Federal Member for Wannon, Dan Tehan, has welcomed the announcement by Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott on the weekend, who confirmed that a future Coalition government will recognise the Princes Highway as an Auslink road of national significance, and will commit to funding at least 50 per cent of the duplication costs from Geelong to Adelaide.
"This is a significant announcement and a significant breakthrough for funding for the Princes Highway," Mr Tehan said.
"It is obviously something residents in the south-west have been pushing for for a long time. I have been pushing for this since I was preselected and I am thrilled to hear Tony Abbott make this announcement.
"There are so many reasons why it is important for this road to be upgraded – safety is the main concern, but the impact on the region’s economic development and tourism industry would also be significant.
“A four lane highway would boost the economy and increase the productivity of the region, providing significant opportunities for the Port of Portland to become a larger hub.
"It means we will have a freight corridor to get products to markets.
"Over time it would be worth millions annually and over the longer term definitely billions of dollars.
“The Coalition has recognised just how important the upgrade of this major highway is. Why haven’t the Labor government committed to improving this road?
“The Labor government now need to acknowledge that the duplication of this road is vital for the region and need to match the Coalition’s commitment to the duplication from Geelong to Adelaide," Mr Tehan said.
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