Tara Murray
Lack of transport planning and integration needs to be address in the Western Metro Land Use Framework Plan, according to Brimbank council.
The WMLUFP is an extension of Plan Melbourne 2017-2050, which is the metropolitan land use and planning strategy for the greater Melbourne area.
Brimbank council tabled its submission on the report at its recent council meeting.
The council said it supported the draft plan “in principle”, but there are some areas where the council is seeking further clarification or proposing changes.
Transport was one of the biggest areas of concern. Council officers highlighted that the transport map provided was hard to read and provides insufficient strategies and actions that respond to issues.
The report to council said a bus-train interchange is required at Deer Park station and that further suburban rail link stations should be identified, along with a future Calder Park station and stations previously identified along the Western rail corridor.
Cr Virigina Tachos said she felt that the draft plan missed out on capturing the great potential and it seemed that the state government could gain greater planning control.
“For me, the biggest issue is integrated transport. For me there should be greater recognition of transport disadvantage in our community especially across Brimbank, which means better bus services and active transport, better connectivity [and] shared user paths,” she said.
Cr Sarah Branton said she was concerned the WMLUFP did not mention an integrated bus terminal at Deer Park railway station, while Cr Bruce Lancashire said the a presentation given on the draft plan was underwhelming in some areas.
Meanwhile, Melton council’s submission said the WMLUFP was not ambitious enough for a 30-year plan.
“While Melton city council is supportive of a WMLUFP being prepared, it is concerned that the Framework Plan reads more like a 10-year infrastructure plan rather than a 30-year land use framework plan,” the report said.
