POPULAR WORDS

The federal government has increased its financial commitment to the Scoresby Freeway. Under an agreement with the Victorian government, the Commonwealth will contribute $445 million (up from the original commitment of $220 million), with the freeway to be toll-free and construction beginning in 2002. "Some 26,000 businesses, or 20% of Melbourne's total metropolitan business community, are located in the southern part of Melbourne, including Dandenong and Frankston," says Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry's economic and industry policy general manager Steven Wojtkiw. "The Scoresby Freeway is a vital link in the Melbourne Metropolitan Ring Road and will speed up access for industry to the Hume Highway, Port of Melbourne, Melbourne and Avalon Airports, Westgate Freeway, CityLink, the Western Highway, Eastern Freeway and Gippsland. "It will also ease congestion for metropolitan commuters. The federal government deserves praise for finally progressing this project."