By Parker McKenzie
Local, state and federal government representatives are dismayed at the lack of funding for major infrastructure projects in Knox, with the mayor of Knox City Council labelling the state of the roads “a disgrace.”
Funding for two major road upgrades — for Napoleon Road and the duplication of Wellington Road — has been axed, alongside $6 million in funding pledged by the previous Liberal government for the planning of a trackless tram route between Caulfield Station and Rowville.
Knox City Council Mayor Susan Laukens said in a statement the decision was a massive blow for Knox and surrounding communities of Melbourne’s greater southeast.
“Knox residents face heavy traffic commuting to work and study. The lack of public transport is causing congestion on freeways and major roads as locals are forced to use their cars,” she said.
“The state of major roads in Knox is a disgrace. Daily our residents are reporting costly damage to their cars from hitting potholes.”
Knox City Council has advocated for the extension of the Rout 75 tram to connect with the rail line at Upper Ferntree Gully and Bayswater.
Ferntree Gully MP and Liberal candidate for Bayswater Nick Wakeling said the Victorian state government should be doing more to fight for the funding.
“Labor should have provided that money because the community was waiting for it to be delivered,” he said.
“They want to punish projects that have been funded by the former federal government but this doesn’t punish political parties, it punishes residents.”
In late 2020, the state government undertook consultation on behalf of the federal government regarding the extension of Dorset Road and the upgrade to Napoleon Road.
Bayswater MP Jackson Taylor said he is proud to be a strong voice in the Andrews Labor Government for transport projects in Knox.
“Locals in Bayswater have made it clear to me that we need to continue to deliver infrastructure investments for the East: we’ve removed two level crossings in Bayswater, delivered funding to fix the Alchester Village and McMahons Road intersections, making them safer for locals, and if we’re re-elected we’ll deliver a $60 million upgrade to Boronia Station,” he said.
“Only Labor is building the North-East Link, massively overhauling the Eastern Freeway and delivering the Suburban Rail Loop and Airport Rail.”
Aston MP Alan Tudge, who was a cabinet member in the previous government, was contacted for comment.
