North East Link priority project under Infrastructure Victoria 30-year vision
INFRASTRUCTURE Victoria has identified the must do projects to cut congestion in Melbourne and it includes the controversial East West Link.
VIC News
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THE North East Link, a train to Melbourne airport and a massive expansion of the Regional Rail Link are seen by Infrastructure Victoria as the top projects to cut congestion.
The controversial East West Link may also be needed, after taxpayers lost $1.2 billion when it was scrapped by Premier Daniel Andrews. He is now being urged to reserve land for its construction.
But Infrastructure Victoria says its radical plan for an overhauled transport pricing system “could dwarf the effect of any single major transport project” because the state “can no longer build our way out of congestion”.
The blueprint for improving Victoria’s road and rail network includes removing more level crossings, revamping the bus network and extending tram lines, including to Fishermans Bend.
It calls for a major investigation of a second Melbourne Metro tunnel to run under the CBD from Clifton Hill to Newport. It may be needed within 30 years.
New stations and extra tracks would be built on the Regional Rail Link corridor through the booming western suburbs to Geelong, costing up to $3 billion.
But Infrastructure Victoria chief executive Michel Masson said the North East Link, joining the M80 Ring Road with the Eastern Freeway, was “the clear winner”.
The draft report calls on the government to build the “missing link” within 10 to 15 years, suggesting it could cost up to $10 billion.
Melbourne drivers move at just 38km/h during the morning peak, and modelling commissioned for the 30-year plan shows most freeways will be at or above capacity by 2046.
The airport rail link also received strong backing, with the report suggesting it should be built within 15 to 30 years, with priority bus lanes to Tullamarine put in place before then.
Infrastructure Victoria said the East West Link was likely to be needed in 30 years and called for the government to plan for its construction.
It said a “high-level review” was needed on potential alignments of the link between the Eastern Freeway, CityLink and the Western Ring Road, so planning controls could be put in place on required land.
Modelling showed the East West Link would deliver returns of 70c to 90c per dollar spent, or up to $1.40 per dollar if wider economic benefits were included.
It described it as a potential commuter alternative to the Monash Freeway and the M80 Ring Road and would improve capacity of the freight network.
Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said: “The East West Link is not a priority for our state, could actually lead to more congestion in Melbourne’s eastern and northern suburbs, and may never be needed at all.”
30-YEAR VISION FOR OUR FUTURE
JUSTICE
■ POLICING: Replace stations with supersites handling more services. Start within 5 years. Cost: Up to $1 billion.
■ COURTS: Deliver new/refurbished/expanded courts in growing areas. Beginning in 5 years. Cost: Up to $4 billion.
SUPERSITE PLAN MAY CLOSE POLICE STATIONS
PLANNING
■ Revamp planning laws to intensify development in well-serviced parts of Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo within 5 years. Focus on Melbourne suburbs on rail lines.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
■ MELBOURNE AIRPORT RAIL LINK: $3-$5 billion project should be completed in 15 to 30 years.
■ Geelong/Werribee/Wyndham rail: New stations and extra tracks needed along Regional Rail Link. 5-15 years. Cost: Up to $3 billion.
■ Metropolitan bus network: Overhaul routes within 5 years.
■ LEVEL-CROSSING REMOVALS: Develop plan within 5 years to remove more crossings beyond current target of 50.
■ MELBOURNE AIRPORT BUS: Create priority bus lane to airport within 10 years. COST: Up to $100 million.
■ MELBOURNE METRO 2: Tunnel linking Clifton Hill to Fishermans Bend, then Newport needs investigation in next 5 years and could be required in 15-30 years. Cost: More than $10 billion.
■ TRAMS: Extend services to Fishermans Bend and Footscray. 5-10 years. Cost: Up to $3 billion.
ROADS
■ NETWORK-WIDE TRANSPORT PRICING REGIME: Fees needed for drivers in 5 to 10 years, with one option seeing motorists accessing inner suburbs charged $2 and those going to CBD paying another $3.
■ NORTH EAST LINK:
$5-$10 billion link from Eastern Freeway to M80 Ring Road should be built in 10 to 15 years.
■ OUTER METROPOLITAN RING ROAD: New outer ring road needed around Melbourne in 15 to 30 years. Cost: More than $10 billion.
■ EAST WEST LINK: More planning needed in next 5 years, with land reserved to protect corridor. Road could be needed in 15-30 years.
EDUCATION
■ SCHOOLS AS COMMUNITY FACILITIES: Use state schools for kindergartens, long daycare, sport and libraries in 5 to 30 years. Cost: $1 billion.
■ SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY: Develop virtual learning within 10 years. Cost: Up to $1 billion.
HEALTH
■ MAJOR HOSPITALS: Upgrade the Alfred, Royal Melbourne and Footscray. 10-15 years. Cost: More than $10 billion.
■ TECHNOLOGY: Roll out video conferencing and remote monitoring for patients. Over 5 to 10 years. Cost: Up to $3 billion.
■ MENTAL HEALTH: Build new secure hospital to support Thomas Embling, which only houses 116 patients. 5-10 years. Cost: Up to $1 billion.
HOUSING
■ SOCIAL HOUSING: Build up to 30,000 affordable homes over 30 years. Cost: Up to $10 billion.
SUSTAINABILITY
■ ENERGY PRICING: Enforce higher charges peak-hour use and cheaper off-peak rates within 5 years.
■ WATER: Create incentives to boost water recycling and stormwater harvesting. Investigate expanding Wonthaggi desalination plant or building a second desalination facility.
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