WANNON MP Dan Tehan has labelled Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews the "Christmas Grinch" as millions in federal commitments for Princes Highway upgrades sit idle.
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Mr Tehan announced funding for upgrades between Warrnambool and Port Fairy eight days before this year's federal election, but said there was still no state commitment for when works would begin or if further funding was to come.
"There has been repeated correspondence to his ministers, a petition with over 8000 signatures, and still nothing," Mr Tehan said.
"The best Christmas present Dan Andrews could give the south-west is a commitment to start investing the $140 million that the Morrison government has delivered for our local roads."
The state government did not answer specific questions about the project or its timeframes. A spokesman instead said it would "continue to work closely" with the federal government.
A spokeswoman for deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said she understood the state government was "currently developing a formal proposal identifying both early works and longer-term priorities". "Works (are) currently expected to begin on the first sections later in 2020," she said.
The Princes Highway West Action Alliance's Trev Greenberger said he had met with the Parliamentary Secretary for Roads Ros Spence earlier this month. "We had a good hearing," Mr Greenberger said.
"What they said was they are working through some funding agreements with the federal government. We are hopeful we might hear some timelines for works earlier in the new year."
He said the alliance had reiterated a call for up to $700 million to be spent on the road between Colac and South Australia.
"The asset is already suffering and work needs to happen sooner than later. It is beyond a band-aid approach now. We need a 10-year sustained investment," Mr Greenberger said.
The alliance earlier this year unveiled a plan to use $60 million announced for the Port Fairy to Warrnambool section of the highway for a duplication between Dennington and Illowa.
"They are well aware of our preference for the duplication from the Dennington bridge to the Southern Cross turn off. The planning has to take place," Mr Greenberger said.