THE state government must earmark money to urgently address vital transport needs across Melbourne’s west, according to opposition MPs.
Ahead of today’s budget, six western suburbs MPs said there was a distinct east-west population and infrastructure imbalance.
Melton MP Don Nardella joined Tim Pallas (Tarneit), Wade Noonan (Williamstown), Jill Hennessy (Altona), Natalie Hutchins (Keilor) and Marlene Kairouz (Kororoit) in calling for action on a range of long-standing issues.
Included in their wish list was the electrification of rail services to Melton, intermodal transport hubs and more money to improve safety on the Melton Highway.
“The highway is the highest priority for the Melton township to eliminate the dangerous dip and single-lane road in the fastest-growing Australian region so no further accidents and deaths occur in the future,” Mr Nardella said.
As reported in the Weekly, Melton motorists have been calling for the government to urgently fund the highway’s duplication.
A social media campaign spearheaded by Narelle Bowden, whose nephew was killed in a crash on the road, has secured more than 700 members.
“The highway acts as a gateway for people crossing over from the Western Highway to Sunbury, Diggers Rest and the Melbourne Airport,” Ms Bowden said. “With the number of run-off road and head-on collisions, this highway needs to be upgraded before more lives are lost.”
Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder would not speculate about what would be included in the budget.
“Fixing a decade of neglect and poor planning by the former Labor government will not happen overnight,” he said.
