By Stephen Linnell
THE Federal Government will provide $12 million to help fund feasibility studies for projects identified as priorities in Sir Rod Eddington’s recent report on the western suburbs’ ailing transport network.
The investment will form part of a $30 million study that will follow the State Government consultation process that is due to end on 15 July.
It is part of a range of commitments made in last week’s Federal Budget.
As well, the Government will invest $9 million in 2007-08 on planning, traffic modelling, scoping and pre-construction work for the Western Ring Road.
It will also deliver $25 million in a pre-election commitment in funds to strengthen and improve the capacity of the West Gate Bridge.
A further $1.7 million has been set aside for road maintenance in Wyndham, Melton and Hobsons Bay.
Victoria University will get $8.2 million from the $500 million Better Universities allocation.
Victoria University’s vice-chancellor, Professor Elizabeth Harman, said: “We will use this funding to modernise information and communication technology for our teaching spaces, with a focus on Government priority areas of nursing, education, maths, science and engineering, and to link our cross-campus teaching at St Albans, Footscray Park and possibly Werribee.”
The Eddington report, Investing in Transport, made 20 recommendations, including the establishment of:
• A new western suburbs train link between Werribee and Sunshine;
• A 17-kilometre rail tunnel from Footscray to Caulfield;
• An 18-kilometre cross-city road connection – possibly a tunnel – between the Eastern and Tullamarine freeways
The report found that the existing rail and road networks, particularly in the western suburbs, were about to “hit the wall”.
“Without new public transport and road infrastructure, overcrowding on our trains and congestion on our roads will become intolerable … the costs of doing nothing are even greater,” Sir Rod said.
His report specifically highlighted the need for improved road and rail infrastructure in the western suburbs. “In particular, the overcrowding on rail corridors in the West and the worsening congestion on the West Gate Bridge demand attention,” he said.
Other key elements of the report include a recommendation to establish a truck action plan to remove truck traffic from local streets in the inner West, particularly in Yarraville.
The 17-kilometre rail tunnel linking Footscray to Caulfield has been earmarked as the first step in what has been termed a “metro-style” underground rail network. The project would be built in two stages at a cost of about $8.5 billion.
The tunnel would start at West Footscray and include a new underground station at Footscray. It would pass through Kensington and Parkville before going south to St Kilda Road, ending near the Shrine of Remembrance.
Another new rail link, between Werribee and Sunshine, would be known as the Tarneit link and has been costed at $1.5 billion.
The line would begin west of the Werribee train station, travel north through Wyndham Vale before heading east through Tarneit and north again to Deer Park, near the Western Freeway.
Wyndham Mayor Cr Kim McAliney said: “Advocating for State and Federal funding is a key priority for Wyndham City Council.
“The infrastructure required to meet the demands of a rapidly growing community is beyond the financial capabilities of local government. This means that attracting funding from both levels of Government is essential.”
