Liam McNally
Melton council is calling on the state government to upgrade and extend the carpark at Rockbank Train station.
In a council meeting on Monday, February 27 councillor Steve Aboushi moved that council write to Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll and Kororoit MP Luba Grigorovitch requesting the “urgent” works to meet “significant demand for parking in one of Victoria’s fastest growing cities”.
Rockbank station was previously upgraded in 2019 as a part of the Ballarat Line Upgrade which included a new sealed car park with 350 car parking spaces.
There are currently no plans to deliver additional car parking spaces at Rockbank Station, but similar projects have been undertaken to addressed congestion issues for commuters in the area, including the previous Rockbank station upgrade, as well as the completion of the nearby Cobblebank station with 190 parking spaces and a total of 600 parking spaces added to the Ballarat Line as a part of the Regional Rail Revival program.
Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll said passengers catching the train from Rockbank are already “benefitting from an upgraded station”.
“Melbourne’s west is continuing to grow rapidly, which is why we’re delivering new and improved train stations and introducing additional services to get locals where they need to go,” he said.
Kororoit MP Luba Grigorovitch shared Mr Carroll’s sentiment, that “the upgraded Rockbank station has already seen passengers benefit with modern facilities and new and upgraded car parking spaces”.
“We’re always looking at ways to improve our road and transport connections in Melbourne’s western suburbs to make it easier for locals to travel,” she said.
Melton mayor Lara Carli said council has heard from the community that parking is a problem at Rockbank Train Station.
“Over the next seven years the surrounding areas of Rockbank, Thornhill Park, Aintree and Truganina will grow by over 20,000 residents to 54,830 people,” she said.
“Rockbank and Cobblebank are two train stations servicing a fast growing population and more is needed to service population growth. That is why we have been advocating for two additional stations at Thornhill Park and Mt Atkinson.
“With over 70 percent of our workforce leaving home everyday to access employment, we need improved public transport and additional carparks as well as more investment in roads, pedestrian and cycling facilities, and bus services.
“There are over 5,000 new residential properties south of the railway line unserved by buses.
“Our letter will outline the community concerns and we hope that the minister will investigate this matter and find a solution for local commuters.”
