By Alesha Capone
Four new train stations are needed to unclog major roads and improve liveability for Wyndham residents, according to the council.
Stations at Sayers Road in Tarneit West, Black Forest Road in Wyndham Vale, Davis Road in Tarneit West and in Truganina have been listed as priority projects in a council submission to Infrastructure Australia.
The council’s submission state’s Wyndham’s rapid population growth is creating issues for the community that only major infrastructure projects can solve.
Wyndham mayor Mia Shaw said electrification of the Melbourne-Geelong rail line was “crucial to unclogging major roads and improving liveability for residents”.
The council submission stated that the Regional Rail Link (RRL) service from Geelong to Melbourne, which stops at Wyndham Vale and Tarneit stations, “is already at capacity”.
“According to figures provided by V/Line, Tarneit and/or Wyndham Vale were the busiest points on this line in 13 out of the 16 recorded times between March and May 2019.”
The council’s list of priorities includes establishment of the Wyndham West Link; the Outer Metropolitan Ring; the Geelong-Melbourne rail electrification; the Western Interstate Freight Terminal; the Sunshine and Geelong fast-rail connection via Wyndham; energy from waste facilities; and preschool and secondary school infrastructure.
Cr Shaw said the council had already completed parts of the Westlink project, a road and bridge project that runs between Tarneit and Werribee, with the assistance of developer contributions.
But she said the council needed an additional $50-$100 million to complete construction.
She said construction of a bridge over the Princes Freeway was “the largest component of these costs”.
The council also recommends that the shortfall of preschool facilities and school buildings in growth areas be urgently addressed as a national priority.
Infrastructure Australia will put together an Infrastructure Priority List which will be provided to state and federal governments to help guide infrastructure expenditure across the nation.
