By Eleanor Wilson
A Federal MP has slammed Casey Council after it expressed disappointment in the Federal Budget.
Federal Member for LaTrobe Jason Wood’s accused council administrators of being “completely silent“ and “missing in action“ when it comes to lobbying the State Government to start work on key infrastructure projects in Casey.
“My advice to the administrators is to actually lobby the State Labor Government to start work immediately on the Clyde Road upgrades which the Liberal Morrison Government committed $250 million in Federal funding towards, back in 2019,“ Mr Wood said.
“The Casey Council administrators have been completely silent and missing in action on this… and while they are at it, they should get the State Labor Government to actually put in money for the state roads in La Trobe! Or are they silent because it is a State Labor Government who appointed them?”
Mr Wood’s comments came after City of Casey chair of administrators Noelene Duff said it was “very disappointing” to see there was no allocation to the “promised” Greater South East Melbourne City (GSEM) Deal in the Federal Budget.
The GSEM Deal is a collaboration between eight councils and shires in the southern metropolitan region of Melbourne, including Monash, Casey, Greater Dandenong, Kingston, Frankston, Cardinia, Mornington Peninsula and Knox, which advocates for investment, prosperity, jobs and sustainability across the region.
Since the 2019 election, the Federal Government indicated it will not proceed with the deal until the North West City Deal has been delivered.
Casey Council has since stated it is advocating to both State and Federal Governments in the lead up to the respective elections.
“Clyde Road Corridor, Clyde Rail Link and Thompsons Road are substantial, transformational infrastructure priorities that require collaboration from all three levels of government to fund construction,“ Ms Duff said.
“Council hopes to work in partnership with all our local MPs from both sides of politics and the relevant government departments to deliver these important projects that will create significant benefits for our residents and Melbourne’s south east.“
“These road projects extend well beyond Casey and that is why Council is also working with our neighbouring cities and the Greater South East Melbourne region as part of our advocacy agenda.”
