By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
OPPOSITION Leader Matthew Guy has slammed the government for allocating only $20.5 million in this year’s State Budget to duplicate Thompsons Road despite promising $175 million for the upgrade prior to the election.
Mr Guy, who visited Merinda Park train station last Wednesday with Gembrook MP Brad Battin and Opposition roads spokesman Ryan Smith, said the Thompsons Road funding allocation was an “insult” to the Casey community.
The State Budget, released on Tuesday, indicates $480,000 will be spent on the Thompsons Road project up to 30 June 2015, with $20 million to follow over the rest of the Government’s term.
“It’s not a luxury, this is a necessity to be upgraded,” Mr Guy said.
“For the Government to promise $175 million and to deliver barely $20 million – $500,000 in the first year – is a huge insult to the people of Casey. They were promised more and they deserve better.”
Last June Labor promised to spend $175 million on the duplication of two sections of Thompsons Road – between Dandenong-Frankston Road and South Gippsland Highway, and between Narre Warren-Cranbourne and Clyde roads – if it won the election.
The Government estimated it was used by 24,000 vehicles a day.
Mr Battin said the money allocated to Thompsons Road in Tuesday’s Budget would only “get the planning done”.
“They said the road would be duplicated at the end of the four years, finished, finalised, the whole lot,” he said.
“That’ll get the planning done.
“To me, that says if they’re planning it in the next four years, they’re not intending on building it in the next four years.
“They’ve blatantly lied to the Casey community.”
Narre Warren South MP Judith Graley said the Government was “committed to delivering on its election commitment of $175 million to upgrade Thompsons Road which is why we have started the planning process”.
“In the 2015-’16 Budget the Andrews Labor Government is investing $20 million to do the planning and pre-construction work to duplicate Thompsons Road,” she said.
“This is in addition to the $500,000 investment to fast track the planning process which was announced in February.”
Mr Guy also raised concerns that only $2.4 million would be spent in the next two years on the Government’s $106.3 million expansion of Casey Hospital.
But Ms Graley hit back at the Opposition Leader, noting the entire amount had been allocated in the Budget.
“Matthew Guy must be short-sighted as he clearly can’t read the budget papers, the funding for Casey Hospital is right there,” she said.
“$2.4 million is allocated in 2015-’16 and 2016-’17 and the remainder will be provided in the final two years.
“The exact amounts for these two years are still being determined but, rest assured, $106.3 million will be provided to Casey Hospital for their expansion.”
The $106 million expansion – to be completed in five years – is set to facilitate 12,000 more patients, perform 8000 more surgeries and support 500 more births.
Its new acute inpatient tower will include 96 extra beds, an intensive care unit and four operating theatres.
