Brimbank City Council welcomes the numerous initiatives of the 2023-24 Federal Budget that will help alleviate the cost of living but is concerned about the status of funding for the Melbourne Airport Rail project.
The budget falls short of providing long term security and funding for major infrastructure projects in Melbourne’s west.
Despite the Federal Budget’s retention of the $5b previously committed for the construction of the Melbourne Airport Rail and assurances from Minister King just last week, inclusion of the Melbourne Airport Rail in the government’s 90-day review of the infrastructure pipeline could cast doubts over delivery of this critical infrastructure development for Melbourne’s west.
Brimbank Council maintains that the Melbourne Airport Rail, which will be the first leg of the Suburban Rail Loop to be constructed, aligns with the Australian Government’s policy that infrastructure projects should be genuinely nation-building, economically sustainable and resilient to our changing climate and calls for construction according to initial timelines.
Upgrades to the Calder Freeway remain unfunded two years after the business case was announced, whilst community demands for an independent assessment of the health impacts of a third runway at Melbourne Airport have been ignored.
Once again, the government is not treating Melbourne’s west with the equality that it deserves.
Quotes to be attributed to Brimbank Mayor Cr Bruce Lancashire:
“The Federal Budget was an opportunity to invest in transformative infrastructure projects that could have significantly addressed inequity in Melbourne’s west. It was especially disappointing to see the more expensive Suburban Rail Loop East, which will service wealthier and more developed areas of Melbourne, take priority over the Melbourne Airport Rail, which will bring transformative investment to where it’s most needed.
“Sadly, Brimbank misses out in the Federal Budget, so all eyes are on the coming State Budget announcement. Brimbank Council calls on the Victorian Government to keep its promise of $5b towards the construction of the MAR as well as Sunshine and Albion stations, when it announces the State Budget later this month.”