Tourism & transport industries welcome Infrastructure Victoria blueprint

The Tourism & Transport Forum Australia (TTF) has welcomed the release of Infrastructure Victoria’s draft 30-year Infrastructure Strategy describing it as a critical priority list that maps out the future needs of the State to reach its full economic, social and cultural potential.

“TTF has been a vocal advocate of the need to take politics out of infrastructure planning for our cities and the release of Infrastructure Victoria’s Draft Infrastructure Strategy is a step in the right direction in mapping out the critical projects that will need to be delivered over the next 30 years,” said Margy Osmond, TTF CEO.

“This is the plan Victoria must have to ensure that it can support the rapid growth in population and a strong visitor economy into future decades.

“Infrastructure Victoria has done the work, now it falls to ‘political will’ to make it all happen when the final report is delivered in December.

“The critical issue that will determine whether this will just be another infrastructure plan that will end up on the shelf, is a bipartisan commitment to accept the recommendations of Infrastructure Victoria and a determination to get on with the job.

“We’ve already seen in recent times the pitfalls of one Government pushing ahead with a major infrastructure project only for it to be overturned by the next Government – it costs millions and now even billions of dollars in lost opportunities when the plug is pulled and the State is no better off.”

Ms Osmond said the recommendations to expand capacity on the train network and the need to prioritise bus services to Melbourne Airport followed by a rail link were absolutely necessary for the long-term growth of Victoria’s visitor economy.

“Melbourne Airport is a critical piece of economic infrastructure for Melbourne and the State of Victoria. Improving public transport access to the airport has been a number one issue for the tourism and transport industries for a number of years.

“Victoria is attracting 2.5 million international visitors who are spending $6.7 billion a year and growing. Providing critical transport infrastructure to enable the movement of millions of visitors around Melbourne and key regional tourist destinations in Victoria is paramount to the continuing success of the visitor economy.”