COMMUTERS may no longer have to tramp through mud when crossing the unsealed car park at Melton railway station, according to the state’s public transport authority.
Public Transport Victoria (PTV) last week confirmed planning for a much-needed upgrade was under way, after cries for urgent works went unanswered for two years.
A PTV spokeswoman said the department was considering options to improve the car park as part of its regional ‘park and ride’ program.
“We are in the process of seeking planning permits for a car park upgrade and, if successful, will then undertake detailed design work and cost estimates,” she said. Melton Council and the state opposition have called for the car park to be sealed with bitumen and marked parking bays introduced.
Other needs include landscaping upgrades, improved lighting and security measures, and an overpass or underpass from one side of the track to the other.
Resident Peter Rowan, who sits on an advisory committee set up by the council in 2010, said the government’s neglect of the site had lasted too long. “The very sad state of the Melton railway station is an indictment of the government and the Melton community deserves better.”
Melton Labor MP Don Nardella said the previous Labor government, before losing office, had committed $800,000 for the next stage of improvement works to the station.
Cr Broden Borg described the state of the station as “appalling”.
“The car park, platforms and security are inadequate. It’s not the standard this community deserves and not the standard we should have, given our growth in population.”
He said the advisory committee would provide the government with hard facts to demonstrate the need for further upgrades.
“We need to say this is how many commuters we have parking between 7 and 8am, while this is the capacity for cars, and given Melton has a growth rate of 7per cent this is how many [parking spaces] we’ll need in future.”
