This article was originally published on 9 September. Star Weekly is sharing it again for you to enjoy.
Wyndham and Greater Geelong occupy one of Australia’s fastest growing population corridors. Jaidyn Kennedy explores the need for better public transport connectivity between the two municipalities.
It has been 10 years since trains stopped running between Werribee and Geelong –a link that existed for more than 150 years and connected the city centres of Wyndham and Greater Geelong.
That direct link was severed in 2015 when the state government opened the Regional Rail Link, rerouting all Geelong-bound services through Sunshine to untangle suburban and regional traffic.
And, according to Greater Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj, a vital link between Melbourne and Geelong has been missing ever since.
“The removal of this service has created a large gap in the network, requiring Werribee residents to either drive to Geelong or catch a bus to Wyndham Vale station for the V/Line,” he said.
“Unfortunately, this makes our region less attractive as an employment option, and for those already working in Greater Geelong, it adds significant cost and at least 25 minutes to their commute.”
Star Weekly experienced delays of about 50 minutes when attempting to commute from Werribee to Geelong last week.
Wyndham mayor Mia Shaw said direct connectivity between the Werribee city centre and Geelong has not improved in 40 years.
“When I was growing up in Werribee, you could catch a train straight to Geelong from Werribee, and the Geelong line was far less congested,” Cr Shaw said.
She said re-establishing a direct Werribee-Geelong train service would help encourage more Wyndham residents to work down the highway.
“Encouraging more Wyndham residents to work in Geelong takes pressure off the already overcrowded transport routes into central Melbourne,” Cr Shaw said.
“Stronger public transport links allow our residents to access jobs, higher education, health services, and cultural opportunities in Geelong – without being completely reliant on cars.
“It shortens commutes, improves work–life balance, and keeps more economic activity in the west.”
However, Cr Shaw said the Wyndham of today is much bigger than the one she grew up in and there are more pieces to the connectivity puzzle.
“Today, we have Tarneit and Wyndham Vale stations, which are among the busiest in the state, but our residents still face overcrowding and long waits for services,” she said.
“Outside of Southern Cross Station, the next busiest stations on the Regional Rail Link statewide are Tarneit, followed closely by Geelong and then Wyndham Vale.”
“So, while there has been investment, the reality is that demand has far outstripped supply.”
For some Wyndham residents, the quickest route to Geelong on public transport involves heading back to the inner suburbs of Melbourne.
“For some residents in Point Cook, the quickest way to get to Geelong by train actually involves taking a Metro service from Williams Landing, Aircraft, or Laverton into Footscray, and then switching to a V/Line service,” Cr Shaw said.
“That shows just how disconnected parts of our community are from the regional rail network, and why better direct links through Wyndham are so important.”
It is understood that the state government currently has no plans to redirect Geelong Line trains via Werribee due to the number of metropolitan train services operated on the Werribee corridor.
A Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson said the state government had added hundreds of extra services on the Geelong line and would continue to upgrade the bus network across the western suburbs and western Victoria.
A spokesperson for federal Transport, Infrastructure, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said the federal government is supporting transport connectivity between Wyndham and Geelong by funding major road projects.
In May, Wyndham and Greater Geelong signed a five-year memorandum of understanding. The Avalon Corridor Strategy, an initiative between the two councils and the state government to determine the direction of future development for land between Lara and Werribee, was identified as a priority.
Cr Kontelj said the precinct has the potential to generate 20,000 new jobs in the coming decades, but public transportation needs to stimulate its growth rather than catch up to it.
“The precinct requires vital transport infrastructure to be able to accommodate industrial development, including a business plan for a new rail connection and interim solutions such as a shuttle bus from Lara Station to Avalon,” he said.
“The Avalon precinct’s proximity to road, rail and Geelong Port makes it a unique and unsurpassed location as an advanced manufacturing hub and freight and logistics gateway.
Long-term, he said a train station at Avalon that branches off from a direct Geelong-Werribee line is needed.
“Not only would this be a game changer for workers and travellers, but it would also help to facilitate future growth and opportunities for the business precinct and airport,” he said.
For Wyndham residents, who Cr Shaw said are set to number 500,000 by 2040, reliable public transport links to Avalon may have an array of benefits.
“Better public transport to the airport means Wyndham residents have easier, more affordable access to travel, without having to fight through the congestion of Tullamarine,” Cr Shaw said.
“Efficient bus and rail links to Avalon would make it a true airport of choice for people living in Melbourne’s west and Geelong.
“It also opens up employment opportunities at Avalon itself, as well as in freight and logistics.”
Committee for Wyndham chief executive Leanne Down said building reliable public transport to the precinct would help both councils maximise the economic benefits that come from any potential growth at Avalon.
“As industries expand in the area, it will foster a more diverse economy, providing residents with greater employment opportunities and increasing overall economic stability for both Wyndham and Geelong,” she said.
“Increased international flights at Avalon would enhance connectivity, making it easier for residents to travel and for local businesses to access global markets.
“Growth in air traffic will stimulate tourism, attract foreign investments, and promote local exporters, ultimately enriching the community and encouraging economic development.”
A Friday morning from Werribee to Geelong
To get a sense of the potential gaps in public transport connectivity between Wyndham and Geelong, I ran an experiment.
I commuted from a random point in Riverwalk estate in Werribee to Star Weekly’s sister paper, the Geelong Independent, located on Pakington Street, Geelong West.
Riverwalk is a newer area that has grown exponentially in the last decade and Pakington Street is one of Geelong’s most popular spots. Not an unrealistic commuting scenario.
I expected that starting my walk to the nearest bus stop at 7.20am would get me to the Independent’s office by 9am – it was not to be.
When I arrived at the Riparian Street-Newmarket Road bus stop at 7.30am, I checked the Public Transport Victoria (PTV) app to see the 441 bus to Werribee Station was three minutes away.
It was a close call considering it was more than a 40-minute wait for the next bus.
I boarded at 7.33am and got to Werribee at 7.45am
After consulting the PTV app, Google Maps and Apple Maps, I was presented with three scenarios.
Take the 190 or 192 bus to Wyndham Vale station; the 170 or 180 bus to Tarneit station; or the Flinders Street train to change at Footscray.
The fastest choice was taking the 180 to Tarneit at 8.02am – which meant going backwards.
Moderate traffic on main roads and stopping frequent stops for students heading to school added time.
My 8.35am arrival at Tarneit would have meant missing the 8.37am Waurn Ponds train, if was not delayed by five minutes.
The train departed Tarneit at 8.42am and arrived at Geelong’s main station at 9.15am.
It was a 22-minute walk to the Geelong Independent office for an arrival time of 9.37am.
Factoring in the near 20 minute wait for a bus at Werribee – about the same time between each V/Line service to Geelong – I estimated being able to take a train from Werribee would have slashed about 50 minutes of travel time.
Along the way I noticed that Tarneit and Wyndham Vale stations pose their own issues in the greater scheme of things.
While technically stations on the Regional Rail Link, the vast majority of commuters are heading towards the Melbourne CBD.
Experiencing the difficulty of commuting from Werribee to Geelong and the amount of houses I saw being built between Tarneit and Geelong, I came to the opinion that two lines may be needed.
The current line that runs through Tarneit and Wyndham Vale, and is expected to run through the proposed stations of Truganina and West Tarneit, offers direct connection to Geelong.
Reviving a Werribee route could simplify travelling to Geelong for many residents and make Avalon easier to get to.
