Wannon MP Dan Tehan says the state government needs to match his $80 million roads funding commitment as he works to get the dangerous and dilapidated Princes Highway West on a national network.
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Mr Tehan said the inclusion of the road on the National Land Transport Network was something he was working towards achieving.
"My priorities are to first of all get the state government to match the funding or at a minimum at least match it to 20 per cent," he said.
"My view is that they should match the full amount.
"When I met with the mayors recently they all supported the state matching the funding. That's my clear number one priority."
The National Land Transport Network is a network of nationally important road and rail infrastructure links.
The federal government has the legislative responsibility for what roads are on the or part of the network.
Ownership of the National Land Transport Network remains with the state government and the federal government contributes maintenance funding on the condition that the states appropriately maintain the network.
Mr Tehan said key freight routes in the region were now recognised as roads of importance.
"We will continue to invest in them," he said.
Mr Tehan said a Princes Highway West strategy was being put in place and consultation was now being undertaken.
"I have already spoken with the deputy PM and I encourage all councils in the area to make sure as part of that strategy that the highway is on the land transport network," he said.
"I encourage all councils to get behind the push as they engage with the Princes Highway strategy."
Member for South West Coast and opposition spokeswoman for rural roads Roma Britnell is also calling on the state government to match the funding.
She said people in the south-west were sick of sub-standard roads and the federal funding would make significant improvements.
"But imagine how much more could be done if the state government stumped up the same amount of cash," she said.
"The roads earmarked for upgrade are vitally important, not only for people who drive on them each and every day, but they are vital freight links into the Port of Portland and key production areas. This is an extraordinary opportunity for Daniel Andrews to show he recognises there is life beyond the tram tracks of Melbourne and that the safety of south-west motorists is important to him and his Labor government."
Mrs Britnell said for months Labor had complained they weren't getting their fair share of funding from the federal government.
"But figures from the latest VicRoads annual report shows federal funding for roads has increased year-on-year since 2014," she said.
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