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E-bikes ride into town E-bikes have made their way to the Melton municipality with the launch of Beam’s operations in Caroline Springs on Friday, March 3. Australia’s largest shared micromobility has placed 50 purple e-bikes on local streets. The app-based service charges on a pay-as-you-go basis, with a $1 unlock fee and $0.51 per minute. Beam’s operating area will include key Caroline Springs, Ravenhall and Taylors hill destinations like Caroline Springs Square, the train station and lake. ‘Virtual’ parking docks will be seen within the app, with riders directed within the Beam app to appropriate parking spots at the end of their trip. Beam’s Australia New Zealand general manager Tom Cooper said the company looks forward to “providing a viable option for those living and working within Beam’s operational area to leave their cars at home and hop on an e-bike instead”. “We look forward to a long-standing relationship with the local community, and to exploring further expansion across the City of Melton following this initial launch in Caroline Springs,” he said.
Peter Ball and Sura Kumar from Beam Mobility Australia. (Damjan Janevski) 322095_01
State arterial road push By Liam McNally Melton council is looking to the state government to take on the responsibility of upgrading the “critical north-south corridor” of Calder Park Drive, Westwood Drive and Palmers Road by declaring it a state arterial road. At a council meeting on Monday, February 27, councillor Steve Abboushi moved for council to write to Roads and Safety Minister Melissa Horne and Kororoit MP Luba Grigorovitch requesting “urgent and formal declaration” as a state arterial road and a commitment to “immediately upgrade the corridor as a matter of priority”.
The corridor was a part of last year’s ‘Fix Our Roads campaign’, in which council was seeking state funding for a range of road infrastructure projects, including more than$1 billion of works for the Palmers Road corridor. The upgrade request included duplication between Western Freeway and Calder Freeway with signalised intersections, a Calder Park Drive interchange and a triplicated level crossing removal on Calder Park Drive at Sunbury line. Melton council city futures director Sam Romaszko said the municipal road “has been identified by the Victorian government as a future arterial road”.
“Which will ultimately be managed and upgraded by the Victorian government or the Department of Transport and Planning,” she said. Ms Grigorovitch said the road’s future classification is still under review. “The department of transport will look to review the Palmers Road corridor to determine whether it’s suitable to declare some sections as an arterial road,” she said. The state government has committed to some works on the corridor, with the level crossing removal at Robinsons Road, and a level crossing on Calder Park Drive planned to be replaced with a road bridge over the rail line by 2025.
Major Road Projects Victoria has undertaken planning for potential future improvements to Calder Park Drive between Melton Highway and the Calder Freeway as well as a potential new interchange with the Calder Freeway but have not yet committed to the projects. Ms Horne said the Palmers Road Corridor is “vital to supporting the area’s ongoing growth and development”. “We’re improving our road and transport connections in the west to make it safer and easier for locals to get to where they need to go,” she said.
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