Thursday, 8 February 2024

Ashley Street underpass, West Footscray

David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan) (17:41): (693) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Housing in her capacity representing the Minister for Roads and Road Safety. However, the matter may also touch on the responsibilities of the Minister for Transport Infrastructure, so I am happy for the matter to be directed to that minister if it is more appropriate. Sorry about that introduction.

My adjournment matter concerns the Ashley Street underpass at Tottenham station in West Footscray. The Ashley Street underpass is simply not fit for purpose. Incredibly and unfortunately, it provides the only access over or under the train tracks for at least 5 kilometres, and it is the only way to cross between West Footscray and Sunshine. The underpass regularly floods when it rains, and during the recent heavy rains we have experienced this summer it has been flooding a lot. However, even on a fine day it is described by residents as ‘miserable and uninviting’, with poor lighting, no security and no bike path.

It is not much better for motorists. The underpass is situated at the intersection of Ashley Street and Sunshine Road. Sunshine Road has five lanes and Ashley Street has four, but the underpass has only two lanes, creating a ginormous bottleneck. This affects the flow of traffic from north to south between Braybrook and Tottenham, but also traffic from the port, from Footscray to Sunshine and through to the west. It is my understanding that the Ashley Street corridor currently has a public acquisition overlay that secures additional land for road widening, which would allow for Ashley Street to become a four-lane road. The need for future road widening was also considered as part of the regional rail link project, which also proposed an upgrade to improve pedestrian access to Tottenham station. The action I seek from the minister is to advise what action is being taken by the government to enhance the accessibility, safety and traffic capacity of the underpass such that it becomes fit for purpose.

The PRESIDENT: Mr Ettershank, can I suggest that the minister refers this one to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, and if you get written back that it is not them, you can blame me.