Final maps for the $4.3 billion rail project, released yesterday, also appear to indicate that trains using the new line will not stop at North Melbourne - which would inconvenience thousands of passengers from Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo who change at the station.
RMIT transport expert Paul Mees said the change to the route made it clear "the government is making this project up as they go along. There is nothing remotely resembling a proper process of masterplanning going on. There has been no proper assessment of whether this is the best way to spend over $4 billion of scarce public money."
Move the Port Scrap Westlink
SunRRA's suggestions have been istened to . Now all that has to happen is for Brumby to scrap Westlink and invest more in public transport, port redevelopment and rail freight. http://www.sunshine.asn.au/content/view/189/46/
Paul Austin
September 4, 2010
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A bold plan for Melbourne's docks. Picture: Wayne Taylor
MELBOURNE’S main working port would be decommissioned by about 2040 and Geelong and Hastings would become home to the state’s booming freight trade under an ambitious business blueprint to transform the face of Victoria.
Under the multibillion-dollar proposal, put to Premier John Brumby and senior cabinet ministers, contentious Port of Melbourne plans to expand Webb Dock into a new container port would be scrapped, protecting views of the city from Williamstown and reducing traffic congestion in and around Port Melbourne and Docklands.
Instead, Swanson Dock would be expanded immediately while an international container terminal was built at Geelong, ready for operation in about a decade.
In the longer term — over about the next 30years — Swanson Dock would be closed as Hastings’ deepwater port was expanded to ensure Victoria could cope with the forecast fourfold increase in container trade by 2035.
The ultimate goal would be to rid inner Melbourne of container port operations, freeing up the docks for a new waterfront residential and commercial hub on a similar scale to Docklands.
The brainchild of the transport infrastructure conglomerate Asciano, parent company of Patrick Stevedores and the freight giant National Rail, the plan is also being sold as a regional development policy that would provide a major economic stimulus to Geelong and Western Port Bay.
If only
If only the councils were funding it, they could choose the option that they prefer. Aqua is the most expensive option.
The Brumby government is building it however, they will pay the top price alright but for the lowest quality job. They can only afford the green option if they want that little bit extra for their developer mates.
Ask Justin Madden.
Aqua option
this relates to the green option whch is not preferred by either Brimbank Council or Maribyrnong Council. the preferred option is the aqua option, which doesn't go anywhere near matthews hill, or sunshine for that matter.
Brimbank Westlink sub
That's only half wrote: Want to know why they are not putting money into Tom OBrien park?
This from the BCC Westlink submission
"The proposed elevated road sections over the railway lines would have a significant effect on the visual amenity of both residents in the nearby area and also users of nearby areas such as Mathew Hill Reserve and Tom O'Brien park. There would appear to be little scope to reduce the impact given the necessity to construct the road above the train lines through this location.
"The proposed crossing at Kororoit creek is at a location with high quality riparian vegetation and a high quality river environment. This option woul;d have the greatest impact on the natural environment."
Information about the route is being given to some people, but not others.
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