Labor commits to huge spending in road and rail projects
The Victorian government’s 2019-20 Budget pledges towards transport, infrastructure and small business have won the support of the Victorian Transport Association (VTA).
Delivering his fifth budget, treasurer Tim Pallas announced various road and rail improvement projects in the Labor government’s Suburban Transport Blitz.
Underscoring that is a $15.8 billion pledge for the North East Link project.
The ongoing level crossing removal project will see $6.6 billion spending to get rid of 25 additional level crossings across Victoria by 2025.
Meanwhile, local road improvements and upgrades will be supported by $608 million investment, and over $486 million to lifting the standard of country roads.
This will be in addition to the $87.2 million already committed for rural road rebuilds and will be overseen by country road authority Regional Roads Victoria.
The government also allocated $4 million over four years to fund the training and instruction of 800 new heavy vehicle drivers.
Read about the recently flagged changes to Victorian owner-driver laws, here
Victorian Transport Association (VTA) CEO Peter Anderson responded with enthusiasm to the announcement.
“The VTA congratulates the Andrews Labor government for recognising the value of the heavy vehicle industry through its various budget commitments,” VTA CEO Peter Anderson says.
“We especially thank the Premier and his Government for acknowledging the value of the VTA’s Driver Delivery program, with funding secured to ensure the Association can continue to provide highly-trained, competent and skilled heavy vehicle drivers at a time when driver shortages are rife in the industry.”
The state body is pleased with Labor’s deliverance of pre-election promises “that will benefit freight and logistics operators”.
The government has also promised payroll tax cuts for regional businesses (1.2 per cent by 2022-23) and increasing the business tax-free threshold to $700,000 with an aim to making regional Victoria even more attractive for doing business.
A 50 per cent discount on land transfer duty on commercial and industrial properties in regional Victoria will be welcomed by operators planning to acquire or sell property, VTA says.
Furthermore, the $150 million Victorian Jobs & Investment Fund will aim to attract strategic investment, create jobs and stimulate growth across the economy.
“Through this budget the government has delivered on its promises and the VTA and transport industry look forward to working with the premier and his team to help deliver the projects we need to keep our state the most attractive place in Australia to live and do business in,” Anderson says.
The key transport investment in the North East Link is expected to deliver significant travel time savings, take thousands of vehicles off local roads, increase the capacity of the Melbourne freight network and complete the missing link between the Eastern Freeway and the M80 Ring Road.
“People have talked about North East Link for decades, but no one has delivered the funding to get it built – until now,” transport infrastructure minister Jacinta Allan says.
“Whether it’s fixing a pot hole at the end of your street or building North East Link – this budget is delivering the big and small projects needed to get you where you need to go.”