maybe this is why its be strong

$750m bypass talks to pave way for fresh feesArticle from: Font size: Decrease Increase Email article: Email Print article: Print Submit comment: Submit comment Ashley Gardiner

September 15, 2008 12:00am
A SECOND tolls backflip is in the air as the State Government holds top-level talks today with road operator ConnectEast.

The Brumby Government is considering including a 22km bypass around Frankston, estimated to cost $500 million to $750 million, in its transport blueprint, to be released later this year.

But it has refused to repeat a 2006 election promise to build the road without charging tolls.

The Government controversially dumped a 2002 election promise to build the $2.5 billion EastLink toll-free.

ConnectEast is holding talks with Roads Minister Tim Pallas today.

An earlier offer by ConnectEast to build the road by June 2009 was rejected by the Government in early 2006.

But pressure is mounting to build the bypass. A major bottleneck regularly forms at the southern end of the Frankston Freeway, and the problem has worsened since EastLink opened.

The toll road company still supports the building of a bypass, as does the RACV. But the State Government had refused to discuss the issue.

The Herald Sun asked whether the Frankston bypass could be tolled if the Government decided it should be built.

Spokesman Stephen Moynihan said: "We've said repeatedly that we are not ruling anything in or out in the development of the Victorian Transport Plan."

During the 2006 election campaign, then premier Steve Bracks ruled out tolls on the Frankston bypass if the Government decided it should be built.

"It's not on the scale and size which would attract a toll road at all," he said.

Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder said the refusal to confirm the 2006 election pledge was unsurprising.

"Once again, this is another policy backflip on tolls," Mr Mulder said.

The Herald Sun has learned ConnectEast wanted to build the bypass as a toll road while EastLink was under construction, but was rebuffed by Mr Bracks in early 2006.

ConnectEast wanted the State Government to contribute $100 million to the project, which would also have been funded through a 1c-2c increase in tolls.

ConnectEast also wanted to extend its control of EastLink from 39 to 49 years.

The company told the Government that using

the existing road-building workforce would save money, and the bypass would take only 12 months to build.

Company spokesman James Tonkin said ConnectEast strongly supported the bypass.

"(We see) it as a key component in completing Melbourne's outer road network," he said.

"The environmental effects study (on the proposed bypass) is still under way, and so it is premature to speculate on whether and how it might proceed."

Mr Tonkin confirmed that company chiefs would meet Mr Pallas today.

"ConnectEast meets regularly with Mr Pallas," Mr Tonkin said.