Renewed pressure is on the state government to reveal which homes and businesses will be compulsorily acquired to make way for the West Gate road distributor.
More than 40 properties, including sports grounds on the border of Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong, could be directly affected.
The planned $500 million freight truck route off the West Gate Bridge includes on and off ramps between Williamstown Road and Hyde Street at Yarraville.
Hobsons Bay council last October sought “a full investigation” into the impact of Labor’s proposal on residents, municipal clubs and a reserve.
Last week, state Coalition roads and infrastructure spokesman Ryan Smith said Premier Dan Andrews had promised a $500 million “shovel-ready” project before the election but still couldn’t provide details.
He said Labor’s tender announcement last week was for just $40million of roadworks on existing roads in Footscray.
RELATED: West Gate Distributor work set to start this year
“What Daniel Andrews announced amounted to a set of traffic lights with no connection to the West Gate Freeway,” Mr Smith said.
“This falls well short of his own promise to deliver a ‘shovel-ready’ project.
“The announcement failed to address community concerns of the impact on Westgate Golf Club, Donald McLean Reserve and public land in the surrounding area.”
Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said the distributor was essentially a renamed version of Labor’s truck action plan. Briefing notes prepared during the term of the former Brumby government suggested as many as 21 homes and 22 businesses could be directly impacted.
“Detailed planning for the project was done as a part of the former Labor government’s truck action plan, which the Liberals dumped,” Mr Donnellan said.
“We’re currently updating that work and will consult with the community as we develop the next stages of the project.”
Hobsons Bay council has held back from Labor’s proposal, saying there is a “paucity of detail” and “question marks over the impact of the distributor”.
A council officer’s report states: “It is unclear whether … project costs outweigh any benefits gained by the removal of trucks from such a short section of the West Gate Freeway and Bolte Bridge.”
Maribyrnong council has indicated support for the distributor but wants more detail.
The government said the new distributor is expected to be completed in 2017.
