Arabic version: حزب العمال يتعهد بتخصيص 550 مليون دولار لتحديث طريق ويسترن السريع

According to ABC News, Victorian Labor has pledged $550 million to upgrade the Western Freeway in Melbourne’s outer west ahead of the November state election. The funding would supplement $1 billion committed by the Commonwealth government before the 2025 election for the project between Melton and Caroline Springs.

The proposal includes upgrades to the Ferris Road, Leakes Road and Hopkins Road interchanges, as well as a new half interchange at Mount Cottrell Road. The half interchange would give local traffic direct access on and off the freeway.

Under the plan, the freeway would be widened to three lanes in each direction between Ferris Road and Hopkins Road, and four lanes in each direction between Hopkins Road and Ballarat Road. Once completed, the speed limit would be 100 km/h along the Western Freeway between Ferris Road and Ballarat Road.

Premier Ben Carroll said planning was already underway through the federal funding and described the state commitment as Victoria “coming to the table as well”. Melton City Council has advocated for major road upgrades and new train stations as the area’s population grows by 6.61 per cent a year, compared with Melbourne’s average of 2 per cent.

The Liberal-National Coalition also announced a healthcare election proposal, the Victorian Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme. Costing $40 million over four years, it would offer doctors, nurses, dentists, midwives and allied health professionals incentives of up to $10,000 to take regional and rural roles, with similar incentives available for each year they remain in a position.