Federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese visits Geelong, discusses $125m Barwon Head Roads duplication pledge

Federal Opposition leader Anthony Albanese has made his first visit to Geelong since Victoria’s borders reopened, detailing a $125m pledge for a key route.

Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has made his first visit to Geelong since Victoria’s borders reopened.

Mr Albanese visited Armstrong Creek on Saturday with Corangamite Labor MP Libby Coker and his deputy leader, Corio MP Richard Marles, to formally announce the ALP’s promise that a second section of the Barwon Heads Rd would be duplicated if it won the next federal election.

Mr Albanese said the $125m pledge should ensure stage 2 went ahead if Labor was elected.

“That’s the costing that’s been done by G21 and the Geelong council, so we believe this will ensure the project can go ahead,” he said.

“I understand that infrastructure must at least keep up but preferably get ahead of development so that we improve the quality of life, particularly for those people in growing communities like this one.”

$125m for Barwon Heads Road duplication

The 5km duplication will occur between Reserve Rd, Marshall, and Lower Duneed Rd, Connewarre.

It is unclear if stage 2 would start before the initial stage was completed, with Mr Albanese saying he would work with authorities and the state government.

“What we’re saying is this funding will be available from our first budget, and it will be included in our first budget,” he said.

“Families in Armstrong Creek, Barwon Heads and across the Bellarine will have quicker and safer commutes to work, to school, to recreational activities as a result of this announcement.”

The Barwon Heads duplication is as of yet Labor’s most significant pledge to the region in the lead-up to the next federal election.

While in Armstrong Creek, Mr Albanese also responded to questions on growing concerns about the Omicron Covid outbreak.

“The health authorities are still examining the detail but what we should have is an attitude which mitigates risk,” he said.

“The Omicron outbreak is a major concern that should be of concern to all Australians.

“We know the impact that Delta had when it came here and we can’t afford to be complacent.”

Barwon Heads Rd’s $125m Labor pledge

A second section of Barwon Heads Road will be duplicated via a $125 million injection if federal Labor win the next election.

An Albanese Labor government will duplicate the road between Reserve Rd, Marshall and Lower Duneed Rd, Connewarre, treat the project as a priority and include promised funds in its first budget.

Corangamite MP Libby Coker said the lives of residents from Armstrong Creek and other areas of the Bellarine will be better once the Barwon Heads Road duplication is completed.

“They will be able to spend less time in the car, more time with family and friends, and the commute will be safer,” Ms Coker said.

Libby Coker MP at the Drysdale pool funding announcement. Picture: Alan Barber

“By 2031, Barwon Heads Road is projected to carry up to 44,000 cars and trucks every day.

“This growth area will provide for 22,000 lots and a population of around 60,000 people.

“If we don’t build for that growth now, locals will be trapped in ever-growing grid lock.

“That’s why an Albanese Labor Government will partner with the Victorian Government to duplicate Barwon Heads Road from Reserve Road, past Armstrong Creek, to Lower Duneed Road.

“This project will link up with stage 1 of the duplication, between Belmont and Reserve Road, which the Victorian Government is already busy constructing.

“This project will future-proof infrastructure across this growing region, creating local jobs in the construction phase and ensuring that working families can spend less time in the car and more time at home.

Stage 1 of Barwon Heads Rd duplication between Settlement Rd, Belmont and Reserve Rd,Marshall is expected to be completed by 2024 at a cost of $365m.

The longer stage 2 project would see about 5km of road duplicated to Connewarre.

Recent data released by Infrastructure Australia revealed the completed stage 1 duplication would deliver time travel savings equivalent to $356m, vehicle operating savings of $187m and crash cost savings of $9.5m , and “that the benefits of the project are likely to exceed the costs.”

The Barwon Heads Rd announcement is Labor’s most significant locally in the lead up to the next federal election and comes after the party committed $20m to building an indoor pool at Drysdale.

Originally published as Federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese visits Geelong, discusses $125m Barwon Head Roads duplication pledge