Where’s the remaining money for the Rutherglen bypass study? That’s the question Member for Benambra Bill Tilley wants answered.
Mr Tilley estimates that about $1.15m of the state’s money remains unspent after the Federal Government withdrew its support for the project last November.
Five months later Victorian Roads Minister Melissa Horne won’t say what will happen to the funds despite three accidents, including a tragic death, in the town’s dangerous Main Street.
Last November a food delivery truck demolished the school crossing barriers in front of the post office, last month, a low loader smashed through a parked car and into a shop front and then two weeks later, a pedestrian was killed by a car towing a boat.
Mr Tilley said Labor must not ignore the community’s pleas for help.
“A local woman has lost her life, it’s a miracle no one was killed by the low loader and had that Pan-tech been coming through when school kids were out and about, who knows what happens,” he said.
“The street is too narrow and there is no room for even the smallest error of judgement.
“That money should be spent in Rutherglen and aimed at making the street safer.”
In May 2023, the Victorian budget showed more than $2.3 million remained unspent on the Rutherglen Alternative Truck Route project.
On March 6, in the Victorian Parliament, Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell asked the Roads Minister to detail what will happen with the Victorian half of that money.
“The response was a non-answer, no indication of even if the money will be spent in Rutherglen and looking to shift the responsibility to Indigo Shire,” Ms Lovell said.
“I raised this before any of the more recent incidents and yet the Minister is still unmoved.
“Labor has yet again turned its back on the people of Rutherglen.”
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