Anthony Albanese, Minister for Infrastructure and Local Government, has announced the Rudd Labor Government will offer $2.5 million to help construct a new 1.5-kilometre section of the Gardiners Creek Trail in Melbourne's east.

Mr Albanese made the announcement of funding at Warrigal Road in Ashwood with City of Boroondara Mayor Jack Wegman.

The Rudd Labor Government is funding nearly two-thirds of this $3.88 million project to close the gap in the Trail between Warrigal Road and the Solway Street Bridge.

This funding is part of our $800 million Community Infrastructure Program - the largest one-off investment in local infrastructure in Australia's history.

Through the Rudd Government's economic stimulus package, we are investing in projects like this to support jobs and local economies during the global recession.

This 'missing link' has been part of a community campaign for more than five years, with ongoing safety concerns for pedestrians and around 2,000 cyclists on the trail every day.

Today, I am pleased to be able to announce federal funding for this project. It will improve safety and result in a continuous path from Box Hill South to Hawthorn.

The trail currently stops at the Solway St Bridge in Ashburton. Although it recommences at Warrigal Road, there is no direct link between the two sections.

The project, jointly supported by the Cities of Boroondara, Monash and Stonnington, will construct about 1.5km of new, three metre-wide shared path, including:

•  An underpass under the Warrigal Road Bridge;


•  A bridge crossing east of the Warrigal Road Bridge in the City of Monash;


•  Regrading of the path connection onto the Solway Street Bridge;


•  Replacement of the Solway Street Bridge into the City of Stonnington; and


•  Lighting, line marking, signage, park furniture, and tree planting projects.

Once complete, the trail will improve access across Gardiners Creek to the Alamein, East Malvern and Holmsglen train stations, bus stops, parks, educational facilities, shopping centres, and to the Melbourne CBD.

This funding builds on nearly $1.5 million that the Rudd Government has already delivered for five local community projects in these council areas this year. It brings our community infrastructure investment in these communities to $4 million this year.

Nearly 70 per cent of the stimulus package is on infrastructure, with construction projects already underway. More than 3,000 projects are being funded through the Community Infrastructure Program across Australia to support jobs and benefit local communities.