Local MP furious Wellington Rd duplication could be axed by Albanese government

Dan Andrews supports federal Labor’s axing of $1bn in Victorian projects, despite the annoucement putting a vital road upgrade in jeopardy.

Daniel Andrews has brushed off revelations that Labor will axe almost $1bn in infrastructure, in contrast to his repeated attacks on the ­Coalition government when he likened securing funds to begging for “foreign aid”.

Among more than a dozen projects on the chopping block in Victoria is the Wellington Rd duplication, which local Liberal MP Jason Wood warned could be “a potentially deadly broken promise”.

The project – initially budgeted at $110m but now costed at $640m – was announced amid fears it would be a vital escape route for Dandenong Ranges residents in bushfires.

“This is a potentially deadly broken promise,” the member for La Trobe said.

“There is already traffic congestion on a Friday, one accident and everyone is stuck.”

Mr Andrews said some projects expected to be scrapped had never had the backing of Labor, calling them “last minute announcements from a government that was then defeated”. Picture: David Geraghty

Mr Wood secured the funding when it became apparent after the 2019 Bunyip fires that the road would be crucial for residents of Cockatoo, Emerald and Gembrook in the event of a major bushfire.

Federal Labor also pledged to upgrade the road in 2019.

Casey MP Aaron Violi said the road also posed a threat outside of bushfire season, with the Narre Warren East CFA captain warning his crews often attended crashes along the “dangerous road”.

But Mr Andrews on Monday supported the federal government decision to cancel road and rail projects across Melbourne due to cost blowouts.

The Albanese government’s move to cancel projects it argues do not stack up comes ahead of its $2.2bn budget pledge for the Suburban Rail Loop, which does not have a business case and is estimated to have blown out to $150bn.

“I don’t think the Labor government’s there … to deliver Scott Morrison’s agenda,” Mr Andrews said. “They’re getting things done and they’re there to deliver their promises, not to deliver the other side’s promises. Victorians have already passed their judgment on that government.”

The Premier’s comments come despite long complaining Victoria was dudded on ­infrastructure funding by the former federal government.

“Every federal dollar that Victorians get from the miserable Morrison government, (it’s like) we ought to bow our head and treat it like it’s foreign aid,” Mr Andrews said in May before the federal election.

Meanwhile, Higgins MP Michelle Ananda-Rajah said the decision to can the underfunded Glenferrie Rd level crossing removal was because it would “cost the amount of money to build a hospital”.

Kooyong MP Monique Ryan said the crossing did need replacement and she would work on it with Dr Ananda-Rajah, councils, state and federal governments.

No new projects will be funded under the Community Development Grants program.