The state opposition has used a petition calling for a train station in Mt Atkinson to criticise the state government for failing to fix Melton’s transport issues.
As reported by Star Weekly, the petition received more than 5000 signatures, which is about two thirds of the Mt Atkinson population, and was tabled in state Parliament by Kororoit MP Luba Grigorovitch on August 13.
Opposition public transport spokesperson Matthew Guy said residents had clearly identified their needs but their voices were falling on deaf ears.
“The Allan Labor Government continues to ignore the people of Melbourne’s west … Jacinta Allan’s own MPs are now highlighting Labor’s neglect of Melbourne’s growth areas.”
As previously reported by Star Weekly, almost 50 per cent of people in Melton must leave the area for work but only one in ten have access to frequent public transport services.
Petition organiser Manish Baisoya said he welcomed efforts to improve the current situation.
“I appreciate that all parties are taking keen interest in local transport needs … I think all parties need to think of holistic solutions for a global city like ours,” he said.
Mr Baisoya said places like Mt Atkinson were crucial to the future of the city and closer attention needed to be paid to the area.
“With Melbourne going to be the same size as [current day] London by 2050, it’s growing communities like Mt Atkinson which will contribute significantly by housing more people, creating local jobs, and decentralising the CBD.”
Western Metropolitan Region Liberal MP Trung Luu said those in power needed to strengthen networks in Melton and surrounding areas.
“[This] would greatly improve the lives of all individuals and allow congestion to ease in one of the state’s biggest growing regions,” he said.
“Yet the Allan Labor Government continues to recklessly spend money on projects that won’t help those living in Melbourne’s west.”
A state government spokesperson said the government was delivering to the west in record numbers.
“We’re getting on with over a billion dollars in investment on the Melton Line – including making the line level crossing free and… boosting passenger capacity on the line by 50 per cent.
“We don’t shy away from delivering world class infrastructure that Victorians deserve – while Matthew Guy and the Liberals… better transport connections, including cancelling the Metro Tunnel Project in 2014.”
Labor has held the seat of Melton since 1992.
