Ms THEOPHANOUS (Northcote): My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Roads, and the action that I seek is for the minister to provide an update on the progress being made to deliver the Farm Road link connecting Alphington to the Darebin-Yarra Trail and to do what she can to expedite its delivery. In April 2018 the spectacular Darebin-Yarra Trail link was opened to the public with an $18 million investment from the Andrews Labor government. The impressive new trail provides access to hundreds of kilometres of Melbourne’s beautiful shared trails and, vitally, it connects communities together. I pause here to acknowledge the many local residents and groups who for years fought for this piece of infrastructure. I also commend the member for Narre Warren North, the previous Minister for Roads and Road Safety, for his leadership in bringing the project to completion. However, Alphington residents seeking to access the Darebin-Yarra Trail, which runs right though their suburb, still do not have any practical way to get onto it. Residents must go either through Sparks Reserve in Ivanhoe or via Willsmere-Chandler Park in Kew East. For many this means travelling along the busy Heidelberg Road. This is neither safe nor convenient, particularly for the many children who use the trail to get to school. In 2017 the Andrews government, in recognition of these local concerns, committed to building a new link to give cyclists and pedestrians in Alphington a direct, safe and smooth connection to the Darebin-Yarra Trail. Since then the community has been patiently awaiting the construction of the link. I understand VicRoads is currently investigating design options to connect Alphington with the trail but that unexpected complications have meant that the time line has been drawn out. Minister, this link may seem a small project in the scheme of larger infrastructure projects across the state, but I assure you its completion will make a huge difference to many in my community and connect others using the trail to the beauty that is Alphington. I am determined to make sure this link is built, and as the minister responsible for this project I ask that you provide an update and initiate action to ensure progress on the project is made.
