SAFETY will be improved on some of Wyndham’s key roads with more than $1.5million in federal funding for various projects.
The budget allocation came just one week after the needs of the municipality’s roads were overlooked in the state budget.
Wyndham Council will receive $713,000 to upgrade and maintain roads under the Roads to Recovery program. It is yet to be announced which projects the funding will be spent on.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard said that while the government was funding road and infrastructure projects in the western suburbs, it was important to help the council improve local roads.
The council will also receive $497,000, under the black spot program, to widen the road, add traffic lights and install a controlled right turn at the intersection of Leakes and Palmers roads in Truganina.
A further $300,000 has been allocated for similar work at the intersection of Hogans and Tarneit roads in Hoppers Crossing.
Seventeen other ‘black spots’ in the municipality have already benefited from funding.
“This investment is helping make local roads even safer for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, with 13 projects completed,” Ms Gillard said.
Mayor Kim McAliney said the council had hoped work on Old Geelong, Forsyth, Hume and Dohertys roads would be funded.
The council also criticised the government
for not investing more in growth communities.
Cr McAliney said the National Urban Investment Fund, which increased infrastructure like pools and community centres, was not funded, and a suburban jobs program not continued.
“These programs would help provide infrastructure critical to managing growth pressures, such as upgrades to Wyndham Leisure and Events Centre and Werribee Sports and Fitness Centre, plus community centres, sports and leisure facilities and arterial road upgrades.”
