Whittlesea council has endorsed an infrastructure strategy that makes the O’Herns Road-Hume Highway interchange its No.1 priority.
The strategy has been released by a partnership of seven northern councils in concert with NORTH Link, La Trobe University, Northern Melbourne Regional Development Australia and Mitchell shire council.
But at their meeting last week, councillors called for shorter timelines for desperately needed infrastructure upgrades given priority in
Northern Horizons – 50 Year Infrastructure Strategy for Melbourne’s North.
The council specifically wants the extensions of rail services to Mernda and tram route 86 past Bundoora to South Morang brought forward.
“Being a growth area, our community is in need of infrastructure and services
now, such as train services to Mernda, the route 86 tram extension and many of our urgent social needs,” mayor Mary Lalios
said.
Projects the council wants brought forward include:
■ The Mernda rail and tram route 86 extensions to start within the 2014-15 financial year.
■ Construction of the E6 (outer metropolitan ring road) as an arterial road, giving full access for the eastern area of Epping North.
■ Duplication of Childs Road, Craigieburn Road, Findon Road and McDonalds Road within a five-year period.
■ Delivery of two extra secondary schools by 2021.
The Northern Horizons report defines the major projects needed to ensure the long-term sustainability and liveability of Melbourne’s fastest-growing urban population centres, describing existing infrastructure as “a mixed bag” that includes congested roads, poor public transport links and a dearth of doctors, secondary schools and recreational opportunities.
