by Prealene Khera
After withdrawing funds for the Calder Freeway in 2023, the federal government has put the project back on the agenda, with a fresh promise to invest $300 million towards its repair.
The funding will be used to build a long-awaited diamond interchange at Calder Park Drive, which once complete will improve safety, reduce congestion and provide better access.
It’s a move that has been well-received by the Calder Action Group, whose members have been pushing for upgrades to the freeway for 18 years.
The group’s president Russell Mowatt said the announcement was welcomed, albeit with some doubts.
“The federal government has finally listened to the community,” he said.
“So we’d like to give credit where it’s due … [but] we look at everything in reservation.
“We hope they commit to this interchange … in good faith with the community.”
The proposed funding comes nearly two years after the federal Labor government cancelled the $50 million promise made by the previous Liberal government in 2019.
The project was axed by Infrastructure Minister Catherine King in November 2023 following an infrastructure spending review.
At the time, Ms King said it was not realistically going to be delivered with the available funding, had made little to no progress over a significant amount of time, and did not align with national priorities.
The decision was followed by the state government revealing it would indefinitely pause funding for the freeway upgrades.
Mr Mowatt said the next step was to ensure the opposition would match the funding, ensuring the interchange would be built irrespective of the election result.
“We’ve had a lot of challenges, and a lot of stop and go’s — but we’re halfway through and if we get a commitment from the opposition then we’re home and hosed,” he said.
When it is built, the new interchange will improve access on and off the Calder Freeway.
Hawke Labor MP Sam Rae said the upgrade would improve safety and congestion on the freeway, while McEwen Labor MP Rob Mitchell said the upgrade would have flow-on effects through the outer north-west and into the Macedon Ranges.
The Liberal party did not answer questions from Star Weekly about whether the Coalition would match the funding.
