The CMPA welcomes the State Government’s 2019/20 Budget commitment to the extractive industries sector supplying the construction materials necessary for Victoria’s record infrastructure investment program.
Treasurer Tim Pallas allocated $13.2 million over 4 years for further work aimed at securing strategic extractive resources through improved land use planning, exploring alternative modes of transport and the upgrading of critical road networks; this funding initiative is applauded by the CMPA.
We look forward to working with the State Government to achieve its transport and enhanced community infrastructure goals and trust that these objectives can be achieved Statewide.
Premier Daniel Andrews announced that the North East Link is fully funded and $6.6 billion earmarked for the next 25 Level Crossing removals.
$815 million has been allocated to the State’s road network. Unfortunately the rural and regional component of this figure for repairing and maintaining roads has marginally decreased from $433m to $425m.
The CMPA recommends that priority consideration be given for increased allocations to rural and regional roads in future budgets, if the State Government’s aims of:
- reducing the road toll;
- promoting regional economic growth; and
- improving statewide population distribution, are to be achieved.
Dr Elizabeth Gibson, General Manager CMPA, participated in the State budget “lock up” on Monday 27 May 2019.