Show your support for a better Melbourne Airport Rail by signing Council's petition calling on the State Government to reconsider how it delivers the project.
Hundreds of people have already signed the Brimbank Council petition urging the State Government to re-affirm its commitment to transform Sunshine Station as a Super Hub, and reconsider plans for a flyover through Albion as part of Melbourne Airport Rail.
At the July Council meeting, Brimbank Council re-affirmed its commitment to advocate for the best possible community outcomes connected to the Melbourne Airport Rail.
Council's Sunshine Priority Precinct Vision 2050 outlines a plan to help unlock up to $8 billion of investment and development potential and create between 20,000 and 50,000 new jobs across the precinct over the next 30 years.
This includes leveraging the Melbourne Airport Rail and other investments to transform the area into a 21st century city.
Earlier this month Brimbank Mayor Cr Ranka Rasic met with Minister for Transport Infrastructure and the Suburban Rail Loop Jacinta Allan and received a comprehensive briefing on the State Government's investment in transport infrastructure in Melbourne's West.
The meeting took place at an event hosted by Steve Bracks, Chancellor Victoria University and also attended by the West of Melbourne Economic Development Alliance (WoMeda) and LeadWest.
The Mayor outlined Council's masterplan work for the Sunshine precinct, as a next step towards realising Sunshine's enormous potential to become the powerhouse of Melbourne's west.
Brimbank Council's petition asks the State Government to reconsider its plans for a flyover, and adopt a staged-approach to delivering Airport Rail by initially utilising existing at-grade tracks. This will allow time to properly plan for:
- Redeveloping Sunshine Station into a regional super hub
- Rebuilding Albion Station into a fit-for-purpose public transport interchange that complements and celebrates the heritage value of the Darling Flour Mill
- Integrating both stations into the surrounding precincts in a way that unlocks development opportunities, most notably within the Albion Quarter
- Delivering long-term rail commitments made in the Western Rail Plan, such as the electrification of the Melton and Wyndham.
Sign our petition at yoursay.brimbank.vic.gov.au/mar
Quotes can be attributed to Brimbank Mayor Cr Ranka Rasic:
"There is a better way to build Melbourne Airport Rail. Our Sunshine Priority Precinct Vision 2050 shows how Melbourne Airport Rail has the potential to transform the west.
"I have been working hard to lobby the State Government to make sure this project is done properly.
"It was reassuring to have Minister Allan commit to ongoing community engagement for this project. I look forward to more discussions with the State Government as we all work together to deliver better places for the west especially through social procurement and investment attraction.
"A well-built, well-planned Melbourne Airport Rail should lock in jobs and community uplift, not transport and employment bottlenecks.
"It's so important that we maximise local community benefit. We want this to be about community, not just commuters.
"Let's work together and get this right, so that future generations will be benefit from this multi-billion dollar project."
