NO.100

CALDER HIGHWAY DUPLICATION FULLY FUNDED

The Australian Government has allocated $107 million to the Faraday to Ravenswood section of the Calder Highway to complete the provision of a high standard four lane road between Melbourne and Bendigo.

The total cost of the project is $214 million and will require an equal contribution from the Victorian Government.

The commitment by the Australian Government means the entire Calder Highway duplication project between Melbourne and Bendigo can be completed before the end of 2009.

The project was identified under the Australian Government Transport Plan, AusLink. Money was not previously allocated for completion prior to 2009. The Australian Government has now decided to bring forward $82 million by three years to fully fund its 50 per cent share of the project. This means that work should start next year and the project can be completed and opened by 2009.

Today’s announcement puts the onus on the Victorian Government to bring forward funding of its share, get on with it and start the project.

The Australian Government’s commitment to the Faraday to Ravenswood section is on top of our previously announced commitment of $89 million towards duplication of the Kyneton to Faraday section of the Calder Highway.

The upgrade of the Calder Highway will ensure it has the capacity to support growth in freight and passengers and provide better access to Melbourne and Bendigo for commuters, business and tourist traffic.

The Faraday to Ravenswood section involves the construction of 18.6 km of four-lane highway on a new alignment between the existing Calder Highway at Faraday and the existing duplicated Calder Highway at Ravenswood and will be completed in three stages.

The first stage, a 6.2 km section between Fogartys Gap Road and Ravenswood, has been completed and opened to traffic since May 2005.

MELBOURNE
18 November 2005

Contact: Office of the Treasurer

03 9650 0244