Funding has been allocated to plan for a Toolern railway station, but Melton council says it’s disappointed the state government hasn’t committed to fully funding the project.
Kororoit MP Marlene Kairouz earlier this month announced that $7 million from the Growth Areas Infrastructure Charge would be used on future-proofing the proposed site as part of Ballarat line upgrades.
This means the Toolern station, which is expected to cost $35 million, will be able to be built in the future.
Melton council engineering services manager Charles Cornish said that while the funding was welcome, it didn’t go far enough.
“It would have been a much better outcome if the government was to fund the complete construction of Toolern station and deliver this as part of the Ballarat Line Upgrade project, minimising project cost and disruption to this important commuter rail corridor,” Mr Cornish said.
As reported by Star Weekly, a recent Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning report revealed that of the $43 million Melton was eligible for in GAIC funding, the state government had allocated only $6.5 million for projects in the municipality.
The GAIC is a tax on newly developed land in Melbourne’s outer suburbs.
Ms Kairouz said the $7 million announcement was a “major” boost to everyone who lived and worked in the area.
“I’m proud to be part of a government that has a forward-thinking plan for our city,” she said.
