Submission: Importance of Upfield Line Upgrade for Moving Around Merri-bek

August 2023 Submission to Merri-bek Council in response to Moving Around Merri-bek Discussion Paper.

Introduction

The Upfield Transport Alliance welcomes the opportunity to provide input into Merri-bek Council’s new transport strategy. In responding to the Moving Around Merri-bek Discussion Paper, our comments focus on public transport particularly the Upfield Train Line. Whilst public transport is the responsibility of State Government, Council still has a responsibility to advocate on behalf of its residents and visitors for public transport that meets our needs and has parity with other metropolitan areas.

The Upfield Transport Alliance is an alliance of local community groups and individuals concerned to improve the reliability and frequency of the Upfield train line by campaigning for track duplication between Gowrie and Upfield Stations, building a much-needed station at Campbellfield and extending the line to the northern growth suburbs between Upfield and Wallan. Members of this group were successful in saving the Upfield Line from closure in an 8-year campaign from 1987-1995.

Summary of Recommendations

1. Council needs to make a stronger and more explicit acknowledgment of the significance of the Upfield Train Line in addressing:

• the public transport needs of Merri-bek residents and visitors;
• Council’s broader transport strategy objectives (safety, liveability, health, sustainability and accessibility);
• Council’s climate emergency objectives.

2. As a priority Council needs to advocate strongly and consistently for the State Government to:

• address the immediate duplication of the rail track between Gowrie and Upfield, particularly during the closure of the Upfield Line for the removal of level crossings in Brunswick;
• ensure adequate and efficient bus replacement services particularly in the northern suburbs of Merri-bek when the Upfield Line is closed for the removal of level crossings;
• ensure the entire Upfield Line has parity with other Metro Rail Lines where passengers are enjoying a 10-minute service;
• install accessible tram stops along North Coburg, East Coburg and West Coburg tram routes before the Upfield Line is closed for level crossing removal.

3. Council needs to increase and prioritise resources to enable officers and Councillors to undertake a sustained level of advocacy around public transport issues to state and other local governments.

4. As a priority Council needs to address the north/south divide in Merri-bek in relation to public transport. We need council to join with City of Hume to advocate for the State Government to:

• review bus services and routes across the northern suburbs;
• increase the frequency of bus services in the northern suburbs including links to Campbellfield Shopping Plaza
• build a railway station at Campbellfield to provide easy access to the Shopping Plaza and link to the airport;
• build bus shelters at Campbellfield Shopping Plaza;
• extend the Upfield Line to the northern growth areas between Upfield and Wallan;
• hold the pre-election Sustainable Transport Forums in the north of Merri-bek.

The issues informing these recommendations are outlined briefly below in our full submission: