A Melbourne Airport bus service from Sunshine railway station could be on the cards if Brimbank council has its way.
The council has called on the state government to introduce the airport bus service following its review of the government’s new Project 10,000 Trains, Roads, Jobs transport policy.
Council administrator John Tanner said the recent change in government had meant a change in transport projects affecting Brimbank.
He said while a Melbourne Airport rail link was not a high priority for the state government, a bus service from Sunshine to the airport was an alternative way of improving public transport access for people in the west and regional areas.
“That would be a great step forward in not only servicing Sunshine and Brimbank, but also the regional rail network … from Ballarat, Geelong and Bendigo,” he said.
“It opens up great opportunities for Brimbank as a result of that and certainly meets the criteria to improve public transport to the airport.”
The council report praised the government’s decision to remove the Main Road and Furlong Road level crossings at St Albans, and the Melton Highway level crossing at Sydenham, and advised it would be best to remove all three level crossings simultaneously “to minimise these disruptions to the travelling public”.
The council also:
• Called for electrification of the Melton train line and grade separations at the Calder Park Drive and Station Road level crossings;
• Voiced its ongoing support for the western section of the East West Link and called land in Brooklyn to be reserved; and
• Highlighted the need for safety improve- ments at the Kings and Taylors roads roundabout and the Sunshine Avenue and Old Calder Highway intersection.