Canberra snubs Hume Freeway interchange

WHITTLESEA City Council has missed out on federal funding to create a $110 million Hume Freeway interchange at Epping.

Despite lobbying ministers for project funding in Canberra recently, the council did not receive a handout in last week’s budget.

Whittlesea wants to see a full diamond interchange on the Hume Freeway at O’Herns Road with on and off ramps in each direction.

Whittlesea manager for advocacy and communications Griff Davis said the council would continue to push for funding for the project and would prepare an economic business case to present to the government.

He said the interchange would help service traffic coming and going from the new Melbourne wholesale fruit and vegetable market at Epping. “It will be a major benefit to the local economy and the local agricultural community,” he said.