Doyle says Casey is a forgotten city

By Alison Noonan
CASEY’S roads are in dire need of upgrades, according to Opposition Leader Robert Doyle.
Mr Doyle made the call to the council following a whirlwind tour of the city on Monday.
He said the need for better roads was the number one issue to come out of the Shadow Cabinet visit, claiming Casey was a forgotten city when it came to roads and infrastructure.
“With 55 families moving to Casey every week, infrastructure, roads and support programs have simply not kept up with the rapid growth,” he said.
Mr Doyle said he travelled much of the municipality during a oneandahalfhour bus tour which included visits to Lynbrook, Casey Fields, Casey Hospital, Monash University, Chisholm TAFE, Clyde Road, Berwick and Cranbourne High Street, Narre WarrenCranbourne Road, Strathaird Children’s Centre, the Hampton Park Library and the Hallam industrial area.
“The bus tour was extremely beneficial and helped me and the Shadow Cabinet to gain a better understanding of some of the challenges faced in the area.
“To see the growth in this city is just remarkable. It is a city unlike any other.
“However, this growth represents quite specific challenges for council,” he said.
Mr Doyle said updated infrastructure, bolstering community development and job creation were also major issues that needed to be addressed.
“Public transport is a huge problem. The government seems to think that if it’s needed then they’ll build it but this is no good for a city of this size and vibrancy.
“They need to plan ahead and be forward thinking instead of being reactive,” he said.
Mr Doyle said he feared the Bracks Government’s proposal to introduce a $30,000 services tax on land blocks in new housing estates in Casey would make it almost impossible for young people to be able to afford to buy a house.
“We should be encouraging and helping them to get into their own homes which in turn leads to a happy, strong community,” he said.
Mr Doyle slammed Casey’s Labor MPs for their failure to act in the best interests of the city.
“We have heard absolutely nothing from the local Labor MPs about this services tax.
“They are a pack of mushrooms.
“I will be working very hard to knock them off at election time,” he said.
However, Cranbourne MP Jude Perera said the Bracks Government was ‘listening and acting’ to the needs of Casey residents.
“We’re rebuilding our transport network in outer metro and growth areas.
“Since coming into government we have spent $3.5 million improving bus services to Casey residents.
“On top of this the opening of the $165 million Hallam Bypass in 2003 represented a significant investment in freeway infrastructure in recent years in the City of Casey.
“There has also been over $70 million allocated to the arterial road network in Casey in recent years and over $26 million spent on road safety improvements over the past four years,” he said.