Let's get the City of Melton Moving

The growing suburbs along the Melton rail corridor are currently serviced by diesel regional trains, with commuters relying on already overcrowded Ballarat services. Extending metropolitan rail services to Melton has long been identified as a critical next step in supporting Melbourne’s western growth corridor, consistent with the 2018 commitment to the Western Rail Plan

The Victorian and Australian Governments have invested in upgrades to the Melton rail line, including works to enable nine-car VLocity trains, level crossing removals and a stabling yard at Cobblebank. These investments are important, but they are not a substitute for electrification. Electrifying the line from Sunshine to Melton and separating services from the Ballarat corridor would substantially increase capacity, improve frequency, shorten travel times and better connect growing communities to the metropolitan network. 

The electrification of the Melton Line with additional train stations will get the City of Melton Moving: 

92,000+ people 
Over 92,000 people will live within the catchment of the Sunbury Rail line, near Watergardens Station by 2046. 

10km gap 
There is a 10km gap between Diggers Rest Station and Watergardens Station. Yet there are four stations within 10km of beyond Watergardens. 

Congestion 
A new station at Calder Park Drive would reduce congestion on Melton Highway and at Watergardens Station. 

Timely investment 
A new stabling yard has been built and the level crossing has been removed. With planning underway for the Calder Park Interchange, it’s timely to deliver the new station concurrently. 

25,000 new residents 
Are expected to move into the Mt Atkinson estate by 2051, resulting in a total population of 32,000. 

10,000 commercial jobs 
The Mt Atkinson town centre is expected to create 10,000 jobs. 

19,000 industrial jobs 
New employment precincts, including the Melbourne Business Park, are projected to create 19,000 jobs. 

6km gap 
The closest train stations are five and six kilometres away in Caroline Springs and Rockbank. 

18,447 new residents 
Thornhill Park is expected to increase by 18,447 new residents by 2046. 

Reduce pressure 
A new train station on the existing Ballarat line will help ease pressure on nearby Rockbank station and reduce car dependency. 

11,500 entry and exit 
It is estimated that the station would have 11,500 entries and exits, daily by 2041. 

Connected community 
A new train station at Thornhill Park will service a suburb that is lacking road connection to the Western Highway and get commuters off the road and onto trains. 

• Carries over 86,000 vehicles per day, projected to increase to over 110,000 vehicles per day by 2031. 
• 225,000 new residents are expected to move in along the Western Highway by 2046. Ten per cent of traffic is freight transport. 
• In the five-year period from October 2019 to September 2024, there were 423 traffic accidents, including eight fatalities and 112 serious crashes. 
• $1 billion investment by the Australian Government is welcome but not enough to deliver on the upgrades required and seek additional funding. 

WORKS REQUIRED

• Urbanisation 
• Increased capacity 
• New and upgraded interchanges 

INVESTMENT OUTCOMES

• 23,000 vehicles per day. This will increase to 45,000 vehicles per day by 2031.
• 67,000 new residents are expected to move in along the Melton Highway by 2046. 
• In the five-year period between October 2019 to September 2024, there were 83 traffic accidents, including 29 serious injuries. Estimated cost to the community was $25,356,682 over the five years. 
• Small works completed now additional works required to urbanise the Highway. 

INVESTMENT OUTCOMES

• Carries approximately 28,000 vehicles per day, projected to increase to over 51,000 vehicles per day by 2031. An additional 68,000 new residents are expected to be added near Hopkins Road by 2051. 
• Over 20,000 jobs are projected to be created at industrial zones near Hopkins Road. 
• Between 2020 and 2024, there were 105 traffic accidents recorded on Hopkins Road between the Western Highway and Boundary Road intersections, including two fatalities, 27 serious crashes. 

WORKS REQUIRED 

• Road duplication 
• Signalised intersections 

INVESTMENT OUTCOMES

• Westwood Drive, Calder Park Drive and Robinsons Road carry over 34,000 vehicles daily, increasing to over 38,500 by 2031. 
• 22,000 new residents are expected to move in along this corridor by 2046, adding to the 85,478 people who currently live in this north south corridor. 
• Between October 2019 and September 2024, there were 148 traffic accident-related injuries recorded on the corridor, including one fatality and 39 serious injuries. 

WORKS REQUIRED 

• Declaration and duplication 
• Build Calder Park Interchange 
• Upgrade intersections 

INVESTMENT OUTCOMES

• Carries approximately 34,000 vehicles per day, projected to increase to over 40,720 vehicles per day by 2031. 
• 70,000 new residents are expected to be added along Taylors Road by 2046. 
• Over 11,421 jobs are expected to be created by 2051. 
• Between 2020 and 2024, there were 38 traffic accidents recorded including seven serious crashes. 

WORKS REQUIRED 

• Duplication of Taylors Road from Kororoit Creek to City Vista Court, and four lanes from City Vista Court to Westwood Drive. 
• Signalised intersections at Taylors Road, Westwood Drive, Gourlay Road, City Vista Court, Sinclairs Road, Plumpton Road and Leakes Road. 
• Ultimate extension of Taylors Road to Federation Drive in Melton. 
• New pedestrian and cycling paths. 

INVESTMENT OUTCOMES