Bus routes stopping at three railway stations yet to be built have been included in new plans released by the Transport Department.
The documents, tabled at an east-west link planning panel last month, have buses stopping and starting at Toolern, Toolern East and Caroline Springs train stations by 2021.
While time frames for Caroline Springs station – up and running by 2016 – and Toolern station – part of a 10-year plan that started in 2012 – have previously been stated, a Toolern East station has yet to be confirmed.
Public Transport Victoria’s Adrian Darwent said the documents were for planning purposes and did not necessarily represent commitments regarding capital spending or infra- structure works.
Mr Darwent said the Metropolitan Planning Authority’s growth areas plan noted the “opportunity for a new station” in the Toolern East area. The plan lists two stations in the Melton corridor, at Toolern and a possible station at Paynes Road, on the Toolern East border.
But Melton Residents Association president Peter Rowan said he would only believe promises about new stations and extra services when they were operating. “I see this situation time and time again,” he said. “[Governments] are notoriously slow at providing services in new estates.”
