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The embattled Moe railway revitalisation project is back on track, following a concrete funding commitment by the Coalition Government.
Months of doubt were cast over the $7.5 million federal contribution, after it was announced by the former Labor Government, but not signed off on before the election.
Federal Member for McMillan Russell Broadbent announced on Friday the project would be brought out of limbo.
“The funding has now been signed off on by the cabinet,” Mr Broadbent said.
“The money’s there. It’s up to the council to move ahead with it and get on with the project.”
Mr Broadbent conceded he earlier feared the funding might not be upheld by his government “after the announcements during the federal election campaign and the difficulty the broader economy faced”.
“When you ask the people to trust you, being able to fulfil their trust in me was a lot of pressure,” he said.
The federal funding will help pay for the $14.3 million first stage of the Moe project, which will include construction of a civil building and including library, on the south side of George Street.
Latrobe City Council plans to borrow $2 million this financial year for the project, while the State Government has allocated $3 million.
Moe Traders Association secretary Sue Broadbent said the past year had been an “emotional rollercoaster”.
The group, and Moe residents rallied earlier this year when council decided to conduct a three-month review of the project plans.
The plans were adopted without change, and funding announced, before the project again stagnated following the election.
“I’m so excited. I can’t believe we’ve won,” Ms Broadbent said on Friday.
However, she said she feared it was not the final hurdle the project would face, with the introduction of council’s new procurement policy.
Mr Broadbent appeared to have bypassed council and gone straight to the Moe business community when making the announcement, with mayor Sharon Gibson informed of the visit via the media.
Cr Gibson said regardless of the way the funding was announced, she was pleased it had been confirmed.
As one of the councillors who supported a review of the project, Cr Gibson had concerns about aspects of the plan including relocating the town library from Kirk Street and changes to car parking on George Street.
“I have those concerns. But they are mine and seemingly the public don’t share that. That’s fine. Hopefully they were right,” Cr Gibson said.
“There’s been uncertainty for seven or eight years now and this (funding) closes it all.
“We move ahead now.”
“The project is just going to be transformative for Moe as a township, inviting people to come and live and work there,” Committee for Gippsland executive director Mary Aldred said.
“It also shows a really good example of what we can do when the community comes together and recognises a project that’s really worthwhile.”
