Ministerial road talks

CASEY’S road priorities were highlighted during a visit by Federal Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads Jim Lloyd.
Casey mayor Neil Lucas, chief executive officer Mike Tyler and other council officers met with Mr Lloyd recently to discuss the future funding needs of Casey’s key road developments.
Mr Tyler said that while the minister was visiting Casey to turn the sod of the new, federally funded Bryn Mawr Bridge in Berwick, the City of Casey took the opportunity to discuss with Mr Lloyd other much-needed road infrastructures for the municipality.
Following the discussions Cr Lucas moved at Tuesday’s council meeting that the matter of the O’Shea Road extension and its interchange with the Pakenham bypass be admitted as a matter of urgent business.
He also moved that council meet with VicRoads to fund the extension. He said it was important to “get these matters on the book”.
Cr Lucas said they also discussed at length the duplication of Clyde Road, Berwick from Kangan Drive to High Street, the upgrade of the intersection of Clyde Road/Enterprise Avenue, Berwick, and the Cranbourne Bypass, a new arterial around the Cranbourne shopping precinct, and the upgrade of the Hallam Road/Ormond Road intersection.
Mr Tyler said it was important that the Federal Government had a sound understanding of Casey’s road needs.
“As Victoria’s largest and fastest-growing municipality, Casey’s road network must be continually upgraded to service the ever-increasing vehicle trips of our fast-growing community,” he said.
Mr Tyler said the minister was particularly interested in the O’Shea Road connection in Berwick.
“This connection will provide an important east-west route from the Pakenham corridor to Narre Warren South, Hampton Park, Cranbourne and Dandenong South employment area,” Mr Tyler said.
“The Princes Freeway/Monash Freeway route through Casey is already congested and this alternative route will be required to provide access between residential suburbs and employment areas.”
At the council meeting, Cr Rob Wilson questioned why other councillors were not invited to the meeting.
“Why wasn’t Mick Morland or myself invited to meet with Minister Lloyd?” Cr Wilson said.
“Isn’t he (Mr Lloyd) prepared to talk to a Labor deputy mayor?”
Following the meeting Mr Tyler said it was not unusual for only the mayor and council officers to be invited to such meetings.