Thursday, 18 August 2022

Melbourne Airport rail link

Mr CARROLL (Niddrie—Minister for Public Transport, Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Minister for Industry Support and Recovery, Minister for Business Precincts) (09:40): There will never be a better opportunity to connect Melbourne’s north-west to Victoria’s rail network than through the Melbourne Airport rail link. The suburbs of Airport West, East Keilor, Keilor Park, Avondale Heights and Keilor are desperately in need of better public transport options, and as the local member and Minister for Public Transport I am intent on fixing this 100-year access gap. This is evidence-based best practice in transport planning, with additional market segments and value capture, that will fix the 100-year gap.

In 1925 the City of Keilor public transport committee first proposed electrifying the Albion East line, with subsequent planning studies in 1930, 1934, 1935, 1954, 1956 and 1975. Then in 1976 the very first member for Niddrie spoke passionately about electrifying the Albion East line, and today the Andrews government is electrifying the Albion East line through the airport rail link.

Imagine this: a train station on the border of Airport West, Keilor Park and Keilor East, walking distance from four bus routes, walking distance from four schools, with the employees that work at Melbourne Airport and a local member that is the Minister for Public Transport and a hardworking, dedicated member who wants to get this thing done for the local residents. This aligns with global best practice, employee catchments, school students and locals that deserve the best quality public transport in Melbourne’s north-west, which is only 15 kilometres from the GPO. This is the time to make it. As Gough Whitlam once said, ‘It’s time’, and I am committed to making this happen.