“We are pleased the state government has committed funding for a business case to investigate the North East Link, and $350 million to complete the M80 Ring Road widening and upgrades, both of which are crucial infrastructure projects Victoria needs to remain a great place to live, invest and do business,” Master Builders Association of Victoria CEO Radley de Silva said.

“The stars aligned for investing in transport projects. We must remember that the windfall sale of the Port of Melbourne’s long-term lease helped make this investment possible, and it is critical that we build momentum towards shovel-readiness,” he said.

“$35 million for a North East Link business case, consultation and route development by 2018 is just the first step,” Mr de Silva said.

“While we support a financially responsible means of funding these infrastructure projects, we are concerned the delay in signing contracts until after the next election may allow slippage of the progress this represents.

“We have already seen what happens when partisan politics is allowed to interfere with urgent infrastructure needs that exist regardless of what party is in power. We are hopeful that bipartisan support can be obtained for this project to accelerate the government’s ability to proceed with investment, because the whole state suffers when major policy is caught in the midst of political conflict, and that can’t be allowed to happen again,” Mr de Silva said.

“East West Link may have been halted, but Victorians cannot afford further lost opportunities. Victoria’s population is growing at the fastest rate of any state in Australia, and the population of Melbourne is expected to reach 8.1 million by 2051. Without projects like North East Link and East West Link, we will not meet the demands that the growing population will place on our infrastructure,” he said.