Wednesday, 21 September 2022

Western Metropolitan Region transport infrastructure

Dr CUMMING (Western Metropolitan) (20:45): (2149) As it is the last adjournment of the 59th Parliament, I guess I should just start by saying that my adjournment matter is for the Premier, Mr Daniel Andrews, and the action that I seek is for him to resign now. But this government loves infrastructure, so my adjournment matter is to the Minister for Transport Infrastructure in the other place and the action that I seek is for the minister to produce a transport plan outlining all the future transport infrastructure projects for the outer west, with time lines for delivery. Over the next 30 years the outer west, including the cities of Melton, Wyndham and Hume, will increase by 1.25 million residents, and that is the size of Adelaide. Now, over 70 per cent of their workforce leave that area every day to access work, and as a result they have congested roads, they have pressure on their public transport networks and many residents cannot even get to public transport to get to work, education and health services.

Projects such as the Melton hospital, the western intermodal freight terminal and the East Werribee precinct will deliver tens of thousands of jobs. Current infrastructure cannot cope. There are already eight dangerous level crossings between Caroline Springs and Melton, let alone Yarraville and Spotswood and other areas, and the Wyndham and Melton lines still have not been electrified, despite promises before the last election. There is a 10-kilometre stretch of rail between already congested Watergardens station and Diggers Rest station without a station. Residents in Hillside, Taylors Hill, Fraser Rise and Plumpton need a train station in Calder Park on the Sunbury line. Residents on the Thornhill Park, Mt Atkinson and Aintree side need a train station on the Melton line.

Melton Road has unsealed shoulders, open drains and no pedestrian access. Hopkins Road, which connects the two municipalities, has over 27 000 vehicles a day, and traffic modelling indicates that that will increase to over 40 000 vehicles per day by 2031—and that needs upgrading. New bus routes are needed urgently to service new estates so people can get to jobs, schools and services. It sounds like a lot, but there is a lot needed in the western suburbs. We need equality with the eastern suburbs to actually look like the rest of Melbourne. If this government is not going to do it, I hope the next government, a new government, will. We need a change of government, and I hope the Premier resigns.