All roads lead to election

IT is a battle of the roads for the Victorian election.

The Government wants to build the North East Link while the Opposition wants the East West Link to go ahead, with voters to have the final say at polls in November.

Up to 140 businesses and 75 homes in Melbourne’s northeast could be acquired under Labor’s plan to build the 26km road, which will cost at least $16.5 billion.

Premier Daniel Andrews announced a $110 million allocation in the Budget to plan and design the North East Link, to put the project out to market within the first 100 days if re-elected.

“This is the most important road project and the biggest road project in our state. This is all about making sure local roads are for local residents,” Mr Andrews said yesterday.

The toll-road would connect the ring road in Greensborough, through Watsonia and Rosanna before connecting to the Eastern Freeway in Bulleen.

But Opposition Leader Matthew Guy slammed the plan, saying the East West Link was the “the mostneeded road project in the fastest-growing city in Australia”.

“You can’t have a North East Link without having an East West Link. We want to build the East West Link,” Mr Guy said.