By Kerri-Anne Mesner
HISTORICALLLY silent western suburbs residents are being urged to submit their thoughts to the State Government about Sir Rod Eddington’s transport infrastructure recommendations.
The MPs for Kororoit, Andre Haermeyer, and Footscray, Marsha Thomson, have put out the call to western suburbs residents to stand up and say they want transport infrastructure upgrades.
The calls come after a Labor Party conference in Melbourne on 24 May where Sir Rod’s East West Link Needs Assessment recommendations were discussed.
Bill Shorten, the outgoing state ALP president and now federal MP for Maribyrnong, said inner city politicians at the conference raised their concerns that the two proposed tunnels — one rail and one road — were not the right way to go about East-West transport link needs.
He said there was a clear united voice from the western suburbs at the conference.
Ms Thomson said the spotlight was now on the West and it was important for western suburbs residents to get actively involved in the process of discussing Sir Rod’s recommendations.
Mr Haermeyer said: “We, in the past, have allowed people in the inner city to dictate our transport needs.
“For the first time, in my living memory … $17 billion …. The prospect for that sort of money has not been on the table for the West.
“We need to stand up and say we want this because if we don’t the coffee sippers in Lygon St will get what they want.”
Public submissions are open until 15 July and the report can be accessed at the State Government’s Department of Infrastructure website, www.doi.vic.gov.au
