Brimbank council has declared local public transport is disconnected, overcrowded and overpriced, creating an over-reliance on cars.
A council report seen by the Weekly states: “Brimbank has a disconnected public transport system that does not effectively connect the entire municipality.
‘‘The provision of bus services has lagged behind the development of new residential estates, further compounding the reliance on private vehicles. The rail network is overcrowded and only services a limited area of the municipality.”
The council’s transport priorities paper, designed to support funding proposals, said Brimbank traffic had grown by up to 8 per cent each year. It cited 2011 census figures that showed 92 per cent of people working in Brimbank travelled by car, and only 4 per cent by public transport.
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The report stated that roads had not kept pace with growth and residents were 11 per cent more likely to drive than the metro average. It called for “urgent attention” to three intersections: Kings/Taylors roads, Sunshine Avenue/Old Calder Highway, and Sunshine Avenue/Melton Highway. It also recommended Taylors Road, west of Kings Road, be made a four-lane road.
The report called on the state government to duplicate and electrify the train line to Melton, make public transport more affordable by removing Brimbank from zone 2, and create more frequent and safer services.
Council’s infrastructure and environment director, Paul Younis, said the council would continue to advocate for better road connections, removal of level crossings, better walking and cycling infrastructure, and improved bus networks and train services.
Public Transport Users Association president Tony Morton said Brimbank was one of the most car-dependent regions in Melbourne and solving traffic woes would require serious government investment. “Unfortunately, right now that money’s all being spent on the east-west link, which will hardly help anyone in Brimbank,” he said.
“Public Transport Victoria is proposing a bus network upgrade that will provide higher-frequency bus services to Watergardens and Sunshine, straighten out some of the more circuitous routes and run every service seven days a week.”
