By Liam McNally
Candidates for next month’s state election were held to account over the state of the electorates’ roads and public transport systems during a transport forum in Burnside last week.
Western Metropolitan candidates, Catherine Cumming (independent) and Bernadette Thomas (Greens) joined Kororoit candidates John Fletcher (Liberal) and Luba Grigorovitch (Labor) on the forum’s panel on Thursday, October 5.
They were offered the chance to state their plans for the outer-wests transport systems before being questioned by residents.
Mr Fletcher said the state government favours East Melbourne, citing $53 billion committed to a rail tunnel from Box Hill, and Monash having double the bus routes than Kororoit.
He said opposition leader Matthew Guy has committed $10 billion over 10 years to improve Victorian road infrastructure.
Dr Cummings said she has already strongly advocated for better roads in the west in Parliament and wants to continue to do so.
“You should be shocked at the dismissive nature of this government, and the times that I’ve brought up what the issues are for the west, and the times I’ve been mocked in that chamber,” she said.
Ms Grigorovitch spoke third. Sshe said the government is spending $20 billion on road and rail upgrades in the west such as level crossing removals, station upgrades, longer trains, Geelong fast rail, Ballarat line upgrade, and the Western Roads upgrade. She said projects like metro tunnel and Westgate tunnel will also benefit the west.
Ms Thomas said the Greens’ plan is based on more public transport, more often. This includes electrifying the Melton rail line, the West to East Metro Rail Plan, 3000 electric buses running across expanded routes, and more separated walking and bike paths. She said at the moment transport infrastructure in the west isn’t keeping up with population growth.
During the questions section, constituents were concerned with the quality of roads, and the lack of bus services in new estates like Mt Atkinson.
The candidates were keen to ensure they would advocate on behalf of the outer-west but were reluctant to guarantee solid plans during the campaigning phase.
None of the candidates made any funding commitments to upgrade Melton’s roads.
Melton council and residents are calling for the an upgrade to the Western Highway; the duplication and upgrade of the Melton Highway; the duplication of Christies Road; the duplication of Hopkins Road; the duplication of the Robinsons Road, Westwood Drive, Calder Park Drive corridor; and construction of the Calder Park interchange as part of a ‘Fix Our Roads’ campaign.
The event was facilitated by Metropolitan Transport Forum chair Jonathon Marsden.
