So instead,Brumby is offering us a smorgasbord:60 projects,in roads,rail,trams,buses,bicycles,ports,even regional airports. Some are already under way or programmed. Others are new projects,whether on roads,tracks,buying new trains,trams and buses,freight terminals,etc. There's something for everyone.
Half that spending would be on four big projects:two road,two rail. What remains of Eddington's road tunnel is a $5 billion tunnel under the Maribyrnong River and the western suburbs to link the Dynon Road freight terminal to its supply sources,via the Geelong road and the Western Ring Road. We need roads like this for Melbourne to work,yet remain liveable.
The second road costs even more:$6 billion-plus to build a nine-kilometre freeway underground from Greensborough to Bulleen. It's the link our rulers left out of the Outer Ring Road,because they assumed it would have to go through Eltham,and even Jeff Kennett was not game to try that. But if money is no problem,we can build it underground,without going anywhere near Eltham. Just don't be surprised if it ends up as a toll road.
The Tarneit-Sunshine rail link proposed by Eddington would be expanded into a $4 billion line from Werribee to Southern Cross,creating a dedicated double track for regional passenger trains from Geelong,Ballarat and Bendigo,with a spur line to serve the new suburbs of Tarneit and Wyndham Vale.
Eddington also proposed a rail tunnel from Footscray to Caulfield. Brumby has promised to build only the central bit. Even that would cost $4.5 billion,a cost he defended as kicking off"the development of a metro system in Melbourne".
Loading
But it doesn't do that,and can't,unless we have planning policies that create population densities where public transport becomes our best option for getting around. This plan sets some good priorities,but in trying to please everyone,it lacks a clear strategy.
TIm Colebatch is economics editor.