Tuesday, 18 March 2025

Western Metropolitan Region transport infrastructure

Trung LUU (Western Metropolitan) (00:32): (1518) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Transport Infrastructure and is regarding the recent Infrastructure Victoria report released in relation to the lack of connectivity in the west of Melbourne, especially in my electorate, the Western Metropolitan region. The action I seek is for the minister to implement the finding of the recent Infrastructure Victoria report and deliver the rapid transit bus service for my constituents in the western suburbs. The Infrastructure Victoria report highlights a growing concern about public transport services across Melbourne’s fringe. Areas such as Wyndham City Council and Melton City Council in my electorate are expected to grow by 65 and 163 per cent respectively. With this growth, even with the new and wider roads, motorists could face a 46 per cent increase in road congestion between 2026 and 2036. An easy solution would be to provide rapid transit bus services to these growth corridors – buses that run every 5 minutes during peak and every 10 minutes during off-peak. Additionally, providing a dedicated bus lane along this route will reduce congestion and ensure buses arrive at their stops frequently and efficiently. Three of the proposed rapid bus routes in Melbourne’s west are Melton to Broadmeadows, Point Cook to Watergardens station and Tarneit to Highpoint shopping centre.

Melbourne’s population boom in the outer suburbs needs adequate transportation options. Rapid transit buses provide these solutions. People in Melbourne’s west should not be forced to spend extra time stuck in traffic. They deserve to have the same high standard of transportation that the state can provide, so I urge minister to consider the findings of the report and deliver rapid transit bus services for my constituents in Point Cook, Tarneit, Maribyrnong and Taylors Lakes. It is time to deliver the public transport service Victorians, especially in the western suburbs, need and deserve.