“Tuesday’s announcement by the Victorian government of $1.8 billion for roads upgrades and duplication is a welcome step in continuing to provide for the state’s urgent transportation infrastructure need in the face of rapid population growth,” Master Builders Association of Victoria CEO Radley de Silva said.

“Melbourne’s outer west is a hotspot of growth and activity and we need to prepare for that with transportation infrastructure that meets the heavier demand from the communities and businesses that rely on them,” he said.

“In five years, by which time the upgrades are to be delivered, Victoria will already be considerably larger than it is today. The population of Melbourne alone is expected to reach 8 million by 2051. The sooner this is shovel-ready, the better off we’ll be,” Mr de Silva said.

“A strength of this package is that it combines duplication and widening of roads with their continued maintenance. The building and construction sector is the second-largest full-time employer in the state, and this helps provide jobs now and into the future,” he said.

“Master Builders urges the government to continue committing to vital infrastructure spending, including funding the North-East Link, which was prioritised by Infrastructure Victoria in its recent Draft 30-Year Strategy as a missing link in Melbourne’s road network.”