The Mayors of Moonee Valley City Council and Brimbank City Council have urged Member for Niddrie Ben Carroll to keep fighting for a new train station in the Airport West/Keilor Park area.
Moonee Valley Mayor Cr Samantha Byrne and Brimbank Mayor Cr Jasmine Nguyen met with Minister Carroll at the site long earmarked for a station – to present him a box of more than 500 postcards sent by residents backing the development.
The Airport Rail project provides a once in a lifetime opportunity to get a railway station in the north west – in an area that would benefit enormously from a public transport boost.
“Six new stations will be delivered in Melbourne’s Eastern and South-Eastern suburbs with the Suburban Rail Loop. The growing North-West will feel all of the negative impacts of the Airport Rail Link and Suburban Rail Loop projects – both the construction and the ongoing noise impacts. Our community should also be able to reap the benefits with our own station that would link the north-west to the City and the Airport,” Mayor Byrne said.
A train station has long been earmarked on land bordering Airport West and Keilor Park.
“We have residents in our respective communities who moved into this area over 40 years ago, and at that time they were told a train station was being planned,” Mayor Byrne said.
Brimbank Mayor Nguyen said a strategic, future-focussed public transport plan for Melbourne is incomplete without a railway station in Keilor Park/Airport West.
“An area of this significance without access to the train network requires a solid commitment from the State Government about a time frame for delivery.
“This new railway station would provide a massive economic benefit to the northwest metropolitan region and a drawcard for future business investment and employment,” said Mayor Nguyen.
The Mayors agreed the development of a new station would have enormous economic benefits for both communities.
Part of each council’s commitment to sustainable transport is ensuring our communities have access to public transport networks and services. Despite being identified as a key aviation, technology and employment precinct, Airport West, Essendon Fields, Keilor East and their surrounding suburbs in Keilor Park, Keilor and Tullamarine remain a rail transport black hole.
