NO.003

JOINT PRESS RELEASE

TREASURER & MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND REGIONAL SERVICES

$40.5M IN AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT FUNDS FOR ARCADIA DUPLICATION ON GOULBURN VALLEY HIGHWAY

The Australian Government announced today increased funding which will fully construct the duplication of the Arcadia section of the Goulburn Valley Highway.

The full funding amounts to $40.5 million.

Tenders for the 11 km duplication south of Shepparton should be called as soon as possible with the aim of starting work this year.

New funding is in addition to the $2 million spent so far on planning and design and $15 million previously set aside under AusLink, the National Land Transport Plan and brings the total funding of this section to $40.5 million.

This announcement brings Victoria’s share of AusLink funding to $2.3 billion over five years.

The Arcadia project involves duplicating 11 km of existing two-lane road, extending from the northern limit of the Murchison East Deviation at Murchison-Violet Town Road through to the southern terminal of the proposed Shepparton Bypass at Ross Road.

The existing traffic lanes will become the southbound carriageway of a four-lane road and two new lanes northbound will be built to the west.

The construction plans include seven bridges, four new intersections, irrigation structure works, 15 km of service roads, and noise and boundary fencing. A rest area with full facilities, landscaping and associated environmental works are also included.

The Calder Woodburn Memorial Avenue of Honour will remain intact – parts of it preserved in a wide central median strip formed by the new road.

Work should be well underway this year with completion in 2007.

The immediate benefits will be better safety and less congestion. The upgrading will also mean local industries can get products to and from Melbourne faster.

With one third of all cars on the highway being tourism related, a more efficient highway will help the region tap into the short-break tourism market.

The Federal Member for Murray, Dr Sharman Stone, and Federal Member for Indi, Sophie Panopoulos have worked tirelessly to ensure the completion of the Arcadia Section project.

To date, the Australian Government has spent more than $160 million since 1992 improving the Goulburn Valley Highway. The most recent substantial works funded by the Australian Government on the highway were safety improvements in the vicinity of the Kialla West Primary School. The Australian Government also funded Murchison East Deviation which opened in February 2003, while the Seymour to Nagambie duplication finished in March 2001.

2 February 2006

Media Contact:

David Alexander

Treasurer’s Office

02 6277 7340

Kylie Butler

Mr Truss’s office

02 6277 7680 or 0417 652 488