By Goya Dmytryshchak
By Goya Dmytryshchak and Benjamin Millar
Millions of dollars of pre-election promises that were contingent on Labor winning federal government have been scuttled in Gellibrand, including $2 million for Stony Creek.
Gellibrand Labor MP Tim Watts was returned with 65.3 per cent (52,647) of the two-candidate preferred vote, but his party remains in opposition after pre-poll predictions of a Shorten government failed.
Stony Creek, running through Cruickshank Park at Yarraville, was devastated by chemical run-off from a Tottenham warehouse fire last year.
Other Labor pledges that have been torpedoed include a $4.8 million bike path on Buckley and Napier streets connecting Footscray to the CBD, $500,000 for a music hub at Footscray Community Arts Centre and $50,000 for a boat wash down station at Altona Boat Ramp.
The Liberals’ Anthony Mitchell received 27,934 votes after preferences with 75.25 per cent of votes counted.
Of 111,217 eligible voters, 75.25 per cent turned out to vote and 3.72 per cent voted informally.
On primary votes, Mr Watts polled 49.51 per cent (39,892), representing a 3.28 per cent swing to Labor.
Mr Mitchell received 28.99 per cent (23,358) of primary votes, followed by The Greens’ Bernadette Thomas on 16.09 per cent (12,962) and United Australia Party’s Lisa Bentley on 5.42 per cent (4369).
Gellibrand covers Hobsons Bay, Footscray, Seddon, Kingsville, Yarraville, Williams Landing and part of Point Cook.
Labor’s Daniel Mulino made history by becoming the first member of the newly established seat of Fraser, which covers mainly Brimbank but takes in Braybrook and Tottenham.
Mr Mulino had 64 per cent of first preferences votes with 75 per cent of votes counted.
Mr Watts was contacted for comment.
