Tara Murray
The duplication of Mickleham Road has been named as the top priority for the Interface Councils.
The Interface Councils, a group of 10 councils that form a rug around the edge of Melbourne, have welcomed the economic stimulus effort led by the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) to fast track developments as part of the state government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Projects targeting greenfield development and urban renewal in areas uch as Beveridge North West, Craigieburn West, Wallan, Lilydale, Berwick and Pakenham East are among projects to be fast tracked.
The accelerated work program will create over 100,000 jobs and almost $19 billion in economic return for the state by mid-2021.
While supportive of the VPA’s plans, the group is calling on the government to include transport infrastructure and services alongside the developments to ensure people are not left behind.
Interface Councils spokeswoman Lydia Wilson said the people of Hume deserved an upgrade of their roads.
According to the group, Hume is one of the most car-dependent areas in the state.
Mickleham Road currently has no footpaths or bike paths, north of Somerton Road. It also has little bus infrastructure.
“The lack of adequate roads and public transport servicing in the area is making the area less liveable for families,” said Ms Wilson, who is also Whittlesea’s chair of administrators.
“Hume and other interface areas need extra lanes on their arterial roads so that people can commute to work and school safely – when they are permitted to do so again.
“Traffic on Mickleham Road historically increased when housing estates were built in the area north of Greenvale. Now, employment and retail centres are failing to realise their full potential and communities are becoming increasingly disadvantaged in the current environment.
“Now is the time to rectify outer suburban transport so people aren’t left in the lurch.”
The call comes just weeks after Hume councillors said they wouldn’t support the fast-tracking of the Craigieburn West precinct structure plan until funding was committed to duplicate Mickleham Road.
In 2019, an average of 29,000 cars per day used Mickleham Road between Somerton and Donnybrook roads, up 54 per cent from 2013.
According to a council infrastructure plan, an arterial road should be duplicated once it is used by 20,000 cars daily.
It’s expected 8000 extra dwellings will be built as part of the new PSP.
