Libby Coker (Corangamite, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The Albanese Labor government is about building a better future. We are building a better future for all Australians, and that means building infrastructure that leaves a lasting and meaningful legacy for communities, particularly in high-growth areas like mine in the electorate of Corangamite, which includes the Surf Coast, the Bellarine Peninsula, the Golden Plains and parts of Greater Geelong. The first Albanese government budget takes an important first step in ensuring federal infrastructure spending is responsible, affordable and sustainable. We're delivering on our election commitments with a total investment of $55 billion in transport infrastructure across every state and territory.

Infrastructure development is a joint responsibility of all levels of government, a partnership in the national interest. In my own state of Victoria, the budget committed $2.57 billion, including $2.2 billion for the suburban rail loop, $57 million for the Ison Road rail overpass in Wyndham, $150 million for the Camerons Lane interchange in Beveridge and $125 million to upgrade Barwon Heads Road in my own electorate of Corangamite. I congratulate the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government for working so closely with the Daniel Andrews Victorian government to deliver funding on these much needed and significant projects.

The largest allocation for Victoria is for the visionary suburban rail loop. Despite the naysayers, this rail loop will be transformational for the state of Victoria, particularly for the way in which people move around Melbourne and its suburbs. This is what the suburban rail loop is all about, and it's good for the economy, jobs and construction. As with every infrastructure commitment under the Albanese government, the Melbourne Suburban Rail Loop will be subjected to due project assessment and scrutiny.

All of the other key infrastructure investments for Victoria in the budget are equally important in their own way and to their own communities. Take for example the stage 2 upgrade to Barwon Heads Road, which services the rapidly growing urban area of Armstrong Creek. I know well the need for this arterial link road. My electorate office is in the heart of Armstrong Creek, and the Armstrong Creek growth area is one of the largest urban growth areas in Victoria, consisting of 2,500 hectares. Ten years ago, Armstrong Creek was open farmland with cattle and sheep grazing. Now, Armstrong Creek is well on the way to providing housing for between 55,000 and 65,000, with approximately 22,000 residential homes. The old narrow two-way Barwon Heads Road could not possibly handle the huge volume of vehicles accessing this new growth area.

The first stage of the upgrade is well underway. The funding of $125 million in the October budget will contribute to the much needed second stage. Stage 1, when complete, will add new lanes for four kilometres between Settlement Road and Reserve Road, remove a dangerous level crossing at Marshall and upgrade the intersection at Settlement Road and Breakwater Road. Stage 2 will continue the duplication from Reserve Road through to Lower Duneed Road. Infrastructure Australia had some years ago evaluated the original business case for the upgrade and confirmed there was significant benefit in duplicating the road, with a total economic benefit of $569 million. Barwon Heads Road is a crucial link between Geelong, the growing Armstrong Creek residential precincts and towns, including Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads, on the Bellarine peninsula. This upgrade is so important to our region, and it will provide better connections to public transport and ensure that Barwon Heads Road can support the 44,000 daily journeys expected by 2031.

Building a better future is not just a political slogan. It has been Labor's aspiration for many decades. Think about projects like Andrew Fisher's transnational railway and Chifley's Snowy River scheme. Labor thinks long term and with vision. In years to come, people will look back at the Melbourne Suburban Rail Loop, the Barwon Heads Road upgrade, the overpass at Wyndham and the interchange at Beveridge and see these as essential and visionary. I congratulate the minister for leading with vision on nation-building infrastructure, and I thank the member for Lalor for this important motion.

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