NORTH Link has released its 2026-27 Victorian Pre-Budget submission, which is a plan to deal with the major population growth Melbourne’s North will experience over the next 10 years.

“NORTH Link’s Pre-Budget submission sets out a vision to unlock jobs and growth in Melbourne’s North to match the growing population”, says NORTH Link Executive Director Chris James.

“Melbourne’s North is projected to grow by half a million people over the next ten years.

“By 2036, Melbourne’s North will have a population the size of Adelaide at 1.5 million. Our concern is that, if we don’t act now, residents and businesses will not adequate infrastructure and services.

“By 2031, we will need 182,000 new jobs for our increasing population – otherwise, businesses and residents will be travelling long distances every day to and from places like the CBD. This is why we are asking the Commonwealth and State Governments to help activate precincts where jobs and services will cluster in places like Broadmeadows, Beveridge, Coburg, Epping, Cloverton  and the Northern Innovation and Sustainability Precinct area bounded by La Trobe University, Austin Health and Northland.

“There also needs to be an investment in skills and education, particularly around new technologies and jobs of the future at Kangan Institute Broadmeadows and Melbourne Polytechnic.

“Improved public transport is needed to get commuters to and from work – whether it is an upgrade of the Upfield Line, Wollert Rail, Wallan Rail electrification, east-west bus links or better public transport links to job generators such as La Trobe University and Melbourne Airport”.

“The Hume Freeway is now at capacity, straining under the pressure of significant population growth, industrial expansion, and surging freight volumes. The Hume Freeway is Australia’s busiest freight route and will need an upgrade between the M80 and Wallan to accommodate this extra traffic – if there is no action, Victoria’s freight efficiency will be compromised, reducing productivity.

“The OMR/E6 will need attention sooner rather than later as the residential and business population pushes further outward in Melbourne’s North and West.

“Manufacturers in Melbourne’s North have faced cost increases of around 30% in the post-COVID period and need Governments to focus on “taking costs out”. As export markets open up post-COVID, our businesses will need extra assistance to take advantage of export opportunities, particularly with a constrained domestic economy.

“NORTH Link and our partners urge the Victorian Government to act now: unlock the economic and social potential of this vital region through coordinated planning, targeted infrastructure funding, and strategic precinct activation”, says Mr James.