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

Residents of the north-east suburbs of Melbourne will know that for the 40 kilometres between Heidelberg and Yarra Glen there are just two crossings of the Yarra River, and that creates major choke points so far as traffic is concerned. That's why I've been campaigning for some years now to improve the traffic flows between suburbs like Eltham and North Warrandyte to the north of the river and Templestowe, Doncaster and Warrandyte to the south of the river. I was pleased, therefore, that the relevant minister, Mr Tudge, recently announced the provision of $5 million of funding to Nillumbik Shire Council to improve the traffic flow between Main Road in Eltham and Fitzsimons Lane, which crosses the river from Eltham over to Templestowe. I'm also pleased to note that another $5 million will go to Manningham Council, south of the river, to improve the traffic flow between Fitzsimons Lane, Porter Street and Williamsons Road. Fitzsimons Lane itself, which crosses the river, is not the problem; it's a four-lane road. But that four-lane road then narrows into much smaller roads both north of the river and south of the river. So this is a very good announcement for the constituents of Menzies, who are affected every day—every morning and every afternoon—by the traffic choke point that exists at the present time.