By Matthew Sims
Melton council has put the call out for all major parties in the upcoming state election to commit to a new rail station at Calder Park.
On top of building a new train station at Calder Park, the council has also advocated for an overhaul of the Calder Park Drive corridor between the Calder Freeway and the Melton Highway, replacing the current dangerous intersection with a full diamond interchange and duplicating the lanes.
The state government has committed to a business case to upgrade the Calder Park Drive and Calder Freeway interchange and has started work on removing the level crossing on Calder Park Drive.
Melton mayor Goran Kesic said a fully integrated transport approach would take relieve congestion at the nearby Watergardens station and car park.
“Our rapid population growth will continue to put stress on our already congested roads and the overcrowded Watergardens station,” he said.
“By including a new station as part of the Level Crossing Removal project, there would be major cost savings and delivery of an integrated approach to transport infrastructure.
Cr Kesic said it would make sense to deliver all works at the same time as the level crossing removal.
“There is no benefit to the community to draw out the disruption from the partial closure of Calder Park Drive,” he said.
“Let’s get it done right.”
According to Melton council modelling, there would be more than 34,000 cars passing through the Calder Park Drive corridor by 2031 and 150,000 people living near Calder Park by 2051.
Hillside resident Darren Cutajar said parking at Watergardens station in peak times was “terrible”.
“Getting to the station in peak hour is a nightmare with people trying to get kids to school and childcare congesting roads,” he said.
“Now that I am working hybrid, I travel to the city by car as I can’t risk not getting a car park.
“If a Calder Park station is given the green light, it would be within walking distance for me and my adult children – doing our part for the carbon footprint.”
