A BALLARAT-BASED company has come out in support of the controversial East West Link project saying it will be very important for businesses in western Victoria.
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Findlay Engineering managing director Chris Findlay said he was surprised by Labor’s recent announcement it would scrap the
multibillion-dollar project if it was to win November’s election.
“It would definitely be a plus for everyone in the Western region,” he said.
“The trouble is you get from here to the (West Gate) Bridge in an hour, then you come to a stop.
“A lot of industry is done on the other side of town.”
Mr Findlay highlighted similar issues before the construction of the Deer Park Bypass and the Burnley Tunnel that had impacted on business.
The project is already a huge issue across multiple metropolitan electorates with a divide on the importance of the project.
At a Ballarat level, candidates from Buninyong weighed in on the issue.
Ballarat East MP Geoff Howard said the majority of Ballarat people did not support the construction of the East West Link tunnel. “With an $8 billion price tag we need to decide if the East West Link is a priority,” he said.
“We think country roads and public transport are the priorities.
“It is about getting the balance right and we don’t believe the government has got the balance right.”
Liberal candidate for Buninyong Ben Taylor hit out at claims the problem was Melbourne-focused.
“From a transport point of view it is the most important project for Ballarat and western Victoria,” he said.
“We need to do this and it needs to be done now.”
matthew.dixon@fairfaxmedia.com.au