By Gabriella Payne and Danielle Kutchel
The La Trobe electorate has emerged as one of the biggest winners in the Federal Budget.
Before the budget was revealed on the evening of Tuesday 11 May, La Trobe MP Jason Wood foreshadowed what La Trobe residents could expect to see.
The Monash upgrade will receive $203.4 million, and a number of roads in Pakenham will get Federal funding.
“La Trobe has been the biggest beneficiary of the funding for an electorate in Australia,” Mr Wood said, prior to the budget announcement.
“The best and most superior option requires a lot of funding, and that’s what we’ve gone for.”
The money will be aimed at improving traffic flow and easing congestion at two pinch points along the Monash Freeway, and residents can expect to see lane duplications, new ramps and several overpass upgrades near Clyde Road in future.
Mr Wood said that the Monash Freeway/Clyde Road ramps would see some major improvements, with funding allocated to build dual lanes in both on and off directions to combat congestion.
Berwick Station has received funding, with plans to turn it into a “major transport hub” with $64.2 million being allocated towards a multi-story car park for commuters.
Mr Wood said that while roads and carparks weren’t usually the responsibility of the federal government, he had fought hard to secure the funding as he knew it was an important issue for local residents.
“Constituents were constantly saying to me that ‘we’re the ones stuck in traffic or driving around stations looking for car parks’, and [I realised] they needed support and I’ve come and batted for them,” he said.
He said that the Federal Government had the option of either going with the “bare bones solution” to fixing road problems in Melbourne’s growing south east, or the “bells and whistles” option, which would cost a lot more, but “best solve traffic issues” into the future.
“The Scott Morrison government has decided to go for the best solution for motorists long term and I very much thank the Prime Minister for making it available,” Mr Wood said.
The federal budget was released on the evening of Tuesday 11 May.
