13th of May, 2025, 12:47
Parliament of Victoria | Legislative Council
David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan Region):
My question is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety and concerns the Palmers Road corridor. My constituent lives in Taylors Hill and relies heavily on Calder Park Drive, Westwood Drive and Robinsons Road to get around.
According to Moving Melton, an excellent advocacy resource by the City of Melton, 30,500 vehicles use this corridor every day, and traffic modelling predicts an additional 8000 cars per day by 2031. This busy stretch of road also saw 148 traffic accident related injuries between 2019 and 2024, including one fatality and 39 serious injuries.
My constituent asks: will the minister consider Melton and council’s plea to designate Calder Park Drive, Westwood Drive and Robinsons Road as Department of Transport and Planning managed roads and provide the necessary funding for upgrades?
Written answer received: 05 June 2025
I thank the member for his question.
The Palmers Road corridor is of strategic network importance and supports the ongoing growth and development of Melbourne’s west. The Department of Transport and Planning (The Department) has completed extensive planning for the Palmers Road corridor between Western Freeway and Calder Freeway, including the implementation of a Public Acquisition Overlay and reserving sufficient land for the future upgrade of the corridor. Calder Park Drive, Westwood Drive and Robinsons Road forms part of the Palmers Road corridor.
The Allan Labor Government has recently completed major improvements along the Palmers Road Corridor, including road widening and intersection upgrades over an 8 km section south of the Western Freeway and removal of the Robinsons Road level crossing. The level crossing removal at Calder Park Drive is scheduled to be completed by late 2025 and will improve safety an efficiency along the corridor.
The Federal Government in partnership with the Victorian Government have committed $300 million construct a new freeway interchange at Calder Park Drive, removing the existing at grade intersection and providing safe and efficient access for all road users.
Further upgrades of the corridor, including duplication north of the Western Freeway will be considered in the context of future budget priorities. The Department is currently reviewing the declaration status of Robinsons Road between the Western Freeway and the Calder Freeway and will provide a recommendation by the end of June.
Hon. Melissa Horne MP
(Minister for Ports and Freight, Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Minister for Health Infrastructure)
[ENDS]
