MARIBYRNONG City Council does not want to see “a new tunnel as the only answer” to east-west transport congestion.
The council’s comment is in response to the State Government’s call for all interested groups to make submissions on how best to solve the growing transport demands between eastern and western suburbs.
Maribyrnong mayor Michael Clarke said the government’s call for submissions was welcome and the council wanted to see an emphasis on public transport as a solution to the problem.
“Our city bears the brunt of increased trucks and car congestion,” he said.
“Since the State Government decided not to finalise the Inner West Transport Strategy, we have been very concerned about their lack of long-term transport planning to protect our community in Melbourne’s inner West.
“We want the study to look at public transport improvements, as well as methods of diverting road freight onto the rail network, in dealing with Melbourne’s congestion problems.
“We don’t want to see a new tunnel as the only answer.”
He added that alternative truck routes to the Port of Melbourne needed to be identified to divert truck traffic away from the residential and shopping areas of Yarraville and Footscray.
“Council will collaborate with other municipalities in the region and the Metroplitain Transport Forum to develop a submission to the study,” Cr Clarke said.
“Additionally we will seek and encourage the input of our community.”
Premier Steve Bracks said it was vital to the future economic prosperity of Victoria that the government fully assesses the options for personal, business, freight and public transport travel between the east and west.
“The primary transport link between the city’s east and west, the Monash-City Link-West Gate corridor, is subject to increasing traffic demands, particularly heavy freight,” he said.
“A $1 billion upgrade to the corridor announced as part of Meeting Our Transport Challenges will improve the levels of traffic the roadway can handle but we need to look at the long-term as Melbourne’s population grows and more people use the corridor.”
The government has set $5 million aside for the study.
Former British Airways and Ansett Airlines boss Sir Rod Eddington will lead the study and deliver a report in 2008.
Sir Eddington, on the Department of Infrastructure website, said he recognised the Port of Melbourne traffic issues needed to be addressed.
“Concurrently, it is expected that container traffic through the Port of Melbourne will increase dramatically by 2035,” he said.
“The majority of this traffic will be imported goods, which require substantially different distribution networks to those required to support export traffic.”
He added that public transport was also a priority: “The study provides an opportunity for further development of public transport services to be considered.
“The Monash – City Link – West Gate Improvement Package announced in Meeting Our Transport Challenges will enhance capacity over the next four to five years.
“However, it is estimated that full capacity will be reached within 15 years.”
For more information visit www.doi.vic.gov.au/eastwest, submissions will be accepted until May 31 2007.
