Momentum builds for Melbourne Airport Rail, but the west needs certainty

A statement from the Chair of LeadWest, Cr Susan Yengi:

LeadWest welcomes this week’s Melbourne Airport Rail announcements as a positive step forward in the project’s delivery, and an important signal that governments remain committed to progressing this critical project. 

The commitment to advance the next stage of works, including a new station at East Keilor, provides confidence that momentum is building behind one of the most significant infrastructure investments for Melbourne and Melbourne's west. 

Our focus remains firmly on the end objective: ensuring the full Melbourne Airport Rail link is delivered to Melbourne Airport and that governments provide certainty around the pathway and timeframe for completion. 

For Melbourne's west, this project is about much more than an airport connection. It is about creating a transport network that better connects communities to jobs, education, services and economic opportunities across the city and region. 

Melbourne Airport Rail will strengthen Melbourne's competitiveness, improve connections between the west, regional Victoria and the airport, and help unlock the enormous economic potential of the Sunshine Precinct as a nationally significant transport and employment hub. 

Governments have made substantial commitments to this project over many years. The priority now is ensuring those commitments translate into the delivery of the complete railway, so that the full economic and community benefits can be realised. 

Businesses, investors and communities across Melbourne's west need confidence that Melbourne Airport Rail will be completed, and that planning for the west's future growth will continue to be supported by world-class transport infrastructure. 

This week’s announcements by the State and Federal governments – and election commitment by the Victorian Liberals - are encouraging but should be viewed as part of a broader commitment to deliver the entire Melbourne Airport Rail project.

LeadWest will continue working with all levels of government to advocate for the project's full delivery and the opportunities it will create for Melbourne's west.