By Tara Murray
Brimbank was one of the big winners in the state budget, with road and public transport funding flowing to the municipality.
Twelve months after funding was scrapped from the state budget for upgrades on the Calder Freeway, the project is back on the cards.
The state government announced the 2025-26 budget would include funding for a new interchange between the Calder Freeway and Calder Park Drive.
The funding is part of $1.2 billion announced for 19 projects in partnership with the federal government to upgrade roads across growing suburbs in Victoria.
Brimbank council said the state government would contribute $50 million, with $250 million already committed by the federal government.
Calder Action Group president Russell Mowatt said the group welcomed any investment in the Calder Freeway.
“It’s important … that this project be implemented quickly as a policy that resonated with voters during the federal campaign,” he said.
“We particularly appreciate the promised $300 million joint federal and state funding for the Calder Park Drive-Calder Freeway Interchange, a project that aligns with our organisation’s goals to improve local infrastructure and support community development.”
The funding follows the state government announcing it would partner with the federal government to build a transport superhub in Sunshine.
The state government said the superhub would be the key to to delivering Melbourne Airport Rail and the first step in the electrification of the train line to Melton.
The budget also contains money for a new bus connecting Cairnlea with Deer Park, while there will be upgrades and extensions for bus routes connecting Watergardens station with Caroline Springs town centre and Hillside, and a new bus route 464 to service growing suburbs of Hillside, Deanside, Fraser Rise and Aintree.
Western Metropolitan MP David Ettershank welcomed the funding for more bus services but said the network changes were “piecemeal“.
“While we welcome these additional services, the government must commit to a comprehensive reform of bus routes and frequencies across the western and north-western suburbs,” he said.
“There are still major public transport blackholes across the region requiring extensive service improvements.
“The only way to reduce congestion on roads in the west is to deliver quality public transport, and we know that bus services can be rolled out fast without the need to build new infrastructure.”
There was also $8.9 million to upgrade shared user paths in Taylors Lakes, Sydenham and Hillside and $500,000 to install road safety signage at three locations along Taylors Road in Keilor Downs.
Other projects to receive funding included the Vietnamese Museum Australia in Sunshine, toilet upgrades at Mackellar Primary School, planning for upgrades at St Albans Primary School and electronic scoreboards at Hillside Football Club and Western Suburbs Soccer Club.
Brimbank mayor Thuy Dang said council was delighted at the funding allocations for Sunshine Station Superhub and the Calder Park Drive interchange.
“We remain determined to work with government to ensure that detailed timelines for delivery of the Sunshine station masterplan and Albion station are agreed,“ she said.
