By Prealene Khera
Brimbank council has issued an urgent call to both tiers of government to get the “west moving” by delivering on the long-promised Melbourne Airport Rail before the third airport runway takes off.
Council launched its aptly named ‘Rail Before Runway’ campaign and community movement on February 18, turning the heat on the federal and state governments to fast-track the airport rail project.
Despite being one of Australia’s fastest growing regions, Melbourne’s west has been “short-changed in government infrastructure funding”, council said in a statement.
“To keep up with its rapid population growth, critical infrastructure projects such as Melbourne Airport Rail and the development of the Sunshine Precinct must be delivered now.”
According to council, Melbourne Airport Rail will connect the airport to Victoria’s regional and metropolitan train network for the first time and will provide a cost-effective, time-efficient, and sustainable public transport alternative for all.
Developing the Sunshine Precinct, which includes the full implementation of the Sunshine Station Masterplan and the rebuild of Albion Station, will leverage off this investment and stimulate the economy in the west through tourism, education, housing, shopping, and business growth.
Melbourne Airport’s third runway was given the green light in 2024 and is expected to open in 2031, with passenger numbers set to rise exponentially to 83 million per year, by 2046.
“With the Tullamarine Freeway already congested, this spells disaster for Melbourne’s traffic, with commuters from the west doomed to spend hours in gridlock unless we get the Melbourne Airport Rail back on track now,” council’s statement reads.
“A survey of 1000 Melbournian’s found that 72 per cent want to see an airport rail link and better bus services in the west before more money is spent on less critical projects.”
Mayor Thuy Dang said people of the west were tired of being left behind, with government investment continually funnelled into projects in more affluent areas that are already privileged with extensive public transport and road infrastructure.
“Fast-track the Melbourne Airport Rail and Sunshine Precinct now and build the rail before the runway – it’s not just a nice-to-have, it’s a necessity. Melbourne’s west deserves better,” she said.
“Despite many promises from governments over many years, there’s been next to no progress – no start dates, no certainty, leaving Melbourne’s west waiting.”
Community members across the west can join the movement by writing to their state and federal political leaders and calling for immediate action and investment in the west, Cr Dang said.
A state government spokesperson said the Melbourne Airport Rail project was originally slated for completion by 2029, but has been pushed back by four years due to compensation-related discussions with the airport.
A federal infrastructure department spokesperson said the government “remains committed” to the delivery of the project.
“We are also working with the Victorian government to undertake refreshed modelling work of traffic capacity constraints on the Tullamarine Freeway, which will assist with identifying the timeline for when traffic volumes would require the Melbourne Airport Rail Link to be completed.”
The ‘Rail before Runway’ campaign follows a merits review application lodged by Brimbank council earlier this year against the federal government’s decision to grant conditional approval for the runway project.
Council is awaiting the listing of the matter before the Federal Administrative Review Tribunal.
Details: railbeforerunway.com.au
