the worst sections of the Great Alpine Road it didn't reflect the failure by road agencies to plan for long term improvements. "The Great Alpine Road is a popular transport corridor between Bright and Bruthen and longer term improvements and upgrades must take place to ensure the integrity of the road."

Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has welcomed the state government's announcement of $2.6 million for the Great Alpine Road but said it's not enough

Improving road safety

Mr Chester said, "Last year I wrote to both the State and Federal Ministers seeking their support for a multi-year program of works to improve safety on one of Gippsland's most important arterial roads.

"The Great Alpine Road should also be listed as a 'Road of Strategic Importance' to gain access to millions of dollars of additional funding. There needs to be a multi-year commitment of funding for structural improvements, not a patchwork of pothole-filling, landslide repairs and temporary fixes."

Mr Chester said that the state government owns the road and is responsible for its upkeep but the federal government could provide funding as well. "When I was Federal Transport Minister in 2017, I was able to negotiate with the state government to secure a joint funding package of works in the order of $18 million over several years."

Long-term road fix

Mr Chester said, "The Great Alpine Road meets the criteria to be listed as a 'Road of Strategic Importance' and it is the perfect program for a long-term effort to fix the road and bring it to a safe standard for road users."

"I have also offered to work with both transport departments to negotiate a package of priority works to resolve immediate issues and dangers in addition to a rolling program of upgrades and works to this critical link. The Great Alpine Road has unlimited potential as a touring route for the visitor economy and is essential for the future of the agricultural sector and safe movement of local families."

"This announcement is a step in the right direction but there is still a lot to do and more funding needed to get the road back into shape. Well done to state MP Tim Bull and the community for getting this extra funding, now we need to keep working together to get even more." Mr Chester concluded.

Pictures from Darren Chester Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com