The south-west has missed out on any major piece of the federal budget pie but Wannon MP Dan Tehan says the region should get up to $200 million for the desperately needed upgrade of the Princes Highway.
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After the budget was revealed on Tuesday night, Mr Tehan spruiked a range of pre-announced funding initiatives for fast rail, farmers, small businesses, roads and Lake Pertobe.
"The big number out of the budget, the one we have been keeping for the budget itself, is $1 billion has been allocated to the Princes Highway," he said.
"It's a down payment for the Princes Highway corridor strategy from Sydney through to Adelaide. We launched that $5 million strategy in last year's budget and this year this is a $1 billion downpayment. That money starts in 2021. The idea is for the strategy to be completed by the end of the year and then the funding can start the following year. For our section you would be looking at - it will depend on what the strategy says - on any reasonable allocation it has to be around $150-$200 million.
"We've got to make sure we keep engaging with the strategy, but given we have one of the most significant areas and the seriousness of the work required I will be advocating incredibly strongly for our fair share.
"What we now have to do is identify the needs and that work has already started. Then we have to advocate, but the money is there in the budget."
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