Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
I write in response to Ern Meharry’s letter (The News, April 17), that highlighted the failure of the Allan Labor Government to complete signalling work on our rail line that was due to be completed in 2023, and which is essential to enable additional services to run and the traffic lights on Wyndham St to finally be turned on.
Mr Meharry indicates in his letter that the government might well be playing politics with this important project rather than delivering for the people of Shepparton, by punishing our electorate for not voting as Labor wanted us to vote.
I can assure Mr Meharry that the delay is not for a want of advocacy from local elected members but rather a consequence of the fact that the government can’t manage money or projects and it is Victorians who are paying the price.
Mr Meharry’s letter also ignores that 80 per cent or $320 million of the $400 million provided for the Stage 3 works, which includes the signalling work, was provided by the former federal coalition government.
I would also challenge Mr Meharry to secure a funding commitment from the current federal Labor candidate for a single project in the Nicholls electorate.
I would be happy to provide the candidate with a long list of projects that includes our stadium, our bypass and second river crossing, a clinical health school and money to fix our dangerous roads.
To get a specific local election commitment from a Labor candidate for our region would be a first in either a federal or state election.
