Voters call for new roads in booming Melbourne suburb ahead of election
The ABC visits the outer north Melbourne suburb of Kalkallo, where local residents are calling for more road infrastructure to help ease traffic pains and keep up with the rapid growth of housing estates.
Voters in Melbourne's northern electorate of Kalkallo are demanding new roads to address traffic congestion following a surge in population growth. The suburb, which saw its population jump from 105 in 2016 to over 11,000 in 2026, faces significant challenges in accessing key infrastructure like the Hume Freeway. With only two exits via Donnybrook Road, residents endure frequent 45-minute traffic jams.
The Victorian government promised construction of a $153 million interchange in 2025, but Stockland, the developer, claims this plan is already underway. Despite this, Kalkallo residents continue to suffer from unbearable traffic, with some residents stating it has become a daily conversation topic. Labor's Evan Mulholland has vowed to tackle the issue, while the opposition highlights the Coalition's plan to duplicate Donnybrook Road.
A recent survey found that traffic congestion is the top daily frustration for residents in Melbourne's outer suburbs, followed by community safety and housing costs.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
