By XAVIER SMERDON
ALL levels of government and both sides of politics have been urged to commit to funding the western section of the East West Link.
The Committee for Wyndham’s Chair, Peter Hudson, said the group was willing to facilitate discussions on the issue between the State and Federal Governments.
“An alternative to the West Gate Bridge is urgently required as it has been evidenced time and time again that the slightest of traffic accidents causes major gridlocks on the bridge,” Mr Hudson said.
“Whilst there have been notable efforts to increase job creation and containment within the West through proposed major development projects such as the East Werribee Employment Precinct draft Master Plan, there will be major increases in commute numbers and times to central Melbourne.”
The Committee’s Executive Director Chris Potaris said that VicRoads data showed that overall traffic and traffic on arterial roads was growing at four to eight per cent and truck traffic and traffic on freeways was growing twice as fast.
“Why are the State and Federal Governments failing to address the evidence-based needs of Melbourne’s West?” Mr Potaris said.
“We offer to work with the State Government to develop an evidence-based plan and project business case that includes concurrent cost benefit analysis on both the eastern component and western component of the East West Link.”
The Committee said the issue of traffic congestion was above part politics and that the Federal Government, the Opposition and State Government should adopt a bi-partisan approach to the East West Link.
