MPpromises Clyde Road plan

By Lia Bichel
BERWICK residents can look forward to a smoother ride on congested Clyde Road as planning for an upgrade is announced.
Local resident Mavis Jonston said Clyde Road was a problem from High Street, Berwick, all the way towards Cranbourne.
“It’s awful. It gets so congested from 4pm onwards,” she said. “Cars are lined up bumper to bumper. I don’t understand why it has taken so long to fix.”
Edward O’Donohue, the Liberal MP for Eastern Victoria Region and the Parliamentary Secretary for Transport, said work to duplicate the road was expected to begin early next year.
“The duplication of Clyde Road is long overdue,” he said.
“Since the election, (Gembrook MP) Brad Battin and I have been working with the community to deliver a duplicate Clyde Road as soon as possible.”
Mr O’Donohue said it was anticipated that the contract for the duplication of Clyde Road would be advertised in the middle of this year, with contracts awarded late this year. Construction would begin early next year and finish in 2013.
“For 11 years Labor stood by and watched as traffic along Clyde Road became intolerable,” he said.
“Notwithstanding the current crocodile tears of Labor, the reality is the previous government failed to fix this problem and it will be a Liberal Government that will solve it.”
The comments come after Narre Warren South Labor MP Judith Graley said the Baillieu Government must commit to getting works started to fix Clyde Road immediately.
She said it appeared the Liberal Party was stalling on any duplication of Clyde Road and said residents voted for Mr Battin because he was promising a grade separation.
“They would be absolutely beside themselves to know that this was no more than a cynical vote-buying exercise that amounts to nothing post election,” she said.
Mr Battin said that, as a long-time resident, he understood the need to duplicate Clyde Road and said it was Ms Graley who had failed to deliver any lasting improvements for Clyde Road.
A community information session regarding Clyde Road was held in Berwick just last month, he said.
“Last year Jason Wood, the former Federal member for La Trobe, committed funding for a grade separation. Unfortunately for Berwick, Jason Wood lost the seat,” Mr Battin said.
“(Federal La Trobe MP) Laura Smyth and Labor have failed to match that commitment. I encourage Ms Smyth to respond to her Labor colleague’s request for funding.”