Jason Wood (La Trobe, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have some fantastic news for residents of La Trobe. After waiting and waiting and waiting, we've finally got the state Labor government to put out an expression of interest for the Monash Freeway Upgrade Stage 2. The total cost will be $711 million and the project is expected to be completed in early 2022. Stage 1 saw the construction of an extra lane from Clyde Road to South Gippsland Highway. Stage 2 will see an extra lane from South Gippsland Highway to Warragul but also going out from Clyde Road to Cardinia Road. This is taking in this huge growth corridor in suburbs such as Officer and going right out to Pakenham. This is something I've been fighting for for many years. The great news was that back in March 2016, when the Turnbull government committed $500 million—that money hasn't been spent, sadly. It should have been spent, and we should be opening stage 2 today, but instead we are putting it out for tender. Part of stage 2 is the Beaconsfield Interchange and the extension of O'Shea Road. This will greatly reduce traffic congestion on Soldiers Road and Clyde Road and will make the lives of people driving around the electorate much easier, especially parents dropping kids off at school. So it's great news today.