ILSCM proposal puts Footscray centre stage
Mon, Jul 2 2007

A new tunnel linking Ballarat Road to the Eastern Freeway is the centre-piece of VU’s Institute for Logistics and Supply Chain Management’s (ILSCM) submission to the East-West Link Needs Assessment.

ILSCM’s Director, Pieter Nagel said: “Together with our recently announced National Logistics City proposal this will place Footscray in the middle of the connectivity grid of Melbourne.”

“The Institute’s research shows that Melbourne’s overall connectivity will be enhanced by this tunnel proposal.”

“One of the pivotal concepts at the heart developing a ‘National Logistics City’ is to create a business services hub in Footscray – and this tunnel would help achieve this.”

“A tunnel would also enhance the access to the Port of Melbourne in a way that will reduce truck traffic in Footscray.”

“ILSCM analysis of current and planned infrastructure serving Melbourne’s west indicates that there is insufficient transport infrastructure to accommodate the current and forecast exponential population growth in Melbourne’s west.”

“In the next 25 years there will be a 56 per cent increase in the population of Melbourne’s west. And the current roads and public transport structure will simply not cope with the volume of traffic movements to the inner suburbs of Melbourne.”

“The western Melbourne population’s expectation that they will be able to continue to commute by car and public transport to current areas of employment outside the western region is unrealistic due to increasing levels of traffic congestion and increasing costs of transport.”

“Based on this premise, intervention is required to more effectively manage the increasing demand for transport services.”

“Our view is that the current East - West Links Needs Assessment Terms of Reference could be strengthened through a more comprehensive review of traffic movements between metropolitan and intrastate logistics hubs and the Port of Melbourne; intra north and west traffic movements; and intra south and east traffic movements.”

“We have a clear vision for Footscray – a blend between a University City and a Port City, and because of its proximity to the city, a possible extension of the CBD.”

Pieter Nagel is available for interview

A full copy of the submission is available on request
The following maps are available on request:
Proposed East-West Connection
Proposed Road Entry Point to Port Melbourne


Media Contact: Andy Gash, Snr. Media Officer,
Marketing & Communications Department, Victoria University
Ph: 03-9919 4950; mobile: 0411 255900