Whittlesea Shire’s agriculture sector will soon be transporting produce to market quicker and more safely through the Andrews Labor Government’s Local Roads to Market program.
Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Victoria and Member for Yan Yean Danielle Green today announced $300,000 through the second round of the program to upgrade Cookes Road in Doreen.
The grant, along with co-investment from Costa Mushroom Exchange, will help the City of Whittlesea widen and seal a section of Cookes Road and improve left and right turn movements at the intersection of Bridge Inn Road.
The infrastructure upgrades will provide a safer road surface to accommodate heavy vehicle loads ranging from 12 to 68 tonnes and allow for better manoeuvrability at the intersection.
Costa Mushroom Exchange, which is Australia’s largest grower of pre-packed mushrooms, is a regular user of the intersection and will be one of the major agricultural businesses to benefit from this productivity boost.
The $25 million Local Roads to Market program is a key pillar of the Labor Government’s Agriculture Infrastructure and Jobs Fund and supports rural, regional and outer-suburban councils to improve connections from the farm gate to arterial roads, receival points and markets.
The Cookes Road upgrade is one of 39 projects worth $13.44 million the Labor Government is investing in this year to improve rural roads. Round 1 funded 29 projects worth $22.2 million across regional Victoria in 2017.
Quotes attributable to Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Victoria Danielle Green
“Agriculture is one of this state’s most important industries and to get produce moving more efficiently, we need the right infrastructure – that’s why we’re backing this upgrade to Cookes Road.”
“This investment in Whittlesea’s road network will boost the productivity of farm businesses and their supply chains, putting them in a better position to compete in international markets and create local jobs.”
“These upgrades will improve agribusiness and supply chain productivity and improve the country road network for all users.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020