Brimbank welcomes Melbourne Airport Rail Link as a boon for the West and beyond

Photo: buzz.brimbank.vic.gov.au

Brimbank Mayor Cr Margaret Giudice said Council was delighted that the Victorian Government had endorsed Sunshine as the preferred route and committed to begin construction by 2022.

“Building the Melbourne Airport Rail Link – with a new Sunshine Super Hub connecting regional and metro trains – will strengthen Brimbank and the entire West of Melbourne. 

“A Sunshine Super Hub will open up big benefits for metropolitan and regional commuters, and for the booming western suburbs of Melbourne.

“Brimbank Council has long been advocating for the Sunshine route because of its tremendous potential to boost economic development across the West and maximise existing rail connections with metro Melbourne and the whole of Western Victoria.

“The Sunshine Super Hub will cement Sunshine’s position as the CBD of the West.

“Brimbank is the heart of Melbourne’s west, Australia’s fastest growing region which is set to grow to the size of Adelaide by the 2030s,” Cr Giudice said.

Sunshine is a Metropolitan Activity Centre, and part of the Emerging National Employment and Innovation Cluster, designated in Plan Melbourne.

A preliminary business case for the Melbourne Airport Rail Link has rated the Sunshine route as 4.3 out of 5 – higher than all of the other options. Melbourne Airport operator Australian Pacific Airports Corporation has also endorsed the Sunshine route as the best way to deliver a “fast, frequent and affordable” airport rail link.

Brimbank Council has previously welcomed the Federal Government’s $5 billion pledge towards building the long awaited rail link from Melbourne to the Airport.

Cr Giudice said Brimbank Council looked forward to working with the Federal and State governments to ensure real engagement with the local community, businesses and key stakeholders.

“This is a hugely exciting project for the West – the Sunshine Super Hub has the potential to deliver enormous benefits to the local community and beyond.

“We must work together to ensure that this new centre blends in and improves amenities for our local community.

“We need real consultation and engagement with our local residents, businesses and other stakeholders, along with considered planning to ensure the hub is connected to the west through an integrated road and public transport network,” Cr Giudice said.

Brimbank Council has asked the Victorian Government to develop an Integrated Transport Plan for Melbourne’s West – one that will allow for comprehensive planning at a local level to maximise the economic, environmental and efficiency benefits of the Melbourne Airport Rail Link.