Federal Labor has joined the infrastructure battle in Melbourne's outer suburbs, promising a smoother ride for voters in key marginal seats the opposition hopes to capture in the looming election.
Opposition leader Bill Shorten and his infrastructure spokesman Anthony Albanese were campaigning in Pakenham North on Sunday morning, promising $850 million to improve the congested roads of Melbourne's sprawling south-east, if Labor wins government in May.The move comes days after Prime Minister Scott Morrison pledged $70 million of federal money to upgrade Racecourse Road in Pakenham and $2 billion to build a fast rail link between Melbourne and Geelong.
Racecourse Road runs through the La Trobe electorate, held by Liberal MP Jason Wood on a margin of about 1.5 per cent while Geelong is the largest urban centre of Corangamite where Liberal Sarah Henderson is defending a margin of just 0.03 per cent.Mr Shorten, whose party has designs on several south-eastern seats in the upcoming national poll, sought to up the ante on roads funding on Sunday.
Labor is promising extra lanes and new bridges on Koo Wee Rup Road in Pakenham South and Lathams Road in Seaford. The funding package will also pay for extra lanes on Hallam North Road in Endeavour Hills and Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road in Cranbourne, Pound Road West and Remington Drive in Dandenong South and a new bridge over the Cranbourne train line.
Golf Links and Grant Roads in Langwarrin South will be upgraded and Labor is also matching Mr Morrison's Racecourse Road commitment and upgrading the six-way roundabout at Golf Links, Grant, Warrandyte and Baxter-Tooradin Roads.
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