Melbourne’s controversial new road proposal, the East-West Link, which the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects declared an ‘environmental disaster’, has received the backing of the Victorian truckers’ body the VTA.
The Victorian Transport Association (VTA) has urged political parties to build the East-West Link tunnel.
The VTA made these statements following the political decision of the Labor Party not to honour contracts for the completion of the eastern section of the East-West Link project, which are likely to be entered into by current Victorian Government prior to the state election in November.
VTA CEO Neil Chambers reinforced the strong industry view that a second Yarra River crossing is vital to relieve the undue reliance on the already congested M1 corridor.
“There’s no denying that Melbourne has developed an over-reliance on the M1 corridor and the ramifications are easily seen when our road network grinds to a halt due to accidents or when the CityLink tunnels are unavailable to traffic.
“Over the coming decades this situation will only worsen as Victoria’s freight task is expected to double and the containerised trade through the Port of Melbourne will triple. The only way Victoria will be able to manage this logistical challenge is if our political parties to look at the bigger picture and commit in a timely fashion to a pipeline of major projects to be built – the first being the eastern section of the East West Link with links to the Port of Melbourne.
“Victoria is the nation’s freight and logistic hub, contributing up to $23 billion to Gross State Product in 2011, and accounting for up to eight percent of the State’s economy. It is crucial this industry has access to a modern road network, which the VTA believes East-West Link will deliver.
“The Federal Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics estimates that traffic delays in Melbourne costs the community around $2.7 billion per year. Also during peak periods, over 50% of road traffic uses 3% of the freeway and arterial network, a large component of which is reliance on the M1 corridor. Major infrastructure projects such as East-West Link are necessary to reduce these costs and ensure Victoria has an efficient economy.
“The VTA has remained supportive of the delivery of East West Link Stage 1 (between the Eastern Freeway/Hoddle Street interchange and CityLink), but we know that this is only the first step. It is imperative that further East West Link connections to the Port of Melbourne precinct and the M80 are delivered if the state is to secure its long term economic vitality, Mr Chambers said.