Senator The Hon Bridget McKenzie – Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Leader of the Nationals in the Senate
Aaron Violi – Liberal Member for Casey
The Hon Jason Wood – Liberal Member for La Trobe
14 April 2025
An elected Dutton Coalition Government will commit $100 million to restore the Cardinia and Yarra Ranges shires sealing the hills roads program which was callously cancelled by the Albanese Labor Government.
This funding will deliver stage one of the sealing of dirt residential roads across the Cardinia and Yarra Ranges which will provide improved access and safety for local families, tourists and emergency vehicles through the winter storm and peak bushfire seasons.
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Senator Bridget McKenzie said the Coalition was proud to reinstate this innovative community driven project to address the infrastructure backlog in the Dandenong Ranges – assisting these councils and residents after Labor turned their back on them.
“Unlike the Albanese Labor Government, which has spent the past three years cutting, cancelling and delaying $30 billion worth of infrastructure projects, the Coalition will get local infrastructure delivery back on track to support the needs of communities,” Senator McKenzie said.
“Aaron Violi and Jason Wood have strongly campaigned to restore funding to this road safety project because it is an innovative partnership between landholders, local council and the Commonwealth.”
Liberal Member for Casey, Aaron Violi said only the Coalition was committed to sealing residential roads in the Yarra Ranges restoring funding which had been fought for by the community and budgeted by the former Coalition Government.
“My community were shocked when the Albanese Government broke a promise by ruthlessly cutting funds to seal 450 dirt roads in the Yarra Ranges, ripping millions from the community.
Liberal Member for La Trobe, Jason Wood said the former Liberal Government had secured funding to seal 110 kilometres of dirt roads — across 164 roads in total.
“This was a critical project for families, school runs, local travel and emergency access. But when Labor took office, they slashed the funding, resulting in only 38 roads being sealed,” Mr Wood said.
“This was short-sighted and unfair. An elected Liberal Government will restore this important infrastructure project and roll it out in stages to benefit communities across the Hills.”