State Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews indicates O’Herns Rd Hume Freeway interchange support

STATE Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews has indicated his support for an O’Herns Rd/Hume Freeway interchange.

Aurora Community Association members Toni-Marie Wuelfert, Kathleen Ager and Cara Horner at the O’Herns Rd/Hume Freeway overpass. Picture: David Smith

STATE Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews has indicated his support for an O’Herns Rd/Hume Freeway interchange.

Mr Andrews and Opposition roads spokesman Luke Donnellan met with Aurora Community Association delegates at State Parliament on August 21.

Association president Kathleen Ager said the meeting was fruitful, with both MPs recognising the importance of the O’Herns Rd interchange — one of two projects Whittlesea Council’s Access Denied campaign is calling for within the next term of State Government.

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Ms Ager said the Opposition Leader acknowledged the area’s roads would get busier when the Melbourne Market moved into Cooper St, Epping in 2015.

She said Mr Andrews told the association the interchange project depended on Federal Government funding.

Opposition roads spokesman Luke Donnellan. Picture: Jay Town.

“(Mr Andrews) made the comment that somebody had to start the ball rolling,’’ Ms Ager said.

“That seemed to be an indication that if he was elected as Premier he was already prepared to do that.”

Ms Ager said while there was no firm commitment from Mr Andrews, the association was cautiously optimistic.

“Mr Andrews was very attentive with what we said,’’ she said.

“There were no promises and there was no firm commitment: it was just an understanding.”

Mr Andrew’s spokesman, Murray Newton, said the Opposition Leader’s meeting with the association was “extremely positive”.

“Mr Andrews indicated he’d work with the local community to ensure Tony Abbott was well aware of their concerns,” Mr Newton said.

Ms Ager said the association had yet to hear back from Northern Metropolitan Region state Liberal MP Craig Ondarchie and Transport Minister Terry Mulder after requesting a meeting.

While Labor has expressed support for Access Denied’s two projects — the interchange and a railway extension to Mernda — neither major party has committed to building the projects in the next term of State Government.

You can support the Access Denied campaign by:

Visiting the campaign website here;

‘Liking’ Extend the rail line to Mernda’s Facebook page here;

Aurora Community Association’s Facebook page here; and

Whittlesea Leader’s Facebook page here.