Greens call out Labor on dodgy toll road deal
The Greens have condemned Labor’s decision to approve the West Gate Tunnel amid extensive evidence that the toll road will create more traffic problems for Melbourne, and entrench car use across the city.
The Andrews Government’s own experts reported in the Environmental Effects Statement that the road would not solve traffic congestion, and would funnel thousands more cars into inner Melbourne each day.
Quotes attributable to Colleen Hartland MLC, Member for the Western Metropolitan Region:
“Labor have sold out on the community and approved a toll road designed by Transurban that only serves Transurban’s bottom line.”
“Just look at the evidence, Labor’s own experts have said the toll road won’t solve traffic in the west. We know the toll road will funnel thousands more cars into inner Melbourne each day, it’s a disaster for Melbourne.”
“There is a huge thirst for better public transport in the west. We need more trains on the Werribee and Sunbury lines, buses that run often and connect to trains, and Metro services for metropolitan passengers along the Ballarat line, not V/Line servicing the suburbs.”
“Melbourne is stuck in traffic, and with the West Gate Tunnel and North East Link, that’s how we’re going to stay.”
Quotes attributable to Adam Bandt MP, Federal Member for Melbourne:
“The Melbourne community fought off the East-West toll road and we will do it again. Labor is putting their toll-road mates before residents by turning our suburbs into traffic jams, so they’ve obviously decided to kiss inner-Melbourne seats goodbye.”