By Christine de Kock
THE Western Melbourne Metropolitan Councils (WMMC) has called a transport summit to tackle issues relating to adequate infrastructure in the expanding West.
The WMMC, comprising councils in Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melton, Moonee Valley and Wyndham, has joined forces with key stakeholders including the Victorian Transport Association, Port of Melbourne and Transport Workers Union and private trucking companies.
And the City of Maribyrnong’s mayor, Michelle MacDonald, is the transport spokesperson for the Western Metropolitan Mayors.
She said it was important to note the issue of transport must have become serious if representatives, who often held different agendas, felt the need to come together.
“Transport infrastructure is getting to be in a pretty bad state when transport companies and private companies and ourselves need to form a partnership.
“It tells us that a massive injection from the government for infrastructure spending is needed,” Cr MacDonald said.
She said areas of concern included the capacity constraints on the Westgate Bridge, overcrowded trains during peak periods, the capacity of the City Loop and upgrades to the station at North Melbourne.
Concerns included predictions about major increases in the port and general freight transport in the West.
“If you look at the amount of traffic from seven to nine in the morning, or three until six in the evening, you will realise what a joke the transport is here.”
The first stage of the lobbying is expected to be a request for the government to release the West Gate Bridge report, finished in February, and to release the Inner West Integrated Transport Strategy (IWITS), which had been coming for three years.
