Michaela Meade
Craigieburn residents are being encouraged to voice their concerns about the state government’s decision not to duplicate Mickleham Road prior to the fast tracking of a new residential development at Craigieburn West.
The Craigieburn West Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) is one of 19 planning and infrastructure projects being fast tracked as part of the government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.
As reported by Star Weekly, the council wrote to the government in September advising that it would not support plans to fast track the new precinct, which will add 8200 houses to Craigieburn, until the government commits to duplicating Mickleham Road.
Councillors reaffirmed their position at a council meeting last month, endorsing a submission on the PSP to the Victorian Planning Authority, which stated the council would not support the approval of the Craigieburn West PSP without a budget commitment for the duplication of Mickleham Road between Somerton and Donnybrook roads.
Planning Minister Richard Wynne wrote to the council last year stating that the Mickleham Road duplication would not form part of the Craigieburn West PSP.
According to a council report, traffic on Mickleham Road between Somerton and Donnybrook roads increased by 54 per cent between 2013 and 2019, with 28,590 vehicles using the road daily.
“The level of traffic exceeds the capacity on Mickleham Road as a single lane rural road and the state’s trigger of 20,000 vehicles per day for duplication of arterial roads,” the report stated.
Cr Jack Medcraft said the community should make it voice heard on the issue.
“The people of Craigieburn have got a voice,” Cr Medcraft said.
“I suggest that the residents of craigieburn… [go to] the local office, asking the local member why they are not addressing this issue.”
Cr Jim Overend, a “long time campaigner” for the road’s duplication, said the government had “failed the communities in the north with its current road network”.
“This is our opportunity to tell the state government what the community has been saying for years and that we will not support the fast tracking of the Craigieburn West PSP until the duplication of Mickleham Road is fully funded and duplicated,” he said.
Cr Naim Kurt said it “beggars belief” that the Mickleham Road duplication was not on the state government’s agenda as part of the PSP.
He said the duplication would provide “hundreds, if not thousands” of direct and indirect jobs.
Cr Trevor Dance said he was “flabbergasted” that road and infrastructure projects remain secondary.
“We’ve got to get some give from the government to get the funds released early so these road constructions can happen before they start building all these houses,” he said.
