Crossing lights fade

By Tania Martin
LIBERAL Evelyn MP Christine Fyffe has slammed the State Government over an election promise back flip for pedestrian lights in Mt Evelyn.
In June last year the then Labor sitting member for Evelyn, Heather McTaggart, announced a promise of $450,000 to pedestrian lights at the intersection of York Road and Wray Crescent.
Ms McTaggart lost her seat to Christine Fyffe. The promised funds have since been suspended.
Ms Fyffe last week told Parliament that the Mt Evelyn community was outraged at the State Government for breaking yet another promise.
Ms Fyffe told Parliament that the promise was to provide users of the Warburton Trail and local residents with a safe crossing point.
But she said after numerous attempts to establish the progress of this project, Ms Fyffe was told it had been suspended.
VicRoads told Ms Fyffe that the Federal Government had provided $573,000 for traffic lights and a short duplication of York Road just 30-metres from where the pedestrian lights were to be installed.
Mr Fyffe said because of the close proximity of the two projects the State Government project had been suspended.
Shire of Yarra Ranges mayor Tim Heenan is furious that the money has been taken away from the project.
“It’s not good enough – the money was promised to us and it needs to be allocated for that project,” he said.
Ms Fyffe is calling for the State Government to honour their commitment to the people of Mt Evelyn and let the project proceed.
“This crossing is needed for the very popular Warburton Trail – families with small children, cyclists, horse riders, walkers, many mothers with prams and aged pensioners cross this dangerous road,” she told Parliament.
“It is appalling that this government is withdrawing funding – this government promised to install a first-class crossing to give safety to a multitude of users.”
“Once again Mt Evelyn is being short-changed by this state Labor Government.”
Cr Heenan said people of Mt Evelyn would fight to keep the money so the project would go ahead.
“The money should go to this project – no one has the right to take this promised money away from Mt Evelyn,” he said.
The Mail attempted to contact the State Government several times but was unable to get a response before going to print.