Interface Councils is encouraged the Victorian Government has locked roads funding into legislation, with this morning’s announcement of $2 billion guaranteed to improve outer suburban roads.
The Minister for Roads, Luke Donnellan, has announced new legislation to establish the Better Roads Victoria Fund, which will mean residents of Melbourne’s Interface Councils will receive better and safer roads more quickly.
“This is a big step forward. Improving roads in Melbourne’s outer suburbs is one of our top priorities,” said Interface Councils spokesperson Cr Peter Maynard, Mayor of Wyndham City Council.
“Roads in the Interface Councils region have not kept up with the rapid population growth we’re experiencing. This is great news because our residents drive extremely long distances to and from work each day, with more than 80% of people dependent on cars.”
According to the proposal, all revenue from on-the-spot speeding fines and traffic cameras will be directed to improve outer-suburban roads. Both outer-suburban and country roads will each receive a minimum of 33 per cent of the fund.
Over the past four years, Interface Councils has welcomed nearly 200,000 residents, which has resulted in the region accounting for nearly half of Melbourne’s growth. As a result, the quickly expanding communities who call it home are straining already stretched services and public infrastructure they rely on daily.
“Really what this is about is making sure residents have the same access to road infrastructure that the rest of Melbourne has. Congestion is one of our biggest problems and it has a significant impact on the daily lives of residents,” said Cr Maynard.
Interface Councils is pleased the Victorian Government is focused on improving the livelihoods of Victoria’s newest and most vulnerable communities. The additional funding for roads will help to enhance liveability in Melbourne’s outer suburban communities and ensure residents have equitable access to essential community infrastructure and services.
In order to identify top priority road improvements for residents of Melbourne’s outer suburbs, Interface Councils continues to work in collaboration with VicRoads and provides regular updates to Victoria’s State Parliamentarians on the status of roads in the region.
Interface Councils is a group of ten municipalities that form a ring around metropolitan Melbourne, which comprises Cardinia Shire Council, City of Casey, Hume City Council, Melton City Council, Mitchell Shire Council, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, Nillumbik Shire Council, City of Whittlesea, Wyndham City Council and Yarra Ranges Shire Council. For more information on Interface Councils, visit www.interfacecouncils.com.au.
