Bundoora: Tram 86 extension to South Morang derailed by State Government

THE State Government has dashed hopes the route 86 tram line will be extended to booming outer northern suburbs, on grounds not enough people would use it.

THE State Government has dashed hopes the route 86 tram line will be extended to the booming outer northern suburbs, on grounds not enough people would use it.

Following a feasibility study into extending the route to South Morang, a government spokesperson told the Leader on August 9 they would not go ahead with an extension past Bundoora due to a perceived lack of commuters over the next three decades.

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Friends of South Morang tram extension campaign spokesman Trevor Carroll said the Leader, not Transport Minister Jacinta Allan had informed them of the knock-back.

The minister’s failure to respond to the group showed “utter contempt for the people of Whittlesea and their transport needs”, Mr Carroll said.

Lobbyists say they will keep fighting for the tram extension.

The decision “lacked transparency” because the terms of reference and findings had not been made public, Mr Carroll said.

He said the group would continue to campaign for the extension.

Government spokeswoman Hayley Bester said the feasibility study reviewed seven possible routes, with a route from Bundoora RMIT along Plenty Rd, Bush Blvd and McDonalds Rd to South Morang favoured by a working group including Transport for Victoria, VicRoads and Whittlesea Council.

“An economic analysis found none of the options for extending the line would be viable for at least the next 30 years because of forecast low patronage,” Ms Bester said.

The study found patronage would be low because of “low dwelling and population density along the route” compared with other tram corridors in Melbourne.

The government did not respond to questions about why the findings of the study had not been released last year and why there had been no public consultation.

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