Moving Melton

Outer Metropolitan Ring: connecting Melbourne’s outer north and west to economic and jobs growth

The Outer Metropolitan Ring is a 70-kilometre-long reservation that stretches from Little River in Melbourne’s west to Kalkallo in the north, with provision for up to four rail tracks and six road lanes. The ring will provide an integrated transport corridor for reliable movement of people and freight to increase productivity, reduce congestion and work towards net-zero emissions.

 The OMR will:

• connect the Hume Freeway with the Calder, Western and Princess Highways

• provide the north-south, east-west, and south-west rail connections

• connect millions of new residents in the outer growth municipalities of Mitchell, Whittlesea, Hume, Melton and Wyndham, relieving traffic congestion from the Western Ring Road which is currently at capacity; these are some of Australia’s fastest growing regions

• be the connection between key freight transport hubs and employment precincts including Melbourne Airport, Avalon Airport, the Port of Geelong and the two intermodal freight terminals in Beveridge and Truganina

• provide a bypass for the regional centres diverting traffic from the local roads in the growth areas of Melbourne

• unlock land supply for State Significant Industrial Precincts in the north and west of Melbourne to attract commercial investment and create jobs.

Infrastructure Victoria has undertaken an assessment of the project and determined that the OMR “provides strong benefits in reducing road network congestion, reducing freight congestion, increasing access to the labour force and improving freight connectivity.”