The 2013-14 Budget not only continues the rollout of the Federal Labor Government’s current multi-billion dollar capital works program, it also begins identifying the major projects to be funded as part of the next Nation Building Program, which will commence in July 2014.
We are both building and planning for Victoria’s future.
Accordingly, after consulting with the State Government and Infrastructure Australia, we are now in a position to release a preliminary schedule of new projects to be funded and delivered over the five year life of our next Nation Building Program (2014–15 to 2018-19).
They are:

• Melbourne Metro: a nine kilometre underground railway from west of
  South Kensington to east of South Yarra that will help increase capacity on the Melbourne Rail Network.
  
  
  
  • Federal contribution: $3 billion¹.
  
  
  
  


• M80 (Western and Metropolitan Ring Roads): completion of 38 kilometres of capacity improvements on the M80 Ring Road including introducing an Intelligent Transport System for the whole corridor. The specific sections being upgraded are:
  
  
  
  • Princes Freeway to Western Highway;
  
  
  • Sunshine Avenue to Calder Freeway;
  
  
  • Sydney Road to Edgars Road; and
  
  
  • Plenty Road to Greensborough Highway.
  
  
  • Federal contribution: $525.1 million.
  
  
  
  


• Managed Motorways: upgrade the Intelligent Transport System on the 4.1 kilometres section of the Monash Freeway (M1) between High Street and Warrigal Road. This work will include additional sensors to help improve traffic flow as well as more Variable Speed Signs.
  
  
  
  • Federal contribution: $9.9 million.
  
  
  
  


• Managed Motorways: upgrade the Intelligent Transport System on the 29.4 kilometres section of the Monash Freeway (M1) from Warrigal Road to Clyde Road. This work will include additional sensors to help improve traffic flow, more Variable Speed Signs and the use of hard shoulder for additional capacity.
  
  
  
  • Federal contribution: $68.6 million.
  
  
  
  


• Ballarat Freight Hub: development of a general freight centre in the Ballarat West Employment Zone.
  
  
  
  • Federal contribution: $9.1 million.
  
  
  
  


• Princes Highway West: construct the next stage of the duplication of the Princes Highway West, between Winchelsea and Colac.
  
  
  
  • Federal contribution: $257.5 million (previously announced).
  
  
  
  

I am pleased to announce that the Federal Government has worked with the Victorian Government to develop an innovative solution which will allow the delivery of the Melbourne Metro rail project.
The project will be funded through a combination of upfront and availability payments, with the Federal Government contributing 50 per cent of the cost of each.
Details of the implementation of this project will be worked through with Victoria in the coming months.
Importantly, this does not represent the totality of our next program, with more projects likely to be added in the period ahead. Nonetheless, their addition to this Federal Labor Government’s ongoing capital works program takes our investment in the State’s road, rail and public transport infrastructure to an unprecedented $13.5 billion.
As well as setting the agenda for the future, the 2013-14 Budget also provides the final annual instalment of $1.5 billion for our current Nation Building Program (2008-09 to 2013-14), whichmore than doubled annual infrastructure spending from $89 to $201 per Victorian.
This year’s funding allocation will enable work to be completed on the following major projects:

• Widening the Western Ring Road (M80) to a minimum of three lanes in each direction between Sydney Road and the Calder Freeway and between Sunshine Avenue and the Western Highway.
  
  
  
  • Federal contribution: $788.8 million.
  
  
  
  


• Widening the Metropolitan Ring Road (M80) to a minimum of three lanes in each direction between Edgars and Plenty roads.
  
  
  
  • Federal contribution: $75.8 million.
  
  
  
  


• Duplication of Clyde Road in Berwick between High Street and Kangan Drive.
  
  
  
  • Federal contribution: $30.0 million.
  
  
  
  


• Upgrading the Western Highway between Stawell and the South Australian border including bridge strengthening, new overtaking lanes, and new and upgraded rest areas.
  
  
  
  • Federal contribution: $40.0 million.
  
  
  
  


• Installation of the latest freeway management technology along the West Gate Freeway between the Western Ring Road and Williamstown Road including new mounted Variable Speed Limit Signs, ramp signalling, closed circuit TV and Variable Message Signs.
  
  
  
  • Federal contribution: $12.5 million.
  
  
  
  

Over the coming 12 months work will also continue on a range of projects, including:

• Construction of the Regional Rail Link, currently the nation’s biggest public transport infrastructure project and Melbourne’s first major new rail line in 80 years, which will connect West Werribee to Southern Cross Station.
  
  
  
  • Federal contribution: $3.225 billion.
  
  
  
  


• Duplication of the Western Highway between Ballarat and Stawell.
  
  
  
  • Federal contribution: $404.0 million.
  
  
  
  


• Duplication of sections of the Princes Highway East between Traralgon and Sale.
  
  
  
  • Federal contribution: $140.0 million.
  
  
  
  


• Duplication of the Princes Highway West between Waurn Ponds and Winchelsea.
  
  
  
  • Federal contribution: $85.5 million.
  
  
  
  


• Upgrading the ballast and drainage systems along the rail line between Sydney and Melbourne.
  
  
  
  • Federal contribution: $83.0 million.
  
  
  
  

This year’s funding allocation will also enable construction to begin on a new level crossing that will restore Ballarat’s Avenue of Honour to its former glory (Federal contribution: $1.0 million).
The 2013-14 Budget continues funding for a range of initiatives which will improve Victoria’s local roads and make them safer:

• $16.1 million to eliminate another 63 dangerous black spots;


• $218.7 million to assist councils across the State to maintain and upgrade their local roads; and


• $4.6 million to provide 5 new or upgraded rest areas, 2 intersection improvements, 86 new or upgraded stock ramps and loading pens and lighting upgrades at 5 stockyards.

From the outset Federal Labor’s mission has been to reverse the neglect we inherited and invest in the modern, well-planned infrastructure that will make working people’s lives easier, our businesses more competitive and the national economy stronger.
We know there’s more to be done. But this Government is making the right
decisions for the nation’s future and across the length and breadth of Victoria, building the infrastructure which will stand the test of time.
This Budget keeps our economy strong and ready for the future by making the smart investments in infrastructure. We are investing for the future, putting jobs and economic growth first and protecting the important services that Australians rely on.
We’re doing this to keep our economy one of the most resilient in the world we have low unemployment, solid growth, contained inflation and low interest rates.