FRANKSTON MP Paul Edbrooke has welcomed council’s views on how best to redevelop the Frankston train station precinct but says the community and state government will have the final say on the specifics of the $50 million project.
The Labor MP is chair of the Frankston Station Precinct Taskforce, set up by the government to hear submissions and suggestions about the project.
“As the chair of the taskforce, what I would like to clarify is that the council’s submission for this Andrews government project is just that,” Mr Edbrooke said.
“The project is 100 per cent state government funded and managed and the council’s submission will be taken into account just like the results of the community consultation that has just finished.”
Frankston councillors unanimously backed a formal submission to the state government pushing for more money to be invested to revamp the transport hub and electrify the rail line to Baxter (‘All aboard station plan push’, The Times 29/6/15).
Mr Edbrooke said Labor had always intended to use the state government’s $63 million investment to drive private investment at the redeveloped transport interchange and Young St.
Council hopes the area can be opened up as “green public open space” and offices and shops could be part of the transport hub.
Council may move offices to the new transport hub.
Young St will be revitalised thanks to $13 million of funding committed by the previous Coalition state government which Labor will honour.
A further $46.9 million has been committed by Labor to fund a first stage upgrade of the Frankston campus of Chisholm TAFE alongside the train station redevelopment.
Mr Edbrooke said the Frankston Station Precinct Taskforce – which includes mayor Cr Sandra Mayer as Frankston Council’s representative, Chisholm TAFE CEO Maria Peters and representatives from Victoria Police, the Frankston Business Network, Public Transport Victoria and the state government – has “made great progress”.
“The masterplan developed by the taskforce for Young St will be based on what the community tell us they want with an evidence based approach,” he said.
“It’s great to finally have the council’s opinion as a major stakeholder, it’s fair to say that our community have already been very clear about what they want and it is a very exciting time.”
Mr Edbrooke said the buck and the bucks stop with him.
“The Frankston community voted for this 100 per cent Andrews government funded project to change the face of Frankston for the future and I will ensure the project is carried out in full.”
