Lachlan Lee-Archer, Chair, Transport Australia Society (TAs) Victoria Branch covers the recent Annual Transport Breakfast with the Minister.
The Hon. Jacinta Allan MP, Minister for Public Transport addressed the Victorian transport industry at the recent ITEANZ and TAs Annual Transport Breakfast with the Minister.
After being in office for just over twelve months, the Minster reflected that the transport planning work was starting to come to fruition, with numerous grade separations completed, under construction or contracts awarded including the recently announced $1.6 billion Dandenong-Caulfield Level Crossing Removal Project.
Melbourne is the fastest growing capital city in Australia, with population expected to double by 2050 and a shifting economy to service jobs focused in the central city. The central city is also expanding into Parkville, St Kilda Road, and the Docklands. To provide for this expanding city, the Minister noted the government’s commitment to integrated transport planning across the transport modes and land use planning.
Minister Allan provided an update on the Melbourne Metro Project, noting that early works such as utility relocations will commence in 2017, and the business case will be submitted to the Federal Government shortly in an attempt to also secure federal funding.
The Minister also confirmed the government’s Level Crossing Removal Program is on track to reach 20 in the first term, with the Bourke Road level crossing removal now open. The Minister said the government has ordered more trains and trams as these physical works are useless if you don’t order more to deliver additional services.
Minister Allan briefed the audience on the Dandenong-Caulfield Level Removal Project, the recently announced project to remove all level crossings between Caulfield and Dandenong, and build a modern elevated rail line.
The project will include:
- 5 news stations; at Carnegie, Murrumbeena, Hughesdale, Clayton, and Noble Park;
- 225,000 square metres of open space below the tracks (the equivalent of 11 MCGs),
- 11km of bike paths,
- 100’s of new commuter car parks along the alignment,
- and future proofing for 3rd and 4th tracks.
By removing the boom gates, which can be closed for as long as 87 minutes during peak hour, there will be a significant reduction in travel times for commuters travelling on the cross suburban traffic connections, as not all travel is into the CBD.
Lastly, Minister Allan highlighted the fact that these projects will make use of the Major Project Skills Guarantee (MPSG). The MPSG ensure that 10% of employees on major projects will be local trainees including engineering cadets, a policy advocated by Geoff Hayes, Engineers Australia 2015 Victorian President.
In question time, the Minister highlighted the importance of regional Victoria and the development of a Regional Network Development Plan for transport. Minister Allan confirmed this will be released in the lead up to this years’ budget.
As Chair of the TAs Victoria Branch, I encourage all transport professionals to use our technical and working knowledge, and have courageous conversations in the community about the benefits and opportunities of these projects. With that, hopefully we can dispel some of the misinformation and fear within the community.
If you would like to learn more about the Dandenong-Caulfield Level Removal Project, join the TAs for their next CPD session:
Date & Time: Tuesday 1 March, 2016 | 5:00pm – 6:30pm
Venue: Engineers Australia, Level 31, 600 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Speaker: Brett Summers, Project Director Caulfield-Dandenong, Level Crossings Removal Authority
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