Cade Lucas
“Not surprised but very disappointed.”
Committee for Wyndham chief executive Babara McLure was expecting the Geelong Fast Rail project to be delayed and with it the Western Rail Plan that depends on it, but confirmation in Tuesday’s state budget still came as a blow.
“This has been a message we’ve heard for many years,” McLure said of another rail project in Melbourne’s outer-west being put on the backburner.
“We’re happy to see the growth here but we need to be supported with the appropriate infrastructure.”
The Western Rail Plan was first announced in 2018 and involves the electrification of train lines to Wyndham Vale and Melton that are currently serviced by V/Line.
The state government has repeatedly said the project was contingent on the Geelong Fast Rail link being completed first, but with Victoria’s debt needing to be reigned in and the federal government conducting an infrastructure review, both are now on hold.
Tuesday’s budget mentioned the two rail projects but no funding or completion date.
“We’re going to have to put up with congestion and delays for years to come,” said Ms McLure of what further delays would lead to, pointing out that Wyndham was the fastest growing municipality in Australia with many residents travelling outside of it to get to work.
She said commuting every day on V/Line was tough as it is.
“If you’re hopping on at Tarneit and would like to get seat it’s really hard work.”
Tarneit MP Dylan Wright confirmed the rail projects were under review, but said a new V/Line station would go ahead.
“The commonwealth is undertaking a 90-day national infrastructure review –we will wait for that process to run its course and will have more to say then.
“This review will have no impact on the fully funded Tarneit West train station.”
Along with a new station, V/Line customers on the Geelong and Melton lines will also get new trains, though Ms McLure said they were unlikely to be much help.
“Building new trains doesn’t help if you haven’t tracks for them to run on”
Wyndham motorists fared better in the budget, with the removal of the Hopkins Road level crossing in Truganina, the upgrade of the Ballan Road intersection in Werribee and development of a new traffic management plan, all being funded.
