Cade Lucas
Securing infrastructure funding for the western suburbs is the main election year priority for the new chair of LeadWest.
Melton councillor Dr Phillip Zada has taken the helm of the advocacy group that represents the five councils of Melbourne’s west; Maribyrnong, Hobsons Bay, Brimbank, Wyndham and Melton.
Dr Zada said Melbourne’s west had long been short changed when it comes to government funding and with a federal election due by May, the time had come for the issue to be addressed.
“The upcoming election offers an important opportunity to redress this funding imbalance, and to invest in Melbourne’s west to benefit Victoria and Australia as a whole,” he said, highlighting infrastructure investment as an area of particular need.
“We want to unlock investment to provide our residents with transport connectivity, equity in health care, education, access to jobs and improved wellbeing.”
Dr Zada said national infrastructure targets couldn’t be reached without significant investment in the west.
“The Federal Government has a target to build 1.2 million new homes by 2029, and Melbourne’s west is critical to meeting these objectives. As one of the fastest-growing regions in the country, we have a critical need for infrastructure investment. Our residents cannot afford to wait. We must build the infrastructure now to support this unprecedented growth and ensure the west continues to thrive.”
Among the specific projects Dr Zada wants to see funded are the development of the ‘Sunshine Precinct’ and the construction of the Melbourne Airport Rail; the electrification of the Melton and Wyndham train lines; upgrades of the Western Highway and Calder Freeway and funding a detailed business case for Creative West, a new large-scale performance venue, library, and cultural hub.
The proposed Western Intermodal Freight Terminal (WIFT) in Truganinna, new aquatics and environmental wetlands centres in Hobsons Bay and increasing the amount shade and green spaces across the region are some of the other projects Dr Zada hopes to raise with both federal leaders prior to the election.
He said the benefits of infrastructure investment went beyond just the building of new facilities.
“Investment is vital to supporting sustainable growth, easing the cost-of-living pressures, and breaking the cycle of high unemployment, traffic congestion and poor public transport options.”
