All recommendations

In the next five years, develop and publish long-term statewide infrastructure plans for priority infrastructure sectors for which the Victorian Government maintains substantial responsibilities, including sequencing and timelines for investment.

In the next year, develop and publish Victoria’s integrated transport plan. Require the transport and strategic land use plans to align with each other.

In the next two years, complete a review of Victoria’s many infrastructure contributions schemes to create a consistent and efficient system that contributes to Victorian and local government infrastructure costs. A revised infrastructure contribution system can apply more broadly, including in established suburbs, growth areas, peri-urban areas, and regional cities.

In the next year, identify new priority locations in established suburbs for residential intensification to better use existing infrastructure. Following this, in partnership with local government, review planning settings to allow increased housing density and establish design review advisory panels.

Within the next two years, change and actively apply planning regulations to provide affordable rental housing for Victorians on very low incomes in places with good access to public transport and services, when they are re-zoned for more intensive residential use.

In the next three years, help create an interconnected open space network and extend the urban tree canopy, by providing direct funding, and reviewing and reforming the developer open space contribution scheme.

Over the next five years, partner with local governments to fund pedestrian infrastructure network upgrades to connect people to priority places, including central Melbourne, the Monash National Employment and Innovation Cluster, other activity centres and train stations.

In the next 10 years, prioritise and significantly progress developing a continuous network of high quality, safer cycling corridors in Melbourne, Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong, including separated cycle ways and more storage at train stations and activity centres. In the next five years, immediate priorities include connections within and between central Melbourne and surrounding suburbs, and connections to the Monash, La Trobe and Sunshine National Employment and Innovation Clusters.

In the next year, begin developing better walking and cycling information and data. In the next three years, incorporate this data and information into Victorian Government transport models for strategic and project planning, and project appraisal to guide investment decisions.

In the next year, start delivering road space reallocation initiatives to better support and enforce priority movement through streets and places. Adopt a five-year target for delivery of more ambitious road space reallocation initiatives. Legislate for faster, simpler, and more consultative road space reallocation in government decision-making.

In the next 10 years, redesign tram routes, including short shuttle routes, and reserve land for future tram depots, for more capacity in fast growing inner Melbourne areas.

In the next year, fund the northern Fishermans Bend tram connection for delivery by 2026 and complete the planning for the southern route. Within two to five years, commit to delivering a tram extension to Arden, and to the former defence site at Maribyrnong if required.

Fund public transport accessibility improvements to infrastructure and services, including for priority tram and bus stops, to make substantial progress toward the legislated 2032 accessibility targets.

Permanently adopt discounted off-peak fares for metropolitan public transport and discontinue ticket types that do not offer discounts for off-peak travel.

In the next year, reduce bus and tram fares, while maintaining an integrated ticketing system, to encourage people to make greater use of cost-effective public transport services that can be quickly expanded.

In the next year, remove the free tram zone to improve equity, enhance the performance of the tram network and provide better safety and transport access for those most in need.

In the next year, appoint an independent body to advise on and monitor transport prices over the next 30 years.

Within the next two years, review the Melbourne Congestion Levy on parking to increase its value, expand the properties it applies to, and cover a wider area. In the next five years, consider extending the levy to on-street parking and supporting a trial of demand-responsive pricing for inner Melbourne on-street parking.

In the next five years, charge parking fees at major public transport hubs, followed by all train stations and park-and-rides, to help encourage people to travel there using public and active transport, and to make parking spaces available for public transport users who need them most.

Apply congestion based peak and off-peak tolling to all new metropolitan freeways, including the North East Link, to better manage traffic flow and impacts on nearby local roads.

In the next five years, trial full-scale congestion pricing in inner Melbourne to reduce congestion on inner city roads.

Replace fixed road user charges with variable distance-based and congestion charges over the next 10 years, by gradually expanding and reforming the existing electric vehicle charge. Ensure user pays charging reflects the relative costs of road use, encouraging people to adopt beneficial travel behaviour.

In the next year, establish an accessibility upgrade fund to contribute towards priority building upgrades to meet contemporary accessibility standards. By 2032, require all Victorian Government provided and funded services to be delivered from premises that meet contemporary accessibility standards.

Rapidly renew dilapidated public housing properties to improve functionality, accessibility and energy efficiency with a priority to renew at least half of all older low-rise apartments and older three bedroom detached dwellings by 2031.

In the next five years, publish priorities for hospital renewal to enable modern health care services and meet future demand. In the next 10 years, redevelop the Royal Melbourne Hospital and progress the upgrade and rebuild of the Alfred Hospital and Austin Hospital.

By 2025, reshape the metropolitan bus network in Melbourne’s north-west and south-east in time for the opening of the Melbourne Metro Tunnel. Introduce ‘next generation’ bus services, beginning by using them on the new Doncaster busway. In the next 10 years, continue reforming bus networks in Melbourne and Geelong, including by revising the coverage standard and using more flexible bus services in lower demand areas.

In the next five years, create new ‘next generation’ bus services and better roads to connect outer and growing suburbs to National Employment and Innovation Clusters and major employment centres. Consider using a ‘next generation’ bus service instead of trams between Caulfield and Rowville.

Over the next five years, increase Melbourne’s train service frequencies for off-peak, counter-peak and weekend services. Develop and progressively deliver a prioritised 15-year network service upgrade program for suburban train corridors, including track and signalling improvements, higher capacity trains, carriage retrofits and an upgraded train control centre.

Within the next two years, complete a business case to reconfigure the City Loop, including determining its timing. Include planning for more frequent metropolitan services on the Craigieburn, Upfield, Frankston, and Glen Waverley services, while considering a future express railway line between Camberwell and Burnley to prepare for future rail patronage on the Lilydale, Belgrave, and Alamein lines. Explore options and staging to extend metropolitan services to the Mitchell local government area, including possible station locations.

Within five years, complete a business case for the Melbourne Metro Two Tunnel project, and protect the land required to construct it. Consider using the tunnel to re-route Geelong services direct to Southern Cross, and consider new stations or relocating existing stations. To shape demand for the project in the next five years, enable more intensive land use around the rail network, and introduce ‘next generation’ bus services between Newport and Fishermans Bend.

Within five years, determine an updated future alignment and preserve the option for constructing, if required, a new motorway linking the Eastern Freeway and CityLink. If delivered, implement the project with a transport network pricing scheme, and active and public transport improvements.

Support efforts to progressively optimise the Port of Melbourne’s capacity, and actively take steps to manage amenity implications for community acceptance, as identified in our Advice on securing Victoria’s ports capacity.

Within the next five years, identify and secure land, and apply planning protection for transport corridors and buffers for a future Bay West Port, particularly for future road and rail connections. Monitor and report on the triggers to develop a new port, and commence and continue environmental assessment and monitoring over the next 30 years. Around 2040, begin detailed planning.

In the next year, determine the preferred new intermodal terminal and facilitate its delivery, transport links and the surrounding precinct to operate soon after the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail project is completed. Progress planning for another intermodal freight terminal and precinct, and secure necessary land.

Within two years, determine staging for the outer metropolitan rail and road corridor. Subject to detailed business cases, start construction of priority sections, starting with the E6 motorway by the end of this decade. Progressively stage corridor development for completion in the next 30 years. Provide a freight rail link to coincide with the opening of the Western Intermodal Freight Terminal.

In the next year, start a co-design process with Aboriginal Victorians to develop a plan to guide investment in Aboriginal community-controlled infrastructure to meet current and future social, economic and cultural needs.

In the next year, set a transparent statewide social housing growth target to reach and maintain at least the national average of 4.5 social housing dwellings for every 100 households by 2031.

In the next five years, reserve land for future hospital sites. Over 30 years, build new public hospital capacity to meet Victoria’s future needs, especially increases in demand from Melbourne’s rapidly growing outer northern and western suburbs.

In the next year, establish a dedicated infrastructure fund to support more responsive and integrated mental health and wellbeing services, consistent with the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.

Plan and consistently deliver corrections and youth justice infrastructure while managing demand. By 2023, undertake long-term corrections and youth justice infrastructure planning, alongside policy measures that reduce short-term volatility and demand. In the next 15 years, consistently deliver a program of corrections and youth justice infrastructure projects to meet long-term demand.

In the next year, empower a government body to monitor infrastructure delivery in Victoria’s new growth areas and priority urban renewal precincts, and proactively advise on delivery sequencing and funding. In the next five years, develop program business cases for growth areas and precincts that consider timing, sequencing and funding of infrastructure.

In the next five years, increase funding to support local governments to plan and deliver libraries and aquatic recreation centres in Melbourne’s seven growth area municipalities.

In the next two years, develop business cases to extend electrified metropolitan train services from Sunshine to Rockbank, from Craigieburn to Beveridge, and on the Wyndham Vale corridor, to be delivered by 2031. Deliver extra services to south-east Melbourne by running Rockbank services to Pakenham via the Melbourne Metro Tunnel. Consider adding extra stations on the Wyndham Vale and Melton corridors, and secure remaining land required for stations and stabling.

In the next year, introduce ‘next generation’ bus services towards Clyde, Mornington Peninsula, Wollert and Armstrong Creek. In the next five years, complete feasibility studies to plan the ultimate development of public transport services on these corridors and secure remaining land required.

In the next 15 years, deliver a program of upgrades to Melbourne’s arterial road, freeway and bus networks beyond what is currently funded, focusing on congested roads and corridors in outer metropolitan and growth suburbs council areas.

Over the next 30 years, achieve 30% tree canopy coverage in new growth areas by mandating coverage during precinct development, funding relevant Victorian Government agencies and local government to plant, replace and maintain canopy trees, and work with utility providers to remove barriers to tree planting.

Within two years, specify clear levels of service for each type of regional road and bridge. Following this, dedicate a 10-year funding program to sustainably fund Victorian Government regional road and bridge maintenance and upgrades to meet these service levels. Funding should be prioritised based on improving safety, decreasing vehicle emissions, and lifting productivity.

In the next year, fund a 30-year periodic regional freight rail maintenance program, informed by a publicly available network development and asset management plan. Using the plan, thoroughly determine the feasibility of the next major regional freight upgrade within five years.

In the next five years, contribute toward strategic power supply infrastructure upgrades for agriculture and regional industry, where an independent assessment demonstrates significant potential for increased productivity, competitiveness and growth.

In the next two years, develop a Victorian nature-based tourism strategy to guide industry development and prioritise further investments. During the next 15 years, support regional tourism investment by allowing more site-specific leases for up to 49 years for infrastructure proposals that meet strict criteria and complement environmental and cultural values.

Support and partner with Aboriginal communities in the next two years to guide future investments in Aboriginal tourism and cultural heritage, including through Joint Management Plans.

In the next five years, redesign existing regional transport services so they are integrated, based on regional needs assessments, and sustainably funded. Use significant technological and reform opportunities to deliver innovative service models that meet local needs.

In the next five years, continue delivering regional digital connectivity improvements, and monitor and review the need for further government investment following the roll-out of the Digital Future Now initiative.

In the next five years, develop more resilient regional telecommunications infrastructure so communities can stay safe during emergencies, including better mobile coverage, back-up systems and power supply, and emergency mobile roaming.

In the next year, start a five-year funding program for libraries in regional towns and rural areas to improve community access to fast, free internet services, leveraging existing library infrastructure.

Retrofit or better use selected rural school infrastructure for children’s specialist and allied telehealth services to improve children’s health and development. In the next year, begin a trial in a remote region, such as Wimmera Southern Mallee, to demonstrate the value of adopting the approach in other rural locations.

In the next year, start regional planning for social services to identify opportunities for multipurpose shared services facilities, then deliver them where appropriate over the next five years, in partnership with local governments and community organisations.

Fund regional councils in the next five years to update, repurpose or retire outdated community infrastructure for better service delivery.

In the next five years, fund local governments to plan and help deliver a network of designated, accessible climate-adapted community facilities, to manage the health impacts of extreme heat and bushfire smoke.

Within five years, build residential detoxification and rehabilitation facilities in regional Victoria to provide equitable access to alcohol and other drug treatment.

Fund at least six new Youth Foyers in regional Victoria by 2026, to better use existing education infrastructure and support vulnerable young people.

Focus social housing investments in regional centres, near transport and services, for better access to health, social and economic support.

Continue to deliver a long-term program of modifying social housing to be climate-resilient by improving the energy efficiency and energy affordability of residences.