Tony De Domenico, Executive Director of UDIA (VIC) said, "The funding announcement of East West Link, coming on top of the Transurban announcement of the $850 million CityLink upgrade, provides a major boost in confidence to the property and construction industry to invest in Victoria."

Mr. De Domenico said with the funding approved it is time for bipartisan support for major infrastructure projects which are urgently needed to boost Victoria's productivity and employment.

"Cutting travelling time is a major boost to productivity across the entire community.

"Certainty on infrastructure provision is a key factor for the development industry to commit billions of dollars annually to projects which underpins the development industry's employment base.

"In Victoria the industry directly employs around 310,000 full time employees, contributes around 12 per cent of the state's gross domestic product and contributes $4.6 billion in taxes to all tiers of government."

Mr. De Domenico said with a workforce of that size it is vital to have major infrastructure projects in the pipeline which can provide a flow on effect to residential, commercial and retail development.

"Putting a timetable on these two projects with committed funding will also provide added attraction for the development of greenfield housing projects in the west and north of Melbourne with the increase of traffic capacity and easing of congestion."

Media Enquiries:
Ron Smith, Corporate Media Communications, UDIA Victoria - Mobile: 0417 329 201