WEST: $1.1 billion Western Hwy spend welcomed
Melbourne’s west has enthusiastically welcomed the game-changing announcement from the Albanese Government committing $1.1 billion to fix the Western Highway.
Melton Councillor Dr Phillip Zada (pictured), Chair of LeadWest, said the announcement by the Catherine King, Federal Minister for Infrastructure Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, of $1.1 billion to fix the Western Freeway is a “more than welcome” win.
LeadWest is the alliance of the Melbourne’s five western region Councils of Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melton and Wyndham. It represents 20 per cent of Greater Melbourne’s population.
“The Western Highway is an aged and rural-standard highway. It is a critical national road link and is the second largest freight carrier of any national highway, carrying more than 5400 trucks and around 86,000 vehicles on the stretch of highway between Melton and Caroline Springs daily,” said a LeadWest representative.
“With Melbourne’s western suburbs on track to match Adelaide’s population, these infrastructure investments are not just welcome – they are essential. This level of commitment helps our transport network to keep pace with our booming communities,” Dr Zada said.
“LeadWest is delighted that the announcement is hot on the heels of last week’s commitment by the Albanese Government for an additional $2 billion funding towards transforming Sunshine Station as part of the Melbourne Airport Rail project.
“The Prime Minister also announced that the Victorian Government will bring forward its Melbourne Airport Rail funding to enable the works at Sunshine Station to begin earlier and transform it into a hub for regional rail services connecting to Melbourne Airport.
“A further $325 million in federal funding was committed to boost rail services in the Melton growth corridor paving the way for future electrification of the Melton line,” Dr Zada said.
Senator Bridget McKenzie, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, later announced the Federal Opposition would support the commitment to upgrade the Western Freeway, if elected.
“Over recent months transport and infrastructure projects have been central to LeadWest’s advocacy efforts. These included critical upgrade to the Western Highway, construction of the Melbourne Airport Rail, development of the Sunshine Precinct, and the electrification of the Melton and Wyndham lines. The commitments made by both sides of politics is testament to the recognition of the need to invest in Melbourne’s West,” Dr Zada said.