By Matthew Sims
Discussions have ramped up around a proposal for a new railway which would connect the western suburbs with the CBD.
On July 13, the Rail Futures Institute [RFI] released a statement which put forward the Melbourne East-West Rail proposal, which would combine the first stage of MM2 with the Western Rail Plan.
The proposed rail system would provide access points between the CBD, Spotswood and Melton, as well as a connection to Wyndham Vale.
Hobsons Bay mayor Peter Hemphill said the council has been part of a number of discussions with other councils about the proposal, including Wyndham, Brimbank, Melton, Port Phillip and Melbourne.
“There’s increased interest in that for us,” he said.
The proposal has also outlined the construction of a key underground interchange station at Spotswood, which would be constructed beneath the current Spotswood station, and connections to Laverton, Werribee with Deer Park and Melton.
Cr Hemphill said with Hobsons Bay’s population set to increase due to the upcoming Precinct 15 development in Altona North, the need for effective public transport in the area was urgent.
“If we don’t do something in the next 10 to 15 years, you won’t be able to get on a train in Newport,” he said.
“We believe that the government should defer the Suburban Rail Loop.”
Cr Hemphill said ongoing discussions within local governments was a “good first step” to implementing the plan.
“The municipalities of Melton, Wyndham and Brimbank are going to grow so fast,” he said.
“The government needs to plan for it and plan very quickly.”
RFI president John Hearsch said discussions were underway to build support for the plan ahead of the state election in November.
“This is a project that’s badly needed,” he said.
“We’re suggesting they should slow it (the Suburban Rail Loop project) down.
“We think it’s got a lot of potential flaws.”
Mr Hearsch said the East-West Rail proposal aimed to reduce the “enormous” disparity between public transport in the west and the east of Melbourne.
A state government spokesperson said the planned Metro Tunnel, Suburban Rail Loop and Western Rail Plan developments were continuing and satisfied the aims of the proposal.
“The government’s current solutions provide the benefits that this plan purports to achieve and it is happening right now,“ the spokesperson said.
