Hannah Hammoud
Locals say their “worst fears have been realised” after the state government revealed it has indefinitely paused funding for long-awaited Calder Freeway upgrades.
The 2024-25 state budget, handed down by treasurer Tim Pallas on May 7, confirmed the future of the Calder Freeway improvements project remains uncertain, with the state government detailing that it has paused the project as it works with the federal government to “understand the impact” of its decision to withdraw federal funding from the project last year.
In November last year, the federal government released its long-awaited national infrastructure review detailing that the Calder Freeway would not be receiving the multi-million dollar funding that was promised.
The federal government had allocated $50 million in funding in 2019, with the state government announcing it would also allocate $50 million to the project in 2021.
Since then, question marks have hung over the state government’s $50-million funding, with it refusing to confirm whether its investment for Calder Freeway upgrades would go ahead.
Calder Action Group president Russell Mowatt said community members are “appalled” by the decision to pause the funding.
“Between the federal and state government’s we have been truly dudded as a community through funding withdrawal and no further action,” Mr Mowatt said.
“Talking with other community members there is a sense of prejudice against the north-west communities, councils and [the] Calder Highway Improvement Committee who have recently voiced their unanimous voice to fund the Calder Freeway at a ‘Fix the Calder’ campaign.
“Our worst fears have been realised and we have had the rug pulled from under our feet after a decade of dedicated hard work.
“We have been led up the garden path only to find a dead end for the Calder Freeway.”
Last month, Brimbank council led a chorus of calls for government investment at a ‘Fix the Calder’ community event where it launched a new advocacy brochure on ‘Improving the Calder Highway’.
Council said the Calder is one of Australia’s most dangerous roads and safety upgrades are “urgently needed.“
The brochure had been produced by the Calder Highway Improvement Committee (CHIC), which consists of the councils of Brimbank, Buloke Shire, Greater Bendigo, Hume, Loddon Shire, Macedon Ranges Shire, Melton, Mildura, and Mount Alexander Shire. The brochure outlines CHIC’s priorities for improving safety on the Calder Highway.
