By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Casey Council has entered the 2018 state election fray with a plea to vying political parties for $2.7 billion in roads and rail in the South East.
Under a ‘Commit to Casey’ banner, the council is lobbying for an extended Cranbourne rail line and for $1.2 billion in road upgrades.
The council claims soaring traffic volumes and slashed public transport budgets have made Casey’s roads among the state’s most clogged.
As part of the campaign – during what’s tipped to be a tight election – the council has launched a website for visitors to send a pre-form email, and request a bumper sticker or a placard.
Mayor Geoff Ablett said the investment would create more than 18,000 jobs, better link homes and employment precincts and inject $1.5 billion into the local economy.
“Fixing roads and extending rail will create jobs, improve access to essential services, ease cost of living pressures and help the local community and economy thrive,” Cr Ablett said.
“Investment in Casey infrastructure is well overdue, this can’t go on, and urgent action is needed.”
Resident Mark Seels, in backing the campaign, said it was “great to see Council standing up for Casey families”.
“Too many families spend too much time stuck in traffic each day – all they want is to get where they need to go safer and sooner.”
Casey’s roads wish-list includes extending Dandenong Bypass to South Gippsland Freeway, upgrading Pound Road, Greaves Road and O’Shea Road and eliminating the Remington Drive level crossing.
Other proposals are finishing the duplication of Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road and Berwick-Cranbourne Road as well as extending Thompsons and Glasscocks roads.
The campaign has a tighter focus than the council’s advocacy during the 2014 state election.
During that poll, the council backed the then-Liberal Government’s plans for East West Link and Port of Hastings.
It also lobbied for funding for Bunjil Place, youth mental health services, bus and road upgrades, and creating jobs in Casey-Cardinia.
Details on the 2018 campaign: www.CommitToCasey.com.au.
