Victoria seeks IA backing on freight plans

In releasing the submission that outlined the state’s infrastructure funding priorities, Mr Pallas said two key projects crucial to Victoria’s freight network and the port of Melbourne were WestLink and the Truck Action Plan.

"Our submission to IA highlights the importance of Victoria’s commercial ports, especially the Port of Melbourne, to the national economy and sets out a clear strategy to increase capacity and drive efficiencies at our ports,” Mr Pallas said

WestLink is a road tunnel from the port precinct to Geelong Road/Sunshine Road, with a longer term connection to the Western Ring Road.

The Truck Action Plan will create an alternative route for freight to access the port of Melbourne.

Both projects were among 10 major infrastructure projects for which Victoria is seeking Commonwealth Government funding.

"WestLink will help reduce Melbourne’s over-reliance on the West Gate Bridge, remove cars and trucks from local roads and create more jobs. We’re already getting on with initial works for WestLink, with a $10m planning study announced last month,” Mr Pallas said.

Ms Kosky said other projects in Victoria’s submission included the development of new intermodal freight terminals in Melbourne’s north and west, the development of the port of Hastings, including rail freight connections, and a package of road and rail projects in the Green Triangle region in the state’s south west.

The state government and interested parties believe that cooperation between Victoria and South Australia over Green Triangle freight and infrastructure issues has impressed the Federal Government and a request for funding was likely to be met favourably.

Meanwhile, $11m would be spent on planning investigations for the first stage of the Truck Action Plan, including pre-construction and early works on Shepherd Bridge in Yarraville, Mr Pallas said.

The plan is aimed at creating an alternative route for freight to access the port of Melbourne, away from inner western residential areas.

“VicRoads has already begun planning investigations for the first stage of the plan, which is estimated to cost $380m and will create a freight corridor from the West Gate Freeway along Hyde and Whitehall Streets and across Shepherd Bridge to the port precinct," Mr Pallas said

Mr Pallas said VicRoads was currently looking into route options, concept designs, technical studies and associated analysis.

"Part of this work includes a consultation process with residents and business, which has already had a significant impact on the investigations," he said.

"With completion of the planning investigation, work will start on detailed design, pre-construction and the early construction work on Shepherd Bridge.

"The bridge strengthening will increase its capacity to carry heavy loads of up to 110 tonnes well into the future."