Tara Murray
Melton council is calling for funding for construction of the Outer Metropolitan Rail and Road Ring and the Western Intermodal Freight Terminal in this year’s federal budget.
The council released its budget wish list last week with the projects to help support more jobs, create better infrastructure and to help invest in the future of young people’s education.
The Outer Metropolitan Road and Rail Link is a critical transformational project that would connect the outer north, west and south-west of Melbourne along with freight hubs and employment precincts.
The Western Intermodal Freight Terminal at Truganina would be the catalyst for thousands of local jobs and see the removal of up to 2,000 daily truck movements from Melbourne’s west.
The council has also identified key supporting infrastructure that needs funding.
The council is calling for further funding for upgrades to the Western Highway, with $10 million allocated last year for a business case.
The council is also continuing to seek the electrification of the rail line to Melton and new stations at Mt Atkinson, Thornhill Park and Calder Park, and the adoption of the Melbourne Metro 2 East- West Rail Link.
Additionally, the council is calling for the creation of a new tertiary school of medicine to train doctors and allied health specialists for outer metropolitan areas and regional centres locally.
An expansion of the state government’s announcement of a TAFE in Cobblebank for the construction sector to also include logistics, health, education and community services is also on the council’s wish list.
Melton mayor Lara Carli said the budget submission is about securing investment in key major projects that will boost our economy and create significant long-term jobs.
She said it’s a chance to create easy lifestyles in the outer west where people can work close to home and spend more time with family.
“Council’s jobs and investment attraction strategy demonstrates how an accelerated pipeline of investment can deliver 100,000 jobs in the City of Melton by 2050 contributing $19 billion to the economy and an additional $10 billion in supply chain impacts,” she said.
“Our federal budget submission is founded on this strategy.
‘We’re wanting all three levels of government to work together to provide an equity of opportunity to our residents with access to local, quality diverse employment, skills and education as well as upgraded roads and efficient frequent public transport.”
