Melton City Council says the Victorian Labor Government's recent commitment to declare and duplicate part of Taylors Road falls short of the investment needed to upgrade a critical east-west link in the City of Melton - Australia's fastest growing area.
The Victorian Labor Party has committed $170 million to declare and duplicate Taylors Road, between Kings Road and Kurung Drive in the City of Brimbank if it wins the November State Election. To date, the Opposition and other parties contesting the election have not matched the commitment.
While the announcement is a positive step, the upgrade must not stop short of the sections of Taylors Road in the City of Melton where the liveability of residents is impacted by the need for more investment in roads.
Taylors Road is an important road corridor in the City of Melton carrying up to 34,000 vehicles per day, meeting the general criteria for an arterial road, with traffic volumes projected to further increase to more than 40,720 vehicles per day by 2031.
The corridor is also expected to support significant growth over coming decades, with more than 70,000 new residents forecast to live along Taylors Road by 2046.
The increasing traffic volumes are already having an impact on safety and congestion, with 83 traffic accidents recorded in the five-year period between 2020 and 2025, including 18 serious injuries.
Given the scale of growth and traffic demand, a partial upgrade will not adequately address current or future pressures. A long-term commitment to deliver the full Taylors Road corridor upgrade is needed.
Council has been investing in Taylors Road and has been calling on a funding partnership with the Victorian Government.
Council is calling on all major parties contesting the election to commit to the full duplication and upgrade of Taylors Road through to Leakes Road and to declare the entire corridor a state-managed road.
Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution (GAIC) funding could help deliver the upgrades needed along the busy corridor. GAIC was established to fund essential infrastructure in Victoria's growth areas, with contributions collected from developers intended to be reinvested in the communities generating that growth. However, of the $420.9 million collected from development within the City of Melton, only $255.9 million has been reinvested locally, leaving a funding shortfall of $164.9 million.
Council is seeking commitment from the Victorian Government and all major parties contesting the election to return the City of Melton's outstanding share of GAIC funding and to outline how those funds will be invested in the infrastructure the fast-growing City needs including Taylors Road west of Westwood Drive.
Quotes attributable to City of Melton Mayor Cr Lara Carli:
"Infrastructure investment must keep pace with growth, and right now City of Melton residents are being asked to wait far too long for the roads they need."
"We acknowledge the need to duplicate Taylors Road between Kings Road and Kurung Drive but investment must also be delivered for the City of Melton, which is Australia's fastest-growing community."
"Council is investing in upgrading Taylors Road because we understand the need to ease congestion and improve safety, but we can't do it alone. The anticipated cost of required works is beyond our ability to fund. As a vital east-west link within the City of Melton, we are calling on all major parties contesting the election to commit to the full duplication and upgrade of Taylors Road through to Leakes Road and to declare the entire corridor a state-managed road."
"The Victorian Government has collected more than $420 million in GAIC funding from development in the City of Melton, yet almost $165 million has not been reinvested back into our community. That funding should be helping deliver the roads, and infrastructure our residents need and deserve."
"Council is doing its part to accommodate Victoria's housing targets and growth. Now we need all parties contesting the state election to step up and commit to the investment our growing community needs and deserves."
