East West Link essential, Victorian Chamber of Commerce transport report finds

THE controversial East West Link is back on the agenda, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg among transport priorities we need to cater for a population explosion ahead, a key report has found.

VICTORIA’S peak business body has earmarked the East West Link, a second Metro Tunnel and a new airport in Melbourne’s southeast as transport priorities to keep the state moving.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Transport Taskforce Report, released today, has identified a list of projects and policies that, if adopted, could handle the population explosion expected over the next decade.

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East West Link and a second Metro Tunnel are listed as transport priorities by the Victorian Chamber of Commerce. Picture: Mark Stewart

Chief executive Mark Stone said the state needed a clear vision to keep living standards high and bring billions of additional dollars to the local economy.

“As Victoria’s population increases by 120,000 a year all sorts of things come with the transport agenda,” he said.

“Whether you’re one of our members delivering produce in the city at 4am, a normal commuter or you are running goods around the nation that issue of congestion is pretty critical.”

Key infrastructure recommendations included the building of an East West Link, North East Link, the West Gate Tunnel and a rail line to Melbourne Airport.

But the chamber also called on governments to be proactive by planning for a second metro tunnel and identifying land for a second airport in the southeastern suburbs.

Mr Stone said there was a genuine need for the East West Link that would see the project become a reality at some point.

A rail line to Melbourne Airport is listed as key infrastructure for Melbourne. Picture: AAP

“The current government do not have it as a priority but there will be a point in time where it will have to be built,” he said.

“It will either be a change in policy or politics that brings that about.

“20 years ago we had the same debate about CityLink … But for all of us today that corridor is just a natural part of our transport network.”

The report also recommends a reform of the current road taxation scheme to a fairer system which could include a “user pays” model for motorists.

Surging container movements would also be taken off residential roads through rail links to the Port of Melbourne and investment in high-capacity trucks that can carry more goods.

“We’ve been told Melbourne could get up to 8 million people by 2050, with 10 million in Victoria overall,” he said.

“This is the road map to how we get to that point as smoothly as possible.”