Bun fight over funding claim

By Lia Bichel
THE construction of a new cycling and walking path in Dandenong North and Endeavour Hills is well under way, but a Labor MP has slammed the Bailleau Government for taking credit for the project.
The 2.5-metre-wide concrete path will improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists who currently have to use Heatherton Road when coming from east of Power Road to get onto Dandenong Creek Trail.
It will also include modifications to the bridges, installation of a pedestrian fence, a signalised crossing and a zebra crossing.
Eastern Metropolitan Region’s Liberal MP Inga Peulich said $1 million had been allocated for the project and credited the Baillieu Government for listening and acting upon locals concerns about safety.
“The connection has been neglected previously, but the Baillieu Government has stepped in to help connect our local community and encourage more people to enjoy the existing facilities on either end of the new pathway,” Ms Peulich said.
But Narre Warren North’s Labor MP Luke Donnellan said the Minister for Roads Terry Mulder was falsely claiming to have funded the shared path.
Mr Donnellan said the previous Labor State Government funded the project with $1 million to connect Power Road to the Dandenong Creek Trail with a 2.5-metre-wide path that also raised the path to avoid flooding, relocated a crash barrier and constructed a new crash barrier on bridges over Dandenong Creek and Monash Freeway.
“We announced $1 million for the 1km stretch of path between Power Road and the Dandenong Creek Trail on 29 September,” Mr Donnellan said.
“Taking credit for projects that have already been funded and are almost complete not only shows neglect for the local community, it shows contempt for local families and residents.”
Minister for Roads and Public Transport Terry Mulder did not respond to requests before the News went to print.