Baillieu And Katos Walk Away From Road Duplication

The Baillieu Government has dudded local motorists and failed to deliver on its promise to duplicate Pioneer Road in Waurn Ponds, Shadow Roads Minister Jacinta Allan said today.

Ms Allan said reports today revealed that Liberal Member for South Barwon Andrew Katos was now back tracking on an election promise to fix the Pioneer Road bottleneck.

“In a blow to local commuters, the Baillieu Government  is walking away from its promise to fix this traffic snarl for commuters in Waurn Ponds, Highton and Grovedale,” Ms Allan said.

“A half-hearted duplication will only make traffic flows worse and that is not good enough for the 20,000 motorists who use this major road every day.
“Traffic congestion in the area will only increase with the influx of visitors during the summer holiday period. Mr Katos’ failure to deliver on his promise will hurt local residents and visitors alike.

“In February, Mr Katos was happy to trumpet in Parliament that the Baillieu Government would fund the widening of Pioneer Road between Waurn Ponds Creek and the Princes Highway/Colac Road intersection.

“That particular intersection has been a bottleneck for years, and the coalition government is determined to fix it.” (Mr Katos, Hansard, February 9, 2011)

“Now residents are shocked to learn that the Baillieu Government will only upgrade the intersection of Princes Highway/Colac Road and Pioneer Road and up to the first exit driveway of the shopping centre,” Ms Allan said.

Ms Allan said with the expansion of the Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre and significant population growth in Waurn Ponds and Armstrong Creek, the duplication was vital.

“Without full duplication through to Waurn Ponds Creek, traffic congestion will only get worse,” Ms Allan said.

“Mr Katos must be up front with local residents about what works will be carried out, when they will start, and when they will finish.

“Mr Katos also needs to provide assurances that the money earmarked for this project has not been ripped away from this project to patch up the Baillieu Government’s budget holes.”