GREATER Dandenong businesses will benefit from a $285 million boost to Victoria’s economy brought about by the early opening of EastLink, according to a report.
Premier John Brumby and Roads Minister Tim Pallas this week toured Hilton Manufacturing in Dandenong South, a 2008 inductee into the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame.
Mr Brumby said a report by Allen Consulting Group estimated that EastLink’s opening five months ahead of schedule would generate a $285 million boost to the Victorian economy brought about by productivity savings.
“An additional $285 million will be injected into the Victorian economy as a direct result of EastLink opening five months early, which is on top of the $15 billion already forecast,” Mr Brumby said.
“This translates to new businesses moving to the area, improved productivity and more work for local communities with an additional 2360 jobs generated each year by EastLink.
“The number of jobs within a 30-minute drive of the City of Greater Dandenong alone has doubled to 400,000 with the opening of Eastlink and this is happening right along the corridor.”
Hilton Manufacturing managing director Todd Hartley said his company had relocated to its current site four years ago with the aim of being closer to EastLink.
“Moving closer to EastLink has already proven a success, with travel times to our major clients in the Bayswater area slashed in half and many workers saving time travelling to and from work,” Mr Hartley said.
Mr Pallas said that EastLink had also helped to clear congestion along arterial roads such as Springvale and Stud Roads with up to 30 per cent less traffic recorded since EastLink’s opening on 29 June, and while it is in its toll-free period.
Hilton Manufacturing was inducted into the Manufacturing Hall of Fame in May 2008 in recognition of its success as a component manufacturer to the trucking, leisure and healthcare industries, including being a preferred supplier to Iveco, Mercedes, Kenworth, Volvo, Mack, Jayco and A’van Caravans.
The company exports to Korea, Japan, Sweden and Canada with rapid increase in export growth of 250 per cent over the past six years.
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