Outer Metropolitan Ring – Road and Rail

What LeadWest is advocating for

The Victorian Government to commit to funding the land acquisition and construction of the OMR, including the freight and passenger rail, and freeway.

Why it matters

The Outer Melbourne Ring (OMR) is an intergenerational infrastructure project that will connect some of Australia's fastest growing municipalities with key employment and transport precincts, moving people and goods by rail and reducing road congestion.

Supporting information

About

The Outer Metropolitan Ring is a 100-kilometre-long reservation that stretches from Little River in Melbourne’s west to Kalkallo in the north, with provision for up to four rail tracks and six road lanes.
The project will deliver rail connection between regional centres, growth areas and the Melbourne Airport, and a critical freight rail connection. The OMR will be the north-south connection from the Hume Freeway to Werribee and onto the south-west regions of Victoria.

History

In 2008, the OMR was identified as a critical transportation project needed to manage growth and liveability in the former Brumby Government’s Victorian Transport Plan (VTP).
A 2008 Planning Assessment Report by VicRoads described the road as providing “the backbone for the future transport network planning in Melbourne’s growing northern and western suburbs in coming years.”
The Outer Metropolitan Ring and E6 Transport Corridor was reserved via a Public Acquisition Overlay in 2010 by VicRoads.
A Preliminary Business Case for the OMR Corridor Road was completed by the Department of Transport and Planning in early 2021.
Infrastructure Victoria’s 30-year strategy talks to the importance of creating and preserving opportunities for major infrastructure projects, including the OMR connected to the WIFT