The Brimbank City Council has launched its new community movement, Rail before Runway, which calls on the state and federal government to prioritise the development of the Melbourne Airport Rail over the city’s third runway.
Council has said that to keep up with rapid population growth in Melbourne’s west, critical infrastructure projects such as Melbourne Airport Rail and the development of the Sunshine Precinct must be delivered now.
The Melbourne Airport Rail will connect Melbourne Airport to Victoria’s regional and metropolitan train network for the first time and is expected to provide a cost-effective, time-efficient and sustainable public transport alternative for all. Developing the Sunshine Precinct, which includes the full implementation of the Sunshine Station Masterplan and the rebuild of Albion Station, will leverage off this investment and stimulate the economy in the west through tourism, education, housing, shopping and business growth.
Melbourne Airport’s third runway was given the green light in 2024 and is expected to open in 2031, with passenger numbers set to rise exponentially to 83 million per year, by 2046.
Council said that with the Tullamarine Freeway already congested, this spells disaster for Melbourne’s traffic, with commuters from the west doomed to spend hours in gridlock unless the Melbourne Airport Rail gets back on track.
In a survey of 1,000 Melbournians, 72 per cent want to see an airport rail link and better bus services in the west before more money is spent on less critical projects.
Council said that people of the west are tired of being left behind, with government investment continually funnelled into projects in more affluent areas that are already privileged with extensive public transport and road infrastructure.
To show governments it is serious about getting the west moving, Brimbank City Council has launched its Rail before Runway movement – one of its Transforming Brimbank priorities.
Brimbank City Mayor Thuy Dang and Brimbank Councillors are appealing to community members across the west to join the movement by writing to their state and federal political leaders and calling for immediate action and investment in the west.
Mayor Dang said that Council is calling on the federal and state governments to build the long-promised Melbourne Airport Rail before the third runway.
“Fast-track the Melbourne Airport Rail and Sunshine Precinct now and build the rail before the runway; it’s not just a nice-to-have, it’s a necessity! Melbourne’s west deserves better,” Mayor Dang said.
“Despite many promises from governments over many years, there’s been next to no progress – no start dates, no certainty, leaving Melbourne’s west waiting.”
