Transport

Priorities Paper

- Council’s transport priorities

COVID-19 response and recovery

Local project delivery

Integrated transport planning

A Victorian transport plan

An integrated transport strategy for Melbourne's West

Ongoing support to deliver 20-minute neighbourhoods

Rail projects

Melbourne Airport Rail

Sunshine Super Hub

Upgrading Albion Station

Upgrading the Melton and Wyndham Vale Lines

Suburban Rail Loop

Level crossing removals

Future stations

Bus and light rail opportunities

Reforming the Metropolitan Bus Network

Bus interchanges

Local bus route improvements

Exploring opportunities for light rail and other transit technologies

Strategic cycling corridors

Network development

Major project integration

Industrial land access

Arterial corridors

Ballarat Road

St Albans Road

Taylors Road

Calder Park Drive

Robinsons Road

McIntyre Road

Furlong Road

Freeway upgrades

Calder Freeway

The Outer Metropolitan Ring

Freight

Western Industrial Freight Precinct

Technology and Innovation

Electric vehicle charging infrastructure

Mobility-as-a-Service

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

Foreword

The Transport Priorities Paper is an important document for

our Council and our community that sets out our strategic

priorities for investment in Brimbank and the wider western

metropolitan region. It is the result of extensive community

and stakeholder engagement which has identified transport

opportunities available to our community.

Now in its fourth iteration, the Transport Priorities Paper has

helped to deliver substantial investments from the State

and Federal governments to our public transport, arterial

road and freeway network, as well as the strategic cycling

corridors within our municipality.

The transport opportunities that are available to our

community play an important role in our collective health,

prosperity and our impact on the environment.

This latest Transport Priorities Paper sets out a framework

for further transport investment that will support Council’s

Community Vision 2040, and the strategic directions in our

Council Plan, and are vital to delivering a fairer, safer and

more sustainable transport network in Brimbank. A total of

31 projects and initiatives have been identified across nine

different categories, which we consider to be priorities for

the municipality.

Our city is transforming. With this plan, Brimbank has the

opportunity to grow and build a resilient community that is

proud, welcoming and prosperous.

The paper identifies key objectives, echoing those outlined in

the Victorian Transport Integration Act, to make sure that the

transport investment brings lasting positive change for our

community and the greater western region, including:

• Support social and economic inclusion

• Support economic prosperity

• Integrate transport and land use

• Support a sustainable transport network

• Prioritise safety, health and wellbeing

• Support network efficiency, coordination and reliability

To achieve this, we need to continue to work together across

all levels of government, in our community, with business,

industry leaders and other institutions.

As we focus on responding to the climate emergency,

regional growth, improving health, safety and wellbeing

and recovering from the impacts of COVID-19, delivering the

Transport Priorities Paper provides a pathway for success,

and a brighter future for Brimbank.

Mayor

Brimbank City Council

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

Contents

Executive Summary

2

Foreword

4

1. Introduction

6

1.1 Transport and its role in a prosperous, sustainable

and socially-inclusive Brimbank

6

1.2 Brimbank City Council’s role in transport

6

1.3 What is the Brimbank Transport Priorities Paper? 7

1.4 Why are we refreshing the

Transport Priorities Paper?

7

1.5 Movement & Place Framework

9

1.6 Strategic alignment

9

1.6.1 Together We Are Brimbank

9

1.6.2 The Brimbank Climate Emergency Plan

11

1.6.3 Sunshine Priority Precinct Vision 2050

11

2. Quick facts

12

2.1 Pre-pandemic transport and travel patterns 12

2.1.1 Household data

12

2.1.2 Victorian Integrated Survey of Travel &

Activity (2012-18)

12

2.1.3 Access to public transport

12

2.1.4 Transport data by (selected) suburbs

13

3. Key transport challenges

14

3.1 Responding to the

climate emergency

14

3.2 Managing regional growth

14

3.3 Integrating transport investment and

land use development

15

3.4 Improving health, safety and wellbeing

15

3.4.1 Road safety

15

3.4.2 Health and wellbeing

16

3.5 Addressing transport disadvantage

16

3.6 Adapting to the impact of COVID-19

17

4. Transport priorities framework

18

4.1 Overarching goals

18

4.2 Transport system objectives

18

4.2.1 Support social and economic inclusion

18

4.2.2 Support economic prosperity

18

4.2.3 Integrate transport and land use

18

4.2.4 Support a sustainable transport network

18

4.2.5 Prioritise safety, health and wellbeing

across the transport network

18

4.2.6 Support network efficiency, coordination

and reliability

18

5. Transport priorities

19

5.1 COVID-19 recovery

19

5.1.1 Local project delivery

19

5.2 Strategic transport planning

19

5.2.1 Victorian Transport Plan

19

5.2.2 An Integrated Transport Strategy for

Melbourne’s West

19

5.2.3 Ongoing support to deliver 20-minute

neighbourhoods

19

5.3 Rail projects

21

5.3.1 Melbourne Airport Rail

22

5.3.2 Sunshine Super Hub

22

5.3.3 Upgrading Albion Station

23

5.3.4 Upgrading the Melton and Wyndham Vale Lines 23

5.3.5 Suburban Rail Loop

24

5.3.6 Level crossing removals

25

5.3.7 Future stations

25

5.4 Bus and light rail opportunities

28

5.4.1 Reforming the metropolitan bus network

28

5.4.2 Bus interchanges

28

5.4.3 Bus route improvements

28

5.4.4 Exploring opportunities for light rail and

other transit technologies

30

5.5 Strategic cycling corridors

30

5.5.1 Network development

30

5.5.2 Major project integration

32

5.5.3 Industrial land access

32

5.6 Arterial corridors

32

5.6.1 Ballarat Road

32

5.6.2 St Albans Road

32

5.6.3 McIntyre Road

33

5.6.4 Furlong Road

33

5.6.5 Taylors Road

33

5.6.6 Calder Park Drive

33

5.6.7 Robinsons Road

34

5.6.8 Keilor Park Drive

34

5.7 Freeway upgrades

34

5.7.1 Calder Freeway

34

5.7.2 The Outer Metropolitan Ring

35

5.8 Freight and industrial precinct planning

35

5.8.1 Western Interstate Freight Precinct

35

5.9 Technology and innovation

36

5.9.1 Electric vehicle charging infrastructure

36

5.9.2 Mobility-as-a-Service

36

6. References

37

1.Introduction

The way our transport network operates, including how,

why, when and where people travel, has broad-reaching

consequences for our people, places and prosperity.

Our local network of rivers and creeks provided

the Traditional Owners of our land with travelling

routes and sources of food for thousands of years

before colonisation. Local and regional topography

has entrenched these movement corridors and the

development of road and rail links allowing more people

to travel through the area.

Today, our transport network’s efficiency and the

number of modes of transport that are feasible and

convenient options for our community has a direct

impact on our carbon emissions, household expenditure,

health and wellbeing, and local amenity. It also plays a

vital role in supporting businesses and attracting new

development by connecting people to employers and

manufacturers to markets.

Before European settlement, multiple generations of the

Wurundjeri and Bunurong People used Brimbank’s creek

and river corridors for movement, hunting, gathering

resources and also as meeting places.

More recently, while some of Brimbank’s most vibrant

areas have developed around its Victorian-era rail

network, much of Brimbank’s post-war development

has relied on private vehicles as the primary mode of

transport for connecting people from A to B. Over time,

this has led to detrimental outcomes, including:

• Increasing levels of congestion on our road network

• Reduced levels of physical activity and

• Forcing many households to purchase and maintain

multiple vehicles to access their daily needs

As Brimbank continues to develop at the heart of

Melbourne’s rapidly growing western-metropolitan

region, a greater variety of transport modes will be

required to ensure we grow efficiently, sustainably

and equitably.

In Australia, Federal, State and Local Governments play

specific roles to ensure the transport network operates

effectively.

Brimbank City Council has direct responsibility for local

roads and the majority of walking and cycling paths in

Brimbank. We ensure these assets are planned, delivered

and maintained effectively through documents such as

our Parking Strategy, Cycling and Walking Strategy and

Road Management Plan.

Council is also responsible for assessing planning

applications and ensuring they meet the requirements

set out in the Brimbank Planning Scheme. Council can

propose changes to the Planning Scheme which can

influence travel behaviour, such as parking requirements

for new developments. However, proposed changes

ultimately require State Government approval.

The State Government is responsible for the key arterial

roads in Brimbank. These roads often traverse municipal

boundaries and connect major activity centres and

other areas of strategic importance in Victoria. The

State Government is also responsible for managing the

majority of freeways in Victoria, as well as the public

transport network.

While Council may not have direct control over the

entire transport network, it does have a responsibility

to advocate on behalf of the Brimbank community

regarding transport issues that impact and matter to

them the most.

6

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

The Brimbank Transport Priorities Paper (TPP)

summarises the transport-related issues that are

important to our community.

The purpose of the TPP is to suggest transport service

and infrastructure improvements that are considered a

priority for addressing a range of challenges faced by our

community.

There have been multiple iterations of the TPP since it

was first adopted by Council in 2013 and it has helped

Council successfully advocate for several significant

investments in the transport network including the

Melbourne Airport Rail and multiple level crossing

removals along the Sunbury and Deer Park rail corridors.

A lot has changed since the last iteration of the TPP was

adopted by Council in 2018. The impact of the COVID-19

pandemic and its associated lockdown restrictions

created a significant shift in how, why, when and where

we choose to travel. Long-held assumptions around

commuting patterns and transport mode choices are

now less certain. While the need for major infrastructure

projects is likely to remain unchanged in the long term,

the timing, scale and focus of these projects requires

careful examination to ensure they still deliver value

under the changed circumstances.

Even before COVID-19, since 2018 several important

State and Federal commitments had been made that

will result in tangible changes to Brimbank’s transport

network. Similarly, Council has adopted many new

policies, plans and strategies that will influence travel

demand and transport priorities within our municipality.

A summary of commitments made at the Federal and

State Government level, as well as commitments made

by Council, is included in

Table 2

.

Collectively, these commitments require Council to

reflect on our transport priorities and examine what is

important for the municipality in the short, medium and

long-term future.

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

7

- Relevant Federal, State Government and Council commitments since 2018

State and Federal

Government

commitments

Melbourne Airport Rail In July 2018 (a month before the adoption of Council's latest TPP)

the State and Federal Governments committed funding to deliver

a new rail link to Melbourne Airport via Sunshine.

The Western Rail Plan

and the Sunshine

Super Hub

In October 2018, the State Government released its Western Rail

Plan, which outlined priorities to provide metropolitan trains that

go to Melton and Wyndham Vale, as well as fast trains to Geelong

and Ballarat.

The Sunshine Priority

Precinct

The Western Rail Plan outlines the intention to leverage

Sunshine's strategic location to develop Sunshine Railway Station

into the Sunshine Super Hub.

The Suburban Rail

Loop

In June 2019, the State Government identified Sunshine as one of

five initial Priority Precincts, highlighting the potential of the area

to become an employment hub of state-wide significance.

Cutting Victoria's

Emissions 2021-25:

Transport Sector

Emissions Reduction

Pledge

In July 2019, the State Government created a new authority to

deliver a new rail line linking Melbourne's middle-ring suburbs,

including Sunshine, to key employment and education precincts

outside of Melbourne's Central Business District (CBD).

Victoria's Bus Plan

In May 2021, the State Government released a pledge to urgently

reduce transport-sector emissions as part of its Climate Change

Strategy. This pledge includes an objective for walking and

cycling to reach a 25% share of all trips and a commitment that

all new bus purchases will be zero-emission vehicles by 2025.

Council

commitments

The Brimbank Climate

Emergency Plan

In June 2021, the State Government published a plan to deliver

a more productive and sustainable public bus network. This plan

outlines a range of new and innovative opportunities to deliver

improved bus services across Victoria.

Brimbank Car Parking

Strategy 2019-29

In June 2019, Council took the formal step of declaring a state of

climate emergency that requires taking urgent and meaningful

action on climate change. Consequently, Council has adopted a

climate emergency plan that sets out actions the municipality

should take to achieve zero net emissions by 2040.

COVID-19 Response &

Recovery Strategy

In August 2019, Council adopted our first car parking strategy.

The purpose of this strategy is to provide a coordinated approach

to delivering and managing car parking within the municipality.

Sunshine Priority

Precinct Vision 2050

In April 2020, Council adopted our first response and recovery

strategy to the COVID-19 pandemic. This strategy is designed

to provide a whole-of council approach to supporting the local

community.

In April 2021, Council adopted our long-term vision for the

Sunshine Priority Precinct. This vision is to create an employment

and education precinct that delivers benefits for all of

Melbourne's West.

8

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

The Movement & Place Framework was adopted by the

Victorian Department of Transport to provide a new

and more holistic approach to planning, designing and

delivering changes to Victoria’s transport network.

The Framework acknowledges the impact that transport

networks have on surrounding and adjacent land uses

and ensures that a broad range of place-based outcomes

are considered when investing in changes to the

transport network.

By allocating scores to elements of the transport

network based on their ‘movement’ and ‘place’ function,

the Framework helps identify what type of investments

are suitable to achieve a range of desired outcomes.

The Framework brings a welcome shift in improving

integration between transport and land use planning.

While our TPP identifies specific transport projects

or service improvements, Council acknowledges that

further work is required to ensure these projects and

improvements complement the surrounding land

uses and, in doing so, create better places where our

community can live, work and play.

- Movement & Place classifications influence

the function and form of different street

types

1.6.1 Together We Are Brimbank

Together We Are Brimbank consolidates the Brimbank

Community Vision 2040, the Brimbank Council Plan

2021-25 and the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing

Plan. Collectively, these documents describe:

• Our community’s aspirations for the next 20 years

• Set out strategic directions and priorities for the four

year Council term and

• Outline ways in which Council intends to improve local

public health and wellbeing outcomes

Given the broad impact that transport networks and

services play in influencing social, environmental and

economic outcomes, the priorities outlined in the TPP

are considered critical investments that are required to

achieve a range of aspirations and strategic objectives

outlined in the Together We Are Brimbank document.

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

9

Place

City Hubs

Activity

Streets &

Boulevards

Connectors

City

Places

City

Streets

Local

Streets

P1 P2 P3 P4 P5

M1

M2

M3

M4

M5

- Selected strategic directions from Council’s Community Vision 2040

Strategic directions Community aspirations

Healthy lifestyles

The community is healthy and active.

Safety

The community feels safe and free from harm.

Strategic directions Community aspirations

Getting around

All modes of transport are well connected and accessible.

Public spaces

Public spaces and streetscapes showcase quality urban design, are accessible to all and

are clean and well maintained.

Environment

The community lives sustainably and engages with a healthy and protected natural

environment.

Strategic directions Community aspirations

Education and

employment

Everyone has access to education, training and life-long learning to support their

learning and employment aspirations.

Local economy

Brimbank is a major hub for employment, innovation and investment.

- Selected priorities from Council’s Health and Wellbeing Plan

Priority 2: Collaborate with the

community in addressing Climate

Change and its impacts on health

Council will focus on improving community resilience to the impacts of

heatwaves and building everyone’s capacity for climate change adaptation and

mitigation.

Priority 3: Increase healthy eating,

active living and physical activity

Council will focus on increasing healthy eating and physical activity with a

particular focus on increasing women’s participation in physical activity.

Priority 5: Support economic and

social inclusion

Council will focus on decreasing systemic barriers to employment and

education opportunities, increasing access to social and affordable housing

and decreasing harm from gambling.

- Selected strategic objectives from the Council Plan 2021-25

Strategic objective

Council strategies

Liveable and connected Contribute to the transformation of the transport network to be active, sustainable,

connected and equitable.

Sustainable and green Take action on the climate emergency by working towards a carbon-neutral Brimbank.

Growing and transforming Enhance community opportunities as a result of major developments and infrastructure

investment.

Earning and learning

Support economic and social inclusion.

Support community access to education and jobs.

10

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

1.6.2 The Brimbank Climate

Emergency Plan

In response to Council’s declaration of a climate

emergency in June 2019, we have adopted a

comprehensive Climate Emergency Plan which sets out a

range of measures to help combat the effects of climate

change within our community and which captures the

urgent need for action towards improved environmental,

social and economic equity.

The Climate Emergency Plan sets the following targets:

• Council operations will reach zero-net emissions by

2030

• The municipality will reach a 70% reduction in

emissions by 2030 and

• The municipality will reach net-zero emissions by

2040

1.6.3 Sunshine Priority Precinct

Vision 2050

In April 2021, following extensive and comprehensive

community engagement, Council adopted our long-term

vision for the Sunshine Priority Precinct. This vision

sets out a framework for leveraging the unprecedented

infrastructure investment within the precinct and

identifies key projects to act as catalysts to bring lasting

positive change for our community and the broader

western-metropolitan region.

The shared vision for Sunshine is rooted in the following

five vision statements:

•

Sunshine will be a vibrant,

proud and diverse urban hub where local

communities and visitors celebrate the culture,

grit and unique entrepreneurial history of the area

through arts, exhibitions and urban experience.

•

Sunshine will be

the indisputable capital of the economic powerhouse

known as Melbourne’s West — the fastest-growing

region in Australia — and offer everyone the

opportunity to enjoy the benefits it offers.

•

Sunshine will be a green

and sustainable city promoting a positive balance

between economy and ecology and offering a clean,

healthy and safe environment for current and future

generations.

•

Sunshine will be a gateway

to the world. It will be the pivot point where people and

businesses invest time and capital, and a destination

where people stop, enquire, stay and explore.

Sunshine

will be a place where land and waterways are

respected, nurtured and cared for and where

Traditional Owner groups can transfer cultural

knowledge to preserve and maintain Country.

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

11

2. Quick facts

2.1.1 Household data

- Snapshot of Brimbank household data

(ABS Census Data, 2016)

Median weekly

household income

$1,263 $1,542

Vehicles per dwelling

1.9

1.7

Dwellings with no

vehicles

7.0%

8.7%

Dwellings with three

or more vehicles

20.8% 16.8%

2.1.2 Victorian Integrated Survey of Travel

& Activity (2012-18)

- Transport mode share of all trips originating

in Brimbank

7.6%

of private vehicle trips

(approximately 28,000 each day)

originating in Brimbank are 1km

or less

18.4%

of private vehicle trips

(approximately 69,000 each day)

originating in Brimbank are 2km

or less.

- Transport mode share of trips originating in

Brimbank by trip purpose

90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Walking Cycling Bus Train Car Driver/ Other

Passenger

All Trips Journey to Work Journery to Education

2.1.3 Access to public transport

- Australian Urban Observatory municipal

transport statistics for Brimbank local

government area

Average distance to closest activity

centre

1,905m

Average distance to closest public

transport stop

359m

Percentage of dwellings within

400m of public transport with

regular 30-minute weekday service

(7am-7pm)

39.3%

90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

Trips originating in Brimbank

All trips

(%)

(%)

12

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

81%

5%

Private

Vehicle

Public

Transport

Active

Transport

Other

13%

1%

75%

7%

17%

1%

2.1.4 Transport data by (selected) suburbs

- Transport data for (selected) suburbs

People per dwelling

2.7

2.9

3.6

3.1

Vehicles per dwelling

1.5

1.6

2.0

2.3

Dwellings with no vehicles

12.5%

10.8%

1.6%

2.4%

Dwellings with three or

more vehicles

12.4%

16.4%

21.7%

36.6%

People who travelled to work

by public transport

23.1%

17.7%

14.2%

9.3%

People who travelled to work

by car, as driver or passenger

63.2%

71.0%

77.6%

78.8%

Walkability for Transport Index

(0 = average)

0.6

-0.3

-0.6

-0.5

Average distance to closest

public transport stop

178m

336m

383m

413m

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

13

3. Key transport challenges

The transport sector accounts for Australia’s second

largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, of which

passenger and light commercial vehicles are the largest

contributing sources (Department of Environment and

Energy, 2019).

- Australia’s transport emissions by sector

Council’s Climate Emergency Plan targets the

municipality to become zero-net emissions by 2040,

with an interim aspirational 70% reduction of 2017

levels by 2030.

While transport emissions in Brimbank fell in 2020 as

a result of the enforced COVID-19 lockdowns, in 2019

transport activity from our municipality was estimated

to account for 766,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions - a 4%

increase from 2018.

On-road transportation accounts for 23% of Brimbank’s

carbon emissions. This means that the need to provide

more low and zero-carbon transport options is critical

for achieving the ambitions set out in our Climate

Emergency Plan. The need to urgently decarbonise our

transport network through the electrification of vehicle

fleets and the provision of improved walking, cycling and

public transport opportunities is also critical.

- On-road transport accounts for 23% of

Brimbank’s carbon emissions

Melbourne’s western-metropolitan Region is one of

the fastest-growing areas in Australia. In 2019, the

area accounted for approximately 19% of Melbourne’s

population and by 2050, this is forecast to grow to

35%. By 2005, the combined population of Melton and

Wyndham alone is expected to double to over one million

people - roughly comparable to today’s population of

Adelaide. A similar rate of growth is also projected to

occur in the Sunbury area in the City of Hume, to the

northwest of Brimbank.

With Brimbank at the very heart of this regional growth,

it is expected that pressure will continue to build on key

arterial roads such as the Calder Freeway, the Deer Park

Bypass, Taylors Road and the Melton Highway, while

passenger demand on the metropolitan and regional

train services throughout the municipality will also

substantially increase.

Pressure on the transport network can be managed by

increasing supply, through investments in transport

infrastructure, but also by reducing demand for travel

through the provision of increased employment,

education, health and recreation opportunities within

the western region.

- Over one million people are anticipated to

live in the west and south-west of Brimbank

by 2050

14

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

2020 2025 2030

The transport network and adjacent land uses are

two intrinsically linked entities. Studies show there

are common and inter-related elements to the built

environment such as the density and diversity of land

uses and the design of the street network that strongly

influence how we choose to travel from A to B.

- Common influencing factors on travel

behaviour (Ewing & Cervero, 2010)

Several major transport investments are proposed

in Brimbank. They must be planned, designed and

delivered in an integrated manner with the surrounding

and adjacent land uses considered to ensure investment

delivers maximum benefit.

3.4.1 Road safety

Between 2015 and 2019, a total of 30 people were killed

and a further 487 seriously injured while travelling on

the road network in Brimbank. Out of the 30 fatalities,

40% were pedestrians and cyclists, despite only

accounting for 12.9% of trips within the municipality

(Department of Transport, 2020).

Council embraces the Safe System approach to road

safety and supports the State Government’s Towards

Zero campaign to not accept anyone being killed or

seriously injured on the Victorian road network. This

approach embraces a shared responsibility to ensure

there are safer vehicles on our road network, safer road

designs, safer vehicle speeds and safer behaviour by

people on the road network.

- Safe system principles guiding road safety

in Brimbank

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

15

Density of

population,

jobs or

services

Distance to

transit

Destination

accessibility

Design of the

surrounding

street

network

Diversity of

land uses

3.4.2 Health and wellbeing

How the transport network is planned, designed and

managed has an important influence on physical and

mental health.

While improvements to walking and cycling

infrastructure can facilitate increased levels of active

travel, evidence shows that improved access to public

transport can also result in increased levels of incidental

physical activity which can help to improve community

health outcomes.

- Average duration of physical activity

by transport mode (Bus Association of

Victoria, 2010)

Department of Health

Recommendation

50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

Public

Transport

(all users)

Public

Transport

(no private

transport)

Private

Transport

Melbourne

Average

Brimbank suffers from significantly higher rates of type

2 diabetes and heart disease when compared to the rest

of metropolitan Melbourne. Alarmingly, the proportion of

Brimbank’s community who self-reported the status of

their health as being fair or poor was much higher when

compared to the rest of metropolitan Melbourne.

Also, transport emissions, particularly from diesel

engines, account for significantly reduced air quality

along key transport corridors, resulting in a range

of negative health outcomes. Poor air quality has

been estimated to account for approximately 4,880

premature deaths in Australia each year - more than

four times the number of lives lost on Australia’s roads

in 2019.

Brimbank suffers from greater levels of transport

pollution than other areas of Melbourne, with a greater

volume of heavy vehicles accessing industrial, logistics

and port facilities in the region.

Transport disadvantage occurs when local transport

opportunities make it difficult for people to access

services, facilities, programs and employment. This can

lead to social and economic exclusion and can affect the

well-being of individuals and communities.

Brimbank is the second most disadvantaged municipality

in Greater Melbourne and the third most disadvantaged

in Victoria. Households suffer from higher rates of

unemployment and lower levels of household income

compared to other councils in the western-metropolitan

region. Households under mortgage and rental stress

are 17.5% and 31.6% respectively.

- Median weekly household income across

western Melbourne

$1,800.00

$1,600.00

$1,400.00

$1,200.00

$1,000.00

$800.00

$600.00

$400.00

$200.00 $-

The lower levels of household income and greater

reliance on private vehicle use means that, in general,

households in our municipality spend a greater

proportion of income on transport to access their daily

needs compared to municipalities with higher household

incomes and a more varied mix of transport options

available.

16

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

highlights the stark difference in the cost of

owning a car in Victoria versus the cost of being able

to readily use public transport. Reducing the need for

households to own multiple vehicles in Brimbank is a

critical element to address socio-economic disadvantage

in our municipality.

- Annual cost of (selected) vehicle

ownership vs 365-day myki Pass

$11,053

Annual Cost

Average

$18,000

$16,000

$14,000

$12,000

$10,000 $8,000 $6,000 $4,000 $2,000 $0

While it is difficult to say with any certainty what the

long-term implications of the COVID-19 pandemic will be

on travel behaviour, multiple studies suggest that the

risk of infection will continue to play a lingering influence

on how we choose to travel in the future.

The range of lockdowns in Melbourne has forced

residents to live more locally and, in doing so, have

emphasised the importance of the 20-minute

neighbourhood concept which underpins the State

Government’s Plan Melbourne document.

Throughout the pandemic, Council has received State

and Federal stimulus funding to deliver a range of

popular projects including pocket parks, new walking and

cycling infrastructure and local road upgrades. These

projects have supported the use of local neighbourhood

centres and allowed people to live more locally.

While working from home was a requirement for many

during the pandemic, research suggests that adopting

a hybrid model, whereby time spent at work is split

between the office and at home, will remain a preference

for those who can do so.

Adapting to this change will be important and may

require some previously-held assumptions to be

reconsidered in infrastructure business cases, while the

need for a safer and more connected active transport

network across Melbourne continues to grow to

facilitate more trips by walking and cycling.

- Working from home is likely to remain a

preference for many who are able to do so,

placing a greater need for local outdoor

spaces and safe, sustainable ways of

accessing them

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

17

4. Transport priorities framework

Council’s transport priorities are based on their ability to

support the fundamental aspects of Council’s Community

Vision and how the community wishes to see the

municipality of Brimbank develop in the coming years.

It is important to establish a set of basic objectives which

underpin our transport priorities for the municipality and

which help to respond to the municipality’s key transport

challenges.

The transport objectives outlined below have been

drawn from the

and have

been used as the primary means to identify Council’s

transport priorities.

4.2.1 Support social and economic inclusion

Investment must:

• Increase opportunities for our community to access a

broad range of social and economic opportunities, no

matter what their circumstances

• Reduce instances of transport disadvantage by

increasing the number of viable transport modes

available to households in Brimbank and lowering the

cost of accessing day-to-day necessities and

• Celebrate our cultural identity through

acknowledging the social, cultural and historic

character of the municipality

4.2.2 Support economic prosperity

Investment must:

• Increase the public transport catchment of current

and future employment precincts to enable the

efficient and effective movement of people and

• Promote efficient freight access between ports and

industrial precincts without compromising amenity

4.2.3 Integrate transport and land use

Investment must:

• Support the establishment of 20-minute

neighbourhoods throughout the municipality

• Help to unlock employment and commercial

opportunities at strategic redevelopment areas

within the municipality and develop Sunshine as the

capital of Melbourne’s West

• Improve crossing points, particularly by walking and

by cycling, across the major transport corridors within

the municipality and

• Increase public transport services along key corridors

to improve connectivity and support opportunities for

greater development

4.2.4 Support a sustainable

transport network

Investment must:

• Support Council’s climate emergency target of

net-zero emissions by 2040 and an interim 70%

reduction from 2017 levels by 2030 by enabling

transport users to reduce the carbon footprint

caused by their movement activities and

• Ensure transport investment protects, conserves

and improves the municipality’s natural habitats and

green infrastructure

4.2.5 Prioritise safety, health and wellbeing

across the transport network

Investment must:

• Reduce instances of deaths and serious injury on our

transport network by prioritising improvement at

high-risk locations

• Foster a public space and road network that makes

walking and cycling a more appealing and enjoyable

experience for all

• Prioritise improvements in air quality by incentivising

the uptake of low and zero-emission vehicles and

• Minimise the negative impacts caused by transport

corridors on surrounding communities

4.2.6 Support network efficiency,

coordination and reliability

Investment must:

• Moderate the rise of congestion and overcrowding on

the transport network by addressing bottlenecks and

capacity constraints

• Maximise the efficient use of resources, including

infrastructure, land, services and energy

• Ensure long-term projects are future-proofed and

the risk to their delivery is not compromised by the

delivery of short-term projects

• Improve the quality of transfers between transport

modes at key interchanges and

• Support network resilience by addressing gaps across

all modes of transport

18

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

5. Transport priorities

5.1.1 Local project delivery

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the

Brimbank community, compounding existing issues of

high levels of disadvantage and vulnerability.

There are opportunities to leverage transport

investment to help stimulate economic recovery and

support safe community access to their daily necessities

in a new age of physical distancing.

Council has a range of shovel-ready projects that have

been designed to support local community needs and

calls on both the State and Federal Governments to

support local project delivery for areas most impacted by

the pandemic by providing ongoing economic stimulus

and recovery packages.

- Debenham Drive Shared User Path,

St Albans

5.2.1 Victorian Transport Plan

The Transport Integration Act 2010 requires the

Victorian Department of Transport to prepare and

periodically revise a Victorian transport plan that defines

the activities required to achieve the transport system

objectives outlined in the Act.

Council calls on the State Government to prepare and

publish a comprehensive, strategic transport plan for

Victoria which commits to short, medium and long

term transport goals and contributes to an inclusive,

prosperous and environmentally responsible Victoria.

The absence of a transport plan as

required by the Act, during a decade

of unprecedented investment in

transport infrastructure, creates

risks of missed opportunities to

sequence and optimise the benefits

of these investments to best meet

Victoria’s transport needs.

(Victorian Auditor-General’s Office,

2021)

5.2.2 An Integrated Transport Strategy for

Melbourne’s West

The size and diversity of land use in Melbourne’s West,

along with the scale of change proposed for the region,

requires carefully considered and integrated transport

planning to ensure the benefits of investment are

maximised and the costs or risks are minimised.

Council is calling for an Integrated Transport Strategy for

Melbourne’s West which leverages the strategic position

of Sunshine by improving connectivity and access to

other priority precincts and activity centres in Wyndham,

Melton, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong and Moonee Valley.

5.2.3 Ongoing support to deliver

20-minute neighbourhoods

One of the core principles of the State Government’s

Plan Melbourne document is the concept referred to as

20-minute neighbourhoods. This means that people can

live locally and have most of their daily needs met within

a 20-minute return walk from their home. Safe cycling

and public transport options are also provided to reduce

the number of local car trips. Much of this infrastructure,

such as cycle paths, street trees and parks fall on local

governments to plan, deliver and maintain.

The importance of this concept has recently become

apparent during the lockdown restrictions associated

with the COVID-19 pandemic. If the 20-minute

neighbourhood concept is to be effectively realised, then

councils require a greater degree of support from the

State Government to roll out safer, more pleasant and

accessible walking and cycling networks.

Council has collaborated with the Victorian

Department of Transport to fund and deliver

upgraded cycling infrastructure to provide

a more connected and accessible bicycle

network

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

19

- 20-minute neighbourhood pilot program for Sunshine West

In 2018, Brimbank and the State Government began a collaboration process to trial the 20-minute

neighbourhood concept in and around the Glengala Village in Sunshine West.

The work included a detailed analysis of walking infrastructure within a 10-minute walk to the Glengala shopping

strip and identified key barriers and opportunities to re-prioritise pedestrian movement so that accessing these

local shops is safer, more convenient and more pleasant for those living nearby.

Work is ongoing to deliver these improvements, but funding is required to deliver these opportunities.

Sunshine West 20-Minute Neighbourhood Pilot Program

20

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

Council has adopted a number of Urban Design Principles

(UDPs) in consultation with the community. These UDPs

outline Council’s expected outcomes from various rail

projects planned within the municipality. UDPs adopted

to date include:

• Sunshine Station Super Hub (adopted June 2019)

• Deer Park Rail Corridor (adopted December 2019)

• Albion Station Precinct (adopted February 2020)

• Sunshine to Melbourne Airport Rail Corridor (adopted

February 2020)

- Sunshine Precinct Opportunity Statement

Sunshine Precinct Opportunity Statement

In November 2021, the State Government released

its Precinct Opportunity Statement for the Sunshine

Precinct, which makes a number of visionary statements

regarding the future development of the Sunshine

Station, the Albion Precinct and the Sunshine CBD.

“Sunshine Station will become an integrated part of a

renewed Sunshine. It will be surrounded by and connect

new homes, workplaces and shops via a network of green,

pedestrian-focused streets and public spaces. As a place

for residents, workers, students and tourists, the station

will become a hive of activity and civic life.”

“The Albion Precinct provides an opportunity to

support the next generation of jobs, innovation and

services in Melbourne. Improving amenity, connectivity

and integration with the train station will see Albion

transformed into a new centre in Melbourne’s West.”

“Sunshine CBD will be a thriving and diverse civic hub,

with a network of bustling streets and public spaces

framed with distinctive buildings. Increased housing,

shops and services will support an active day-and-night

economy and community ties. The new CBD will establish

Sunshine as the centre of Melbourne’s West.”

To understand the full range of integrated outcomes that

Council expects from each project, these UDPs should be

read in conjunction with the following rail priorities.

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

21

As the station grows to accommodate additional

services, Council expects that the transformation of

Sunshine Station into a super hub will deliver a holistic,

integrated redevelopment of the surrounding precinct

that enhances north-south connectivity across the

road and rail corridors, improves the sense of arrival to

Sunshine and incentivises investment on a scale that

befits a regional capital.

Council welcomes the aspirations outlined by the State

Government in the Sunshine Precinct Opportunity

Statement and looks forward to future funding

commitments to ensure they are delivered.

- Concept image of the future Sunshine

Super Hub

5.3.1 Melbourne Airport Rail

The Melbourne Airport Rail is a transformational project

for Brimbank and one which Council expects to deliver

benefits across the municipality and the western

metropolitan region.

Throughout the development of the Melbourne Airport

Rail project, Council has adopted a consistent, outcomes

focused position, repeatedly calling for a fast, efficient

and dedicated airport rail service via Sunshine to

maximise the economic and social opportunities for the

community.

In addition, it is important that the delivery of the

Melbourne Airport Rail does not compromise the future

implementation of other rail commitments made by the

State Government in its Western Rail Plan, including

the delivery of additional services to Melton and

Wyndham Vale. It is also important that the design of the

Melbourne Airport Rail facilitates greater cross-corridor

connectivity, particularly between Sunshine and Albion

Stations, and that the visual impact of the infrastructure

is minimised.

5.3.2 Sunshine Super Hub

The delivery of the Melbourne Airport Rail, and ultimately

the Suburban Rail Loop, will transform Sunshine Station

into Melbourne’s most connected station outside of the

CBD. This transformation has the potential to regenerate

the surrounding station precinct and build new and

enhanced connections across the rail line.

While the expansion of Sunshine Station is anticipated

to occur over time as new and upgraded rail lines are

delivered, there are short-term opportunities to increase

the catchment of the station. Services to and from

Bendigo, as well as standard-gauge trains from Albury/

Wodonga, Seymour and Broadmeadows, currently travel

through Sunshine without stopping. While changes to

the platform layout would be required to allow standard

gauge trains to stop at the station, allowing Bendigo

services to stop at Sunshine would require no additional

infrastructure investment.

Regarding local access, Council expects that the

redevelopment of the Sunshine Super Hub will be

complemented by a range of infrastructure that

prioritises walking, cycling and public transport over

private vehicle use.

22

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

5.3.3 Upgrading Albion Station

Located in the northwest corner of the Sunshine Activity

Centre, Albion Station is in urgent need of upgrades to

address immediate safety and amenity concerns. In the

long-term, an upgraded Albion Station would act as a

development catalyst for the adjacent Albion Quarter.

In redeveloping Albion Station, it is important to

overcome two significant barriers to movement in the

adjacent precinct, at Ballarat Road and across the rail line

itself. Increasing connections across these two barriers

will do a lot to increase pedestrian activity in the area

and improve access to the surrounding land.

By relocating the station farther north, so that it

straddles either side of Ballarat Road, the station would

be instantly more accessible in Sunshine North, while

also potentially making it a more viable interchange with

public transport services operating along Ballarat Road.

The large ground-level carpark also presents an

unattractive and uninviting use of land which

discourages pedestrian activity, particularly at night.

Given the proximity to the station and the opportunities

for more efficient land uses, options should be explored

to minimise the car parking footprint.

If the State Government is to achieve its aspirations

for the Albion Precinct, as outlined in its Opportunity

Statement, then the existing station cannot be retained

in its current design and layout. Council, therefore,

encourages further investment to explore a more

integrated, welcoming and accessible station that

is useable for the surrounding community and that

facilitates development in the adjacent Albion Quarter.

- Concept image of a future Albion Station

and Albion Quarter

5.3.4 Upgrading the Melton and Wyndham

Vale Lines

Located immediately to the west and southwest of

Brimbank, the municipalities of Melton and Wyndham

are two of the fastest-growing areas in Australia. By

2051, it is projected that over a million people will live in

these two municipalities alone, many of whom will travel

to and through Brimbank daily.

With regional V/Line trains currently serving both

these lines, there is insufficient capacity to service

this future population growth. Both rail corridors also

require upgrading as a matter of urgency. New tracks,

rolling stock and stations are required to link these

areas efficiently with Sunshine and Melbourne’s CBD.

Ultimately, these upgrades are anticipated to alleviate

congestion on some of Brimbank’s busiest road corridors

and to significantly increase train frequencies at Deer

Park and Ardeer Stations.

Council has welcomed the State Government’s policy

commitment outlined in its 2018 Western Rail Plan to

extend the metropolitan train network to Melton and

Wyndham Vale. However, funding commitments are

now required to begin construction. Council also expects

that Ardeer Station would be upgraded as part of this

broader rail upgrade, including enhancing walking and

cycling access for the adjacent communities of Ardeer

and Sunshine West.

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

23

5.3.5 Suburban Rail Loop

The Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) is a new 90-kilometre

orbital rail line proposed by the State Government

to connect Melbourne’s middle-ring suburbs from

Cheltenham in the east to Werribee in the west.

It is the most expensive infrastructure project that the

State Government has ever committed to delivering.

While plans for the construction of the eastern and

northern elements of the SRL are well developed at

the time of writing, details around what is proposed in

Melbourne’s West is less clear.

SRL East, which connects Cheltenham to Box Hill via two

new stations at Monash and Burwood, is proposed to be

delivered by 2035 and cost up to $34.5 billion. SRL North

is proposed to connect Box Hill to Melbourne Airport via

two new stations at Bundoora and Doncaster and is due

to be completed by 2053. The cost of SRL North is yet to

be determined.

SRL West proposes to utilise the Melbourne Airport Rail

alignment between the airport and Sunshine, while the

alignment between Sunshine and Werribee is yet to be

clarified. Apart from Melbourne Airport, which will be

delivered as part of the Melbourne Airport Rail project,

no new stations have been identified for SRL West.

Given the scale of investment the SRL requires, it is

important that benefits are spread equitably throughout

Melbourne and its delivery does not compromise the

ability to deliver a range of other pre-existing transport

projects in the State Government’s pipeline of works.

Council expects that the State Government urgently

clarifies in greater detail what is proposed for SRL West.

This includes which new stations are proposed and how

the Government proposes to integrate them with the

other elements of SRL and the Melbourne Airport Rail

project.

SRL West presents opportunities for the State

Government to address gaps in the public transport

network by delivering new stations at Keilor Park

and Sunshine North. However, not connecting a

reconstructed Albion Station to the SRL would be a

missed opportunity to maximise the public transport

catchment of the Sunshine Activity Centre.

- Suburban Rail Loop concept map highlighting two new stations proposed in the SRL East and SRL

North sections. No new stations are proposed in the SRL West section

24

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

5.3.6 Level crossing removals

The removal of eight level crossings in Brimbank since

2014 has been a significant and welcome investment by

the State Government. With the Calder Park Drive level

crossing committed for removal by 2025, the most active

level crossings in our municipality will be removed. This

investment means a safer and less congested transport

network for our community.

The removal of the Calder Park Drive level crossing

presents opportunities to integrate several nearby

existing and future projects, including the upgrade

of the Calder Freeway intersection, a possible future

station at Calder Park and the duplication of the

road between Melton Highway and Calder Freeway.

Integrating these projects into the scope of work for

the level crossing removal will ensure disruption during

construction is minimised and that long-term delivery

costs are reduced.

- Level crossing removals in Brimbank

since 2014

CALDER PARK

DELAHEY

KEILOR DOWNS

KEALBA

ST ALBANS

KINGS PARK

ALBANVALE

CAIRNLEA

SUNSHINE

NORTH

SUNSHINE

ARDEER

ALBION

SUNSHINE WEST

DERRIMUT

DEER PARK

BROOKLYN

SYDENHAM

KEILOR NORTH

TAYLORS LAKES

KEILOR

LODGE

KEILOR

KEILOR PARK

TULLAMARINE

KEILOR

EAST

HILLSIDE

Level crossing

to be removed

Level crossing

removed since

2014

5.3.7 Future stations

The provision of a new station at Calder Park has been

contemplated by the State Government for some time

and has been included in State Planning documents such

as the West Growth Corridor Plan, as well as on various

iterations of the Melway maps for some time.

Watergardens Station draws commuters from a wide

area, including the rapidly growing suburbs of Melton

such as Hillside and Fraser Rise. Given the increasingly

broad catchment of the station, many commuters

currently drive. However, the all-day car parking

situation is currently unable to meet demand.

Council calls on the State Government to consider

the development of a new, dedicated Park-and-Ride

Station at Calder Park Drive, away from higher density

land uses and with good access to Melton Highway and

Calder Freeway, to accommodate regional commuter car

parking demand.

The removal of the level crossing at Calder Park Drive and

the future delivery of a full-diamond interchange with

Calder Freeway and Calder Park Drive provides cost

saving opportunities to integrate a new station into the

scope of work.

- Indicative location of a future station at

Calder Park

Proposed

Station

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

25

Land in Keilor Park has been reserved by the State

Government for the provision of a potential station along

the future Melbourne Airport Rail corridor.

While Council has long called for the provision of a fast,

efficient airport rail service that connects the airport to

Melbourne’s CBD via Sunshine, there is an opportunity to

deliver a new station on the same rail corridor as part of

the Suburban Rail Loop project and, in doing so, improve

the project benefits for Melbourne’s West.

Delivering a new station at Keilor Park would improve

public transport access in the northeast of the

municipality, as well as the neighbouring suburb of

Airport West in the City of Moonee Valley. A station at

this location would further increase the public transport

catchment of Sunshine and broaden the volume of

employment, health and commercial opportunities

throughout the western-metropolitan region.

Council, therefore, calls on the State Government to

ensure that the Melbourne Airport Rail project does not

preclude the opportunity to construct a station in the

vicinity of Keilor Park in the future and that a station at

this location is considered as part of the Suburban Rail

Loop project.

Melbourne Airport Rail - Phase 1

Consultation

Between December 2020 and March 2021, Rail

Projects Victoria undertook their first round of

community engagement to seek feedback on

areas and issues of community interest along the

Melbourne Airport Rail project route between

Sunshine and Melbourne Airport. The engagement

sought to understand what is important to the

community along the rail corridor and to identify

opportunities to improve open space and local

infrastructure.

Strong community support was received for new

stations to be included along the corridor, including

on the border of Airport West/Keilor Park and at

Sunshine North.

26

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

As with Keilor Park, there are opportunities for the State

Government to explore the provision of a new station

in the Sunshine North area as part of the Suburban Rail

Loop.

A new station could help improve public transport

access to the future development at River Valley, as

well as improve access to Sunshine Hospital for those in

Melbourne’s north and east.

Council calls on the State Government to explore the

feasibility of a station serving Sunshine North and to

consider its delivery as part of the Suburban Rail Loop.

Building Brimbank Community

Engagement

In May 2020, Council adopted its Building Brimbank

Community Engagement Evaluation Report. The

Report received over 1,400 items of feedback and

was pivotal in guiding the development of Council’s

2050 Vision for the Sunshine Priority Precinct.

Support for improved public transport options

was evident throughout the responses, with

many community members hopeful that the new

investment in rail projects through the municipality

would coincide with new stations serving the

municipality.

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

27

5.4.1 Reforming the metropolitan bus

network

With limited opportunities to increase the capacity

of our road network in the inner and middle suburbs

of Melbourne, there is a growing need to improve the

efficiency of the road network to ensure people can

continue to get to where they need to go.

There are large pockets of Brimbank and the wider

western-metropolitan region that rely on private

vehicles because the closest bus route is unreliable,

infrequent and unappealing to use.

There are, however, premium bus routes that currently

operate within Melbourne that demonstrate buses can

be a highly effective and productive element of the

public transport network.

A bus network that is appealing to use and which is

reconfigured to provide direct routes, while maintaining

equitable access for all, would help to increase bus

patronage and benefit all road users.

Buses account for only 2% of all trips made in Brimbank

and Council welcomes the Victorian Department of

Transport’s recently-released Bus Plan which sets out

a series of important reform objectives to the provision

of bus services in Victoria, including the use of zero

emission bus fleets and on-demand technology. Council

calls on the State Government to appropriately fund

implementation of the Bus Plan to deliver a step-change

in patronage numbers across the bus network.

5.4.2 Bus interchanges

The Sunshine bus interchange is poorly integrated with

the adjacent Sunshine Station and surrounding precinct.

Given the transition to a super hub that supports access

from across the region to the Sunshine Priority Precinct,

a multi-modal interchange is required to provide a

convenient and seamless transition between public

transport modes, and from public transport to the

adjacent land uses.

The reconstruction of Deer Park Station and the removal

of the level crossing at Station Road / Mt Derrimut Road

provides the State Government with an opportunity

to substantially improve the integration of trains and

buses, while also improving the safety of passengers

who need to cross Station Road to connect between

these modes – many of whom are school children.

Council calls on the State Government to include an

integrated bus interchange at the new Deer Park

Station to improve access and pedestrian safety.

5.4.3 Bus route improvements

While a holistic review of the metropolitan bus

network is considered necessary, there are opportunities

to deliver short-term and cost-effective service

improvements to the bus network in Brimbank, as well

as more long-term investments. Council encourages

the State Government to consider investing in their

improvements.

28

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

1 1 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

1. Rebrand routes 216, 220 and 410 into SmartBus routes, with corresponding

investment to frequencies, bus stops and on-road priority

2. Increase frequency of services on route 215 between Caroline Spring and

Highpoint via Ballarat Road, from every 30 minutes to every 10 minute with

improved interchanges at Albion Station and Victoria University

3. Realign route 903 to serve Sunshine Hospital via Furlong Road and St Albans Road

4. Trial on-demand, or midi bus services, to connect the River Valley Estate with

Sunshine Station via Duke Street and Devonshire Road

5. Deliver an interim SmartBus service connecting Sunshine to Melbourne Airport

until completion of Melbourne Airport Rail to establish patronage

6. Deliver a new bus route connecting Sunshine and Brimbank Shopping Centre via

Cairnlea Drive to improve public transport accessibility in Cairnlea

7. Deliver a new bus route connecting Sunshine to Watergardens via McIntyre Road

and Sunshine Avenue (potentially by re-routing the 419 service) to improve public

transport accessibility in Kealba, St Albans East, Keilor Downs and Taylors Lakes to

the Sunshine Priority Precinct

8. Deliver a new bus route between St Albans and Melbourne Airport along Main

Road East, Sunshine Avenue, Green Gully Road, Old Calder Highway, Keilor Park

Drive and Airport Drive

9. Reconstruct the existing bus interchange at Sunshine Station and investigate

opportunities to increase the number of services that pass through the Sunshine

CBD, as opposed to terminate at Sunshine Station

10. Integrate a new bus interchange at the rebuilt Deer Park Station to improve

pedestrian safety, amenity and convenience for bus passengers

9

10

Rebrand routes 216, 220 and

410 into SmartBus routes,

with corresponding

investment to frequencies,

bus stops and on-road priority

Increase frequency of

services on route 215 between

Caroline Spring and Highpoint

via Ballarat Road, from

every 30 minutes to every

10 minute with improved

interchanges at Albion Station

and Victoria University

Realign route 903 to serve

Sunshine Hospital via Furlong

Road and St Albans Road

Trial on-demand, or midi bus

services, to connect the River

Valley Estate with Sunshine

Station via Duke Street and

Devonshire Road

Deliver an interim SmartBus

service connecting Sunshine

to Melbourne Airport

until completion of

Melbourne Airport Rail to

establish patronage

Deliver a new bus route

connecting Sunshine and

Brimbank Shopping Centre via

Cairnlea Drive to improve public

transport accessibility in Cairnlea

Deliver a new bus route

connecting Sunshine to

Watergardens via McIntyre

Road and Sunshine Avenue

(potentially by re-routing

the 419 service) to improve

public transport accessibility in

Kealba, St Albans East, Keilor

Downs and Taylors Lakes to

the Sunshine Priority Precinct

Deliver a new bus route

between St Albans and

Melbourne Airport along Main

Road East, Sunshine Avenue,

Green Gully Road, Old Calder

Highway, Keilor Park Drive and

Airport Drive

- Brimbank bus priorities

Reconstruct the existing

bus interchange at Sunshine

Station and investigate

opportunities to increase the

number of services that pass

through the Sunshine CBD,

as opposed to terminate at

Sunshine Station

Integrate a new bus

interchange at the rebuilt

Deer Park Station to improve

pedestrian safety, amenity

and convenience for bus

passengers

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

29

5.4.4 Exploring opportunities for light rail

and other transit technologies

The designation of Sunshine as a Priority Precinct

presents opportunities to enhance and expand the

public transport catchment of the precinct by increasing

transit opportunities to and from the area. If the precinct

is to be successfully transformed into the capital of

Melbourne’s West, then it will ultimately need to be

served by a range of high-quality public transport routes

that effectively and efficiently move people to and from

key destinations.

There are opportunities to develop frequent, efficient

and reliable public transport corridors that improve

connectivity between the Priority Precinct and

surrounding suburbs and major activity centres.

Incrementally increasing service frequency and reliability

of the existing bus services along corridors such as

Ballarat Road, coupled with improvements to pedestrian

areas, would help facilitate denser and more diverse land

uses and would allow for the progressive introduction of

higher-capacity transit modes, such as light rail.

Underutilised rail corridors such as the Sunshine to

Newport freight line also provide an opportunity to

explore opening the line for passenger services and, in

doing so, connecting Sunshine to South Kingsville and

Spotswood, as well as to new residential developments

planned for the Yarraville and Altona North areas.

One of the primary goals of the State Government’s

Victorian Cycling Strategy 2018-28 commits to

developing a network of Strategic Cycling Corridors (SCC)

to function in a similar way for cyclists as the arterial

road network functions for motorists, by connecting

major employment and activity centres.

In a recent survey of residents across Melbourne, 84%

of people living in Brimbank stated that they were

interested in cycling more but concerned about elements

such as safety (Pearson, et al., 2020). This is higher than

the greater Melbourne average of 78%.

By focusing on the provision of dedicated, low-stress

cycling corridors, physically separated from general

traffic, it is hoped that cycling becomes a realistic and

feasible transport opportunity.

5.5.1 Network development

The State Government has developed a draft network

of SCCs which partially consist of existing and proposed

bicycle infrastructure. There are critical gaps in the

network that require planning and delivery to provide

appealing alternatives to private vehicle use.

Council has worked hard to deliver an increasingly

connected network of cycling paths to help improve

rates of cycling within the community. Council calls on

the State Government to commit investment in the SCC

network in Brimbank and work with us to resolve critical

gaps in the network. Key routes include:

(Image to be graphically designed - clearly indicating

location of strategic cycling priorities)

30

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

- Brimbank cycling priorities

1. Fund a new pedestrian and bicycle bridge across the Taylors Road underpass to

facilitate the extension of the shared user path alongside the Watergardens rail

corridor

2. Deliver the section of the Sunshine to Deer Park Strategic Cycling Corridor,

between Fitzgerald Road and Robinsons Road, as part of any future upgrade to the

Deer Park rail corridor

3. Complete the east-west cycling corridor between the M80 Ring Road and

Burnside/Caroline Springs by upgrading Furlong Road to accommodate off-road

cycling infrastructure and complete missing links in shared user path network

4. Upgrade the M80 Ring Road Shared User Path to concrete surface

5. Explore opportunities to utilise part of the Sunshine – Newport freight corridor for

a shared user path, connecting Sunshine to Newport via major residential

development sites at Yarraville and Altona North

1

2

3

4

5

Fund a new pedestrian

and bicycle bridge

across the Taylors Road

underpass to facilitate the

extension of the shared

user path alongside the

Watergardens rail corridor

Deliver the section of the

Sunshine to Deer Park

Strategic Cycling Corridor,

between Fitzgerald Road

and Robinsons Road, as

part of any future upgrade

to the Deer Park rail

corridor

Complete the east-west

cycling corridor between

the M80 Ring Road and

Burnside/Caroline Springs

by upgrading Furlong Road

to accommodate off-road

cycling infrastructure and

complete missing links in

shared user path network

Upgrade the M80 Ring

Road Shared User Path to

concrete surface

Explore opportunities to

utilise part of the Sunshine

– Newport freight corridor

for a shared user path,

connecting Sunshine

to Newport via major

residential development

sites at Yarraville and

Altona North

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

31

5.5.2 Major project integration

The ongoing delivery of Victoria’s Big Build program

presents significant opportunities to deliver cycling

infrastructure, cost-effectively integrating it into the

scope of major state infrastructure projects.

Council expects that when major infrastructure projects

are planned and constructed in the municipality, the

existing and future SCC network will be accommodated

in the scope of work.

5.5.3 Industrial land access

Over 2,000 hectares of Brimbank is zoned for industrial

purposes. However, many of the larger industrial areas

are not well-serviced by public transport due to the

low density of persons per hectare, making it more of a

necessity for workers and visitors to these areas to own

their own private vehicles.

The difficulties in providing public transport services to

industrial areas highlight the need to provide alternative

means of transport for workers and visitors such as

walking and cycling infrastructure. Many of Brimbank’s

industrial precincts are also lacking in active transport

infrastructure despite great opportunities for shared

paths along waterways, drainage reserves and other

easements.

5.6.1 Ballarat Road

Ballarat Road, between Duke Street and the M80, is

a significant safety concern for Council. The corridor

also acts as a significant impediment to pedestrian and

bicycle access to and from the Sunshine Activity Centre.

Council has welcomed the recent investment in

signals at Hulett Street. However, we call on the State

Government to consider additional signals at Adelaide

Street and Chatsworth Avenue to provide a greater

number of safe crossing points for pedestrians and to

assist right-turning vehicles.

More broadly, Council’s vision for the Sunshine Priority

Precinct envisages that Ballarat Road will become a key

corridor for growth and activity. As such, a holistic review

of the Ballarat Road corridor is required to facilitate

denser and more diverse land uses, higher-capacity

public transport services and greater pedestrian and

cyclist permeability.

5.6.2 St Albans Road

The intersection of Ballarat, McIntyre and Anderson

Roads is one of the most congested intersections in

Melbourne’s West, with delays causing many drivers to

divert through Council’s local road network.

Land has been reserved for the State Government to

extend St Albans Road so that it connects with the

intersection of Anderson and Foundry Roads. This would

divert traffic away from the intersection of Ballarat,

McIntyre and Anderson Roads and unlock substantial

development opportunities within the Albion Quarter of

the Sunshine Activity Centre. An alternative would be to

extend St Albans Road so that it connects to McIntyre

Road, north of Ballarat Road, which may provide

improved amenity and development outcomes.

Council calls on the State Government to investigate

opportunities to extend St Albans Road to divert it

away from the Ballarat, McIntyre and Anderson Roads

intersection to facilitate development in the Albion

Quarter and improve journey times along Ballarat Road.

New public transport services on St Albans Road will

also be necessary in the future to connect emerging

development between St Albans and Sunshine, and to

increase connectivity between the Sunshine Activity

Centre and the Sunshine Health, Wellbeing and

Education Precinct.

32

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

5.6.3 McIntyre Road

McIntyre Road provides an important transport

connection between the Sunshine CBD, the Western

Ring Road and the northern suburbs of the municipality.

It also plays an important role in the movement of freight

to and from the Sunshine North industrial precinct and

accommodates the 903 SmartBus route.

These competing modes of transport utilise a narrow

road reserve with two lanes of traffic in each direction

but little to no space available to accommodate

landscaping, active transport infrastructure or central

medians. Consequently, the corridor suffers from

low levels of safety and amenity, and high levels of

congestion.

As the Sunshine Priority Precinct develops, there will be

opportunities to provide additional setbacks on the west

of the corridor to allow for the safer movement of people

and goods.

5.6.4 Furlong Road

Furlong Road provides a critical connection between

St Albans Road and McIntyre Road and links Sunshine

Hospital and the broader Sunshine Health, Wellbeing

and Education Precinct (SHWEP) to Ginifer Station and

the Western Ring Road. Its future evolution will play

an important role in influencing travel behaviour to and

from a major trip generator in Brimbank.

Over many years, Council has worked with the State

Government to strategically plan for the SHWEP,

including what long-term investments are required to

improve access and facilitate investment.

Investment is required on Furlong Road to improve

pedestrian and cycle connections between the SHWEP

and the two strategic cycling corridors alongside the

Watergardens rail line and the Western Ring Road.

Further work is also required by the State to resolve

the funding and delivery of a potential new link road

between Furlong Road and St Albans Road.

5.6.5 Taylors Road

Taylors Road, along with Green Gully Road, provides

an uninterrupted road corridor between the Calder

and Western Freeways, via Keilor Downs and Caroline

Springs. It therefore functions as an arterial road.

The section of Taylors Road between Sunshine Avenue

and Kings Road is managed by the State Government,

while the remaining sections of the road are managed

by Brimbank and Melton City Councils. This disjointed

corridor ownership makes it difficult to plan and

coordinate upgrades and to manage increasing levels

of congestion that impact the Brimbank and Melton

communities.

Council calls on the State Government to progressively

adapt the entire Taylors Road corridor as a state

managed arterial road, prioritising the section between

Kings Road and Westwood Drive, and to provide

additional lanes and supporting active transport

infrastructure to match demand.

5.6.6 Calder Park Drive

Calder Park Drive, along with Westwood Drive, Robinsons

Road and Palmers Road (collectively referred to as the

Palmers Road Corridor), forms an uninterrupted corridor

between the Calder, Western and Princes Freeways, as

well as several other state-managed arterial roads. As a

result, the corridor functions as an arterial road, however

ownership is split between Brimbank and Melton City

Councils, as well as the State Government.

The existing intersection of Calder Park Drive and

the Calder Freeway presents many urgent safety and

operational issues and is not fit-for-purpose in an urban

freeway environment.

Council welcomes the recent work by the State

Government in planning and developing a new business

case to upgrade the intersection, and Council calls

for funds to be provided to upgrade this dangerous

intersection to a full-diamond interchange.

Noting the announcement that the State Government

plans to remove the Calder Park Level Crossing by

2025, Council also calls on the State Government to

duplicate and adopt the road between Melton Highway

and the Calder Freeway and that these major projects

be integrated to avoid excessive disruption to the

community.

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

33

5.6.7 Robinsons Road

Robinsons Road, between Boundary Road and

Westwood Drive, forms the municipal boundary between

Brimbank and Melton City Councils. As with Calder Park

Drive, Robinsons Road forms part of the Palmers Road

corridor and effectively functions as an arterial road

connection between multiple freeways and state

managed arterial roads.

As with Calder Park Drive, Council calls for the State

Government to adopt the road as a state-managed

arterial road and duplicate the corridor to accommodate

increasing demand.

5.6.8 Keilor Park Drive

As Melbourne Airport seeks to expand operations, the

demand for traffic on Keilor Park Drive is anticipated to

increase substantially.

The existing roundabouts at Sharps Road and

Tullamarine Park Road will require upgrading to signals

in order to safely manage future traffic volumes in the

Tullamarine area. Declared by the State Government as a

Strategic Cycling Corridor, the provision of signals at both

locations would also substantially improve pedestrian

and cyclist safety and allow for improved active transport

connections from the northern suburbs of Brimbank to

Melbourne Airport and the surrounding warehouse and

logistics premises.

5.7.1 Calder Freeway

Between 2015 and 2019, a total of 81 crashes were

recorded on the Calder Freeway, between the M80 Ring

Road and the Gap Road interchange, resulting in 100

people being injured, 24 of which were serious injuries

and sadly four of which were fatalities.

Modelling commissioned by Infrastructure Australia in

its 2019 Infrastructure Audit forecasts that delays on

the Calder Freeway will substantially increase by 2031

without further investment to increase capacity.

The Infrastructure Audit found that in 2016, between

Gisborne South and the Tullamarine Freeway, the

Calder Freeway was the seventh-most congested road

in Melbourne during the AM peak and the ninth-most

congested road during the PM peak. By 2031, the same

corridor is forecast to become Melbourne’s second-most

congested corridor in the AM peak and the third-most

congested corridor in the PM peak.

A detailed summary of what this means for users of this

corridor is included in

.

- Forecast growth in congestion on Calder Freeway (Infrastructure Australia, 2019)

AM Peak

2016

59%

29 minutes

$8.01

$34.50

2031

72%

51 minutes

$14.08

$60.67

PM Peak

2016

46%

19 minutes

$5.25

$22.60

2031

63%

37 minutes

$10.22

$44.02

34

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

Council’s Fix the Calder campaign calls on the State

and Federal Governments to deliver a number of

urgent upgrades, including additional lanes from Keilor

Park Drive to Melton Highway, the widening of the

Maribyrnong River bridge, as well as the upgrades to

Calder Park Drive outlined in section 5.6.6.

The recent commitment of $100m from both the Federal

and State Governments to fund planning and preliminary

upgrades to the corridor is welcomed by Council, as has

the announcement of the removal of the level crossing

at Calder Park Drive. However, significantly more funds

are required to ensure the corridor is upgraded to an

urban freeway standard.

5.7.2 The Outer Metropolitan Ring

The Outer Metropolitan Ring corridor is a future freeway

and rail corridor designed to connect the western

and northern growth areas of Melbourne and provide

additional transport connections between the Princess,

Western, Calder and Hume Freeways, the national rail

freight network, Melbourne and Avalon Airports and the

growing industrial precincts in Melbourne’s West.

Its delivery will provide regional, state-wide and national

benefits by alleviating traffic pressure on the Western

Ring Road, and providing efficient rail freight connections

between Melbourne and the rest of Australia.

Council calls on the State and Federal Governments to

invest in the preliminary purchasing of necessary land

to facilitate the delivery of the project at the earliest

possible opportunity.

5.8.1 Western Interstate

Freight Precinct

In 2012, the State Government committed to an

expansion of Melbourne’s Urban Growth Boundary,

which included the provision for an additional 1,500

hectares of industrial land in Melbourne’s West.

As part of this industrial expansion, provision has been

made for a new intermodal freight terminal in the

Truganina area (within the City of Melton) which would

facilitate increased supply chain efficiencies and allow for a

greater proportion of freight to be accommodated by rail.

The development of the Western Interstate Freight

Precinct (WIFP) will support local manufacturing and

help develop a more resilient and efficient supply chain

for businesses across Victoria.

While not directly located in Brimbank, the development

of the WIFP, and its associated road and rail connections,

has implications on Brimbank and our transport network.

Council supports the prioritisation of the WIFP, providing

that no additional rail connections are provided through

Brimbank to connect the terminal to the national

rail freight network. As such, support for the WIFP is

conditional on rail freight being transported via the

future Outer Metropolitan Ring corridor.

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

35

5.9.1 Electric vehicle charging

infrastructure

The transition to zero-emission vehicles is a critical

component for meeting Council’s Climate Emergency

Plan targets. As an organisation, Brimbank has made

efforts to deliver new charging facilities at its multi

deck car park in Sunshine, and in its Operations Centre

to allow for electric tipper trucks for use by our Parks

Services team. Council is also finalising a Fleet Transition

Plan designed to ensure Council’s operations are net

zero emissions by 2030.

Council welcomes the recent release of Victoria’s Zero

Emissions Vehicle Roadmap, including its commitment

relating to new charging infrastructure and its subsidy

for new electric vehicle purchases. While EV’s currently

remain more expensive than their petrol or diesel

powered alternatives, it is anticipated that by 2025 they

will be equivalent in price and offer significantly lower

ongoing running costs.

It is therefore important that efforts be prioritised

to ensure that sufficient charging infrastructure is

readily available at home and on the road. The State

Government can make efforts beyond those outlined

in its Zero Emissions Vehicle Roadmap to ensure

electric vehicle charging facilities are a necessity in new

developments by incorporating such requirements into

the Victorian Planning Scheme.

5.9.2 Mobility-as-a-Service

Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) is an emerging field that

has the potential to drastically reduce private vehicle

ownership in urban settings by allowing people to move

from A to B in a way that meets their personal needs via

individually tailored journey options. The emergence of

artificial intelligence and the prevalence of smartphone

technology presents opportunities for new entrants to

collaborate with traditional market operators to disrupt

the traditional market of people owning individual

vehicles, in a similar way to how online video and music

streaming companies have disrupted their own markets.

In 2017, Infrastructure Victoria published advice to the

State Government relating to autonomous and electric

vehicles which highlighted the substantial investment

needed in mobile networks, on-road line marking

and energy networks to ensure Victoria is positioned

to benefit from such emerging technology. Council

supports the ongoing investment to ensure advances in

technology can be harnessed to deliver environmental,

economic and social benefits for our community and to

those who need them most.

Brimbank invites the opportunity to trial innovative

technology such as autonomous vehicles within the

Sunshine Precinct, in order to improve access between

Sunshine Station and key destinations such as Victoria

University and the Sunshine Hospital.

36

Transport Priorities Paper 2022

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38

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Transport Priorities Paper 2022

39

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