By Alesha Capone
WYNDHAM residents have demanded the State Government comes up with solutions for the transport problems in the area, ahead of a roads forum to be held later this month.
Wyndham councillors, the Department of Transport, VicRoads representatives and Tarneit MP and Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas, will attend the City Transport Forum on 24 August in Hoppers Crossing.
“This City Transport Forum has been arranged in response to the ongoing concerns expressed by the community in relation to arterial road congestion and road-based public transport in Wyndham,” Wyndham mayor Heather Marcus said.
Residents have been invited to attend and discuss their transport concerns.
The Committee for Wyndham chairman Peter Hudson said the long-running saga of the Werribee and Cottrell streets intersection needed to be resolved. Recently a $3 million upgrade added an extra northbound lane on Werribee St over the railway line and a left turn lane extension, but residents said they would like to see more done.
Options listed in a 2008 planning study included Armstrong Rd acting as a ring route, a Heaths Rd duplication, a McGrath Rd link (grade separated crossing), a McGrath Rd link (at a grade crossing) and Duncans Rd westerly ramps.
Mr Hudson said in addition to this, public transport within Wyndham needed upgrading.
“With rail transport, there’s a lack of express trains to the city,” he said.
“We need better access to the city by train. The Regional Rail Link is supposed to be the saviour to the problem, but I don’t believe this is the case, because I understand it won’t add more express trains.”
A State Government spokesman said several projects have been completed within Point Cook during the past 10 years to cater for population growth, including the $300 million invested in the Geelong Rd upgrade, Palmers Rd extension and duplications of Derrimut Rd, Fitzgerald Rd and Boundary Rd.
The City Transport Forum will be at 7pm on 24 August at the Wyndham Events Centre, 80 Derrimut Rd, Hoppers Crossing.
