Wyndham council is calling on the federal government to fast-track funding for rail upgrades on the Melbourne-Geelong train line following the release of a national infrastructure priority list.
Mayor Peter Maynard said that while he was happy to see that the Outer Metropolian Ring Road, improved rail capacity on the Melbourne-Geelong rail line and upgrades to the Melbourne rail network had made Infrastructure Australia’s list, he believed the projected timelines needed to be streamlined.
“Improving the rail capacity on the Melbourne-Geelong line is an excellent opportunity to build new rail stations in Wyndham and to leverage this infrastructure to provide services and amenities,” he said.
“We are excited about the potential for this to address some of our western growth transport issues, but we’re concerned that the timeframes – 10 to 15 years – are far too long. We need to address train overcrowding as a priority, and we need to do it now.
“With the Werribee line overcrowded and users of these trains deserving much better … we’re hopeful that issues on this line will be addressed very quickly.”
Cr Maynard said he was disappointed that funding for the western interstate freight terminal and the modernisation of the Werribee South irrigation network had missed the priority list cut.
“Wyndham City and many other growth municipality councils are also continuing to urge the federal government to roll out an outer growth area fund to support our joint aims of providing critical community infrastructure and amenities in our rapidly changing communities,” he said.
The Infrastructure Australia priority list, based on more than 500 submissions from governments, stakeholders groups and communities, is used to recommend key infrastructure projects for federal government funding consideration.
Infrastructure Australia chair Julieanne Alroe said the rail improvements would “enable our satellite cities to develop stronger economic and employment foundations.”
