Liberals ‘ramp up’ Frankston line commuter car parking pledge

Coalition promises 800 new car parks at three Frankston area stations

THE federal government is promising to build new car parks at Frankston, Kananook and Seaford train stations as part of a $300 million, Melbourne-wide “congestion busting fund”.

Frankston will get 600 new spaces comprising 500 for commuters and 100 short-term spots for shoppers, while Seaford and Kananook will each receive 100 spaces. They will cost $56 million with the federal government tipping in $38.5 million. The balance, $17.5 million, was promised by the state government last year. The 500 spaces for commuters is likely to be a multi-storey car park near Frankston station.

The $300 million fund was announced in last month’s federal Budget but without details. A statement from the government issued on 29 April says the fund will “bust congestion across Melbourne by taking 13,000 cars off the road each day in key growth corridors. Park-and-ride facilities at 30 train stations on seven train lines will be built or expanded, increasing commuter car parking capacity in the fastest-growing areas in the nation”.

In the statement, Dunkley electorate Liberal MP Chris Crewther said “the rail corridor plan [is] a game-changer for commuters in Dunkley”. The 100 short-term spaces would “support local business by helping to create greater access to local shops”.

The federal Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population, Alan Tudge, said the commuter car parking plan complemented the government’s investments in major roads, rail and congestion hot-spots. “It is all designed to alleviate congestion and make it easier for people to get around Melbourne sooner and safer.”

Committee for Greater Frankston chief executive Ginevra Hosking welcomed the promise: “Frankston has lacked sufficient car parking for years. It has driven good businesses out of our city. You can see it in Frankston CBD’s rising vacancy rates. More public car parks are urgently needed.”

Ms Hosking said longer-term commuter car parking needs to transition away from Frankston economic activity centres. “The key to making Frankston’s future access strategy work– and not just further clogging the city with empty cars – is extending the train line. However the extension of the Frankston train line and the benefits it will bring is not guaranteed. Extending the line requires both federal and state government funding.

“The federal Liberal-National government secured $225 million of Commonwealth funding for the project in last year’s Budget. If elected, the federal Labor Party has pledged to back that commitment. While a preliminary cost-benefit study is currently underway, the Victorian Labor government has yet to commit to the project. If the Victorian state government does not back the project, it cannot go ahead.”

Federal Labor has previously pledged, if elected, $17.5 million towards the 500-space multideck car park at Frankston station.

You can read about each parties’ federal election commitments to Frankston on our downloadable table.

Liberals ‘ramp up’ Frankston line commuter car parking pledge

Breaking news:
The federal Liberal government has pledged an additional $38.5 million towards Frankston line station car parking, if re-elected.

The Liberal plan includes 600 new spaces at Frankston Station in partnership with the State government, of which 100 are short-stay spaces, an additional 100 spaces at Seaford station and a further 100 at Kananook Station. This new $38.5 million pledge is in addition to the $17.5 million Frankston car parking commitment from the Victorian State, which the Federal Labor government has agreed to match if elected on the 18th of May.deral Liberal government has pledged an additional $38.5 million towards Frankston line station car parking, if re-elected.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison promises new carparks for 25 train stations in Melbourne

ANTHONY GALLOWAY, Herald Sun, April 29, 2019 12:00am

New carparks would be built at 25 railway stations across Melbourne under a $300 million package to be unveiled by Prime Minister Scott Morrison. The plan is expected to take 13,000 cars off the city’s roads each day and is the biggest single investment in new commuter carparks. The PM will announce the move on Monday, saying the plan was a “game-changer” for hundreds of thousands of people across Melbourne. It comes as Mr Morrison will also announce $156 million to help protect Australian small businesses and families from cyber attacks.

Narre Warren is among the 19 train stations due to be announced under Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s $300 million carpark plan. The new carparks will be across seven railway lines, and include upgrades to existing ­car parks as well new carparking blocks. They include railway ­stations across Melbourne’s east, including Boronia, Heathmont, Heatherdale, Surrey Hills, Canterbury, Camberwell and Glenferrie. There would also be new carparks at up to five stations in the city’s north on the Craigieburn, Hurstbridge and Mernda lines.

New carparks at stations in the south would include Frankston, Kananook, Seaford, Sandringham, Brighton Beach, North Brighton, Elsternwick, Balaclava, Narre Warren, Pakenham and ­Beaconsfield.

“This will get thousands of cars off the roads and get people home sooner and safer,” Mr Morrison said. “This is something that Melbourne people have said is a significant priority — not only will it bust congestion but it has major ­environmental benefits.”

Mr Frydenberg said the ­carparks would provide greater access to public transport and take thousands of cars off the road, so that “Melburnians spend less time in traffic and more time with their family and friends”. “This is part of our plan to deliver a stronger economy and a brighter future for all Australians,” he said.

The $300 million announcement was in last month’s Budget but is being unveiled for the first time. The money is on top of the $83 million already announced for seven new carparks at ­Melbourne railway stations. The commitment means Victoria will receive close to $530 million through the ­government’s $4 billion Urban Congestion Fund.

Mr Morrison said extra support to fight cyber crime would protect older Australians, small businesses and national security assets from attacks.