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22 NOVEMBER, 2023
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Western rail confusion By Cade Lucas
Artwork unveiled
The status of the Western Rail Plan remains unclear, despite the project surviving the federal government’s infrastructure review released on Wednesday last week. The review found the rail plan, which involves new electrified train lines for Wyndham Vale and Melton, would continued as proposed, with $30 million allocated for “further planning”. However, the Geelong Fast Rail project, which the state government had previously indicated needed to happen before the Western Rail Plan, was scrapped. A spokesperson for federal infrastructure minister Catherine King, said the proposed fast train between Melbourne and Geelong was not a serious project. In regards to the future of the Western Rail Plan, the spokesperson said it was the responsibility of the state government. When contacted, a spokesperson for Premier Jacinta Allan accepted the findings of the review, but failed to provide any details on what the Western Rail Plan could look like without the fast train to Geelong. “We’re continuing to plan for the future of public transport in Melbourne’s west, with a number of options for further improvements on the Melton and Wyndham Vale under consideration.” First announced ahead of the 2018 state election, the Western Rail Plan was designed to deliver metro train services to growing suburbs in the outer-west which currently rely on V-Line. New electrified train lines were to be built to Wyndham Vale and Melton, but were contingent on the Geelong Fast Rail project being completed first. With Geelong Fast Rail not receiving funding in either of this year’s state or federal budgets, both projects were cast into doubt and while the Western Rail Plan now seems set to continue, there is speculation new electrified train lines won’t be part of it. Elsewhere, almost $62 million was approved for the the planning and development of a new rail freight terminal in Truganina, but a business case for linking the terminal to the inland rail project had its funding removed. Construction of the $57 million Ison Road Overpass was also approved.
Central Werribee has received an injection of colour and culture with a large-scale mural on the outside façade of the Hunter Building on Synnot Street, now complete. Titled ‘Mooroop Yarkeen’ which translates to ‘Spirit Dreaming’ the 41-metre-tall mural is the work of Indigenous artist Tommy Day and will be officially launched this weekend. Day was commissioned to design and paint the mural by Wyndham council after consultation with Bunurong Traditional Owners, local First Nations communities and a public expression of interest process. He said the artwork, which took 12 days to complete, incorporated a range of elements and themes from the local landscape and community. “The mural is vibrant, vivid, rich in texture and references to the Wirribi Yaluk (Werribee River), sandhills and basalt plains, welcoming gum leaves, community coming together in unity, dreaming, and Bunjil’s flight,” said Day, adding that he also wanted to change the perception of what Indigenous art could be. “Aboriginal art is not just confined to gallery paintings, or woodcraft, or these things that the public think that’s what Aboriginal art is. I thought this was a perfect opportunity to challenge that, and say, ‘yeah, we can do this too, if given the chance’.” There is an official launch event for the community on Sunday, November 26 from 5pm to 7pm.
Mayor Jenny Barrera and artist Tom Day. (Ljubica Vrankovic)
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