MAJOR PROJECTS MISSING IN COUNTRY VICTORIA

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Province Peter Hall has questioned the Bracks Government's commitment to advancing major projects in country Victoria.

Mr Hall said the toxic waste dump at Hattah Nowingi was the single major project the government had currently underway in rural and regional Victoria.

"The Bracks Government's contempt for country communities is perhaps best embodied by the fact the toxic waste dump at Hattah Nowingi is the only project in country Victoria currently being run by its dedicated major project department, Major Projects Victoria.

"The Major Projects website currently lists 16 projects that are either underway or completed, including the $376 million Austin Hospital redevelopment, the $157 million Synchotron and the lucrative $144.3 million Commonwealth Games athletes' village.

"Of these 16 major-projects, five are listed as having been completed, including one country-based project, the Bonegilla Migrant Experience Heritage Park. And the government contribution for this project was only $2 million, which makes its classification as a 'major' project something of a stretch.

"All this leaves the toxic waste dump at Hattah Nowingi as the single country-based major project currently being developed by Major Projects Victoria. The Bracks Government is simply adding insult to injury by investing in this ill-conceived project when it has otherwise failed to commission major projects that stand to benefit country Victoria."

Mr Hall accused the government of paying lip-service to the infrastructure needs of country Victoria.

"When questioned in Parliament about the Bracks Government's failure to commission projects of value to country regions, Major Projects Minister John Lenders resorted to describing cattle underpasses and police stations as major projects.

"While no doubt of benefit to country areas, cattle-passes and police stations are not major projects and have nothing to do with Major Projects Victoria," said Mr Hall.

"In sum, Major Projects Victoria is spending thousands of millions of taxpayer dollars in Melbourne and yet is not spending a single cent on a project of value in country Victoria.
While Minister Lenders may see a toxic waste dump as a positive initiative, we can assure him that the people of north western Victoria do not agree.

"It seems the Bracks Government has no commitment and no vision for country Victoria when there is no shortage of potential major projects of benefit to country communities.

"Perhaps Minister Lenders could examine the prospect of new water storages to secure water supplies for country communities, a major bridge and road upgrade program or the scope for new convention centres in some of our prime tourism locations.

"The Bracks Government awash with funds as a consequence of higher than expected GST returns, income from fees and charges, and receipts from land tax and stamp duty.

"The reality is that the only thing stopping the development of major projects of benefit to country communities is the Bracks Government's lack of imagination and disinterest in advancing rural and regional Victoria."

Media contact: Peter Hall (03) 5174 7066 or 0427 747 066