CORANGAMITE Sarah Henderson says a report from Infrastructure Australia (IA) shows the East West Link must be built, but she is less committed to IA\u2019s recommendation to sell off the National Broadband Network (NBN).<\/p>\n
In reports released earlier this month, IA has outlined the strategy for what needs to be done over the next 15 years.<\/p>\n
This includes an infrastructure priority list, which connectivity between Melbourne\u2019s Eastern Freeway and CityLink \u2013 as would have been done by the now-cancelled East West Link \u2013 as a \u201chigh priority She said the Andrews government\u2019s decision to pay $1.1 billion in compensation not to build the East West Link was \u201cone of the most reckless political decisions in Victoria’s history\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Western Distributor is very Melbournecentric and a poor cousin to the East West Link, which does nothing for the long-term needs of the Geelong and Corangamite regions. \u201cWithout action, the cost of road congestion in the Melbourne-Geelong area is projected to increase from $3 billion in 2011 to $9 billion in 2031.\u201d<\/p>\n
The IA Australian Infrastructure Plan\u2019s other recommendations include privatising the NBN in the medium term (within 10 years) and possibly breaking it up into smaller companies based on technology or geographic location.<\/p>\n
The government-owned NBN Co is not expected to complete the NBN until at least 2020, but there have been reports that the federal government is considering privatising the NBN before the rollout Asked if she supported the idea of selling the NBN, completed or not, Ms Henderson said: \u201cInfrastructure Australia is an independent statutory body with a board of experts and the government will carefully consider the recommendations in the report.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government has no plans to sell NBN at this time and therefore will not speculate on the potential asset value of a completed national broadband network.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
CORANGAMITE Sarah Henderson says a report from Infrastructure Australia (IA) shows the East West Link must be built, but she is less committed to IA\u2019s recommendation to sell off the National Broadband Network (NBN). In reports released earlier this month, IA has outlined the strategy for what needs to be done over the next 15 […]<\/p>\n