Moonee Valley Council ramps up pressure for Airport West train station

Posters and yard signs are appearing in Melbourne’s north west as a campaign calling on the State Government to build a train station in Airport West ramps up.

Moonee Valley Council is ramping up pressure on the government to add a stop along the Airport Rail Link in Airport West to fill in a "public transport black hole".

Pressure is ramping up on the government to add a train station in Airport West to fill a “public transport black hole”.

Moonee Valley Council has taken its campaign a step further with posters and yard signs erected around the municipality asking people to support the fight for a station.

The council recently letterboxed about 5000 households in Airport West and Keilor East promoting the campaign and asking for feedback.

The proposed location for a train station in Airport West.

Proposed location for a train station in Airport West.

More than 250 people have completed the council’s online poll indicating their support for the station.

Respondents were encouraged to explain why a station in Airport West would be important to them.

One respondent said the “current rail network plans don’t even come close to addressing the embarrassing under-served black hole of public transport in Melbourne’s north west”.

“The suburb is growing substantially with a much younger generation moving in that need to travel for work,” another respondent said.

One aim of the rail link is to reduce congestion on the Tullamarine Freeway.

According to the 2016 census, Airport West has a working population of almost 5700 people, which is expected to rise to more than 8000 by 2040. But just 9 per cent of working residents get to work by train, compared to 68 per cent who drive.

In comparison, 18 per cent of the working population in Essendon and Moonee Ponds, and 26 per cent in Flemington use the train to get to work.

The state and federal governments have each committed $5 billion to build an Airport Rail Link that will travel through Melbourne’s west.

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The council has supported a stop in Airport West for about four years and has added the train station into its Integrated Transport Plan and Advocacy Strategy.

Moonee Valley Mayor Narelle Sharpe said the preferred spot for the station would be around Roberts Rd, Airport West/Terror St, Keilor Park, immediately northwest of the Western Ring Rd and Calder Freeway interchange.

Cr Sharpe met State Transport Minister Jacinta Allan in March.

Ms Allan indicated the government would consider the council’s proposal.

Government spokeswoman Hayley Bester said the rail link route, including potential stations, would be considered during planning and development, which was due to be completed next year.

“Several factors will be considered to ensure the project delivers the right technical solution and the best value for money,” she said.

Niddrie state Labor MP Ben Carroll is also a strong supporter of the campaign.

Cr Sharpe said the Albion east (Sunshine) route, chosen by the government as its preferred route, would travel through Airport West, past the site proposed by the council for a station.

The land has an existing public acquisition overlay for rail infrastructure and is connected to two bus routes, and the Western Ring Road and Steele Creek pedestrian and cycling trails.

It is also close to people’s homes and could be connected to Airport West Westfield Shopping Centre and Essendon Fields by bus.

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