Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The inadequacy of public transport and roads in my electorate, lying between the Yarra River and the Eastern Freeway is an ongoing concern. The rapid growth of the area in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s led to the replacement of orchards and market gardens by housing. As a consequence, a semirural area was transformed into suburbia in a relatively short period of time. While this is a desirable place to live, it has meant that transport remains a problem. Major roads, the responsibility of the state government, remain underdeveloped despite significant increases in the number of cars in the electorate. As a consequence there are two major transport links and two major transport needs, and both relate to easing the congestion on the roads.

Firstly, the two major road links that need to be constructed are, obviously, the East West Link, which is an ongoing concern to my constituents, and also the North East Link—a crossing of the Yarra River, of which there are very few. I am pleased that the Commonwealth has provided funding for the feasibility study for this link in this year's budget. Secondly, public transport needs to be enhanced. In particular, the existing park-and-ride facilities need to be expanded, particularly the one at the corner of Doncaster Road and High Street but at other areas in the electorate as well.