Today’s $10.5 billion Transport Statement, Meeting our Transport Challenge, is a strong step forward, but significant investment is needed over the long term.

The Statement picks up on a number of recommendations of VECCI’s Victoria Summit, for example the Dandenong rail triplication; a new link between the Eastern and Western suburbs of Melbourne; and reservation of land for future infrastructure projects.

"The measures announced in the Statement will make Victoria a better place to live and work, and will improve the attractiveness of Melbourne and the regions to business operators and investors", says VECCI Chief Executive Officer, Mr Neil Coulson

Key announcements welcomed by VECCI include:

• the widening of the Monash and Westgate Freeways;
• the triplication of the Dandenong line between Caulfield and Springvale;
• construction of a third track between Sunshine and West Footscray;
• upgrades to the City Loop;
• new train stations for the outer suburbs and level crossing upgrades;
• improved bus services;
• better outer metropolitan and regional arterial roads;
• reservation of land for future infrastructure projects, such as connections to the Port of Hastings; and
• a study into an east-west link

"Better infrastructure is the way forward to tackle congestion problems, not blunt instruments like congestion taxes and car park levies, which have devastating unintended consequences on retail and other businesses.

"We understand that the east-west link needs a comprehensive study around it because of the complexity of such a project, but caution that the project should not take forever to get started, as traffic problems are acute now and will only get worse.

"It is also a stark reality that the investment required in such a project will be so large that the State Budget will not be able to fund it and tolls will be required", says Mr Coulson.