SOLUTIONS are still being sought for more commuter car parking along the Frankston train line, despite the federal government abandoning plans at Seaford and Kananook stations.
An Auditor-General report released earlier this month savaged the federal government’s urban congestion fund program. The fund was used by the Liberal government in the leadup to the 2019 election to promise parking expansions at Seaford and Kananook stations, but both projects were ultimately scrapped.
Frankston mayor Kris Bolam said he remains hopeful that a solution can be reached that would see more parking built along the line.
“Frankston City Council enjoys a good relationship with [Urban Infrastructure] Minister Fletcher and we will continue working with the federal government to play a hand in helping to deliver additional commuter car parking for Frankston and Seaford as per the commitments promised at the last federal election,” he said. “We feel we have a fantastic proposal that will significantly alleviate the commuter car parking shortfall throughout Frankston and Seaford which we will continue to explore with the minister.”
“I couldn’t care about the politics of it. All I care about, as a local mayor, is that Frankston and Dunkley don’t lose out on the monies promised at the last election for Seaford. That’s my council’s focus and this is why we are seeking to constructively arrive at a solution rather than piling on [the federal government]”.
At a press conference last weekend, Dunkley MP Peta Murphy said the federal government’s promise “was nothing more than an outrageous play and outrageous call on people in my community who are stressed trying to get to work every morning in the city when there isn’t enough commuter car parking.”
“Labor promised a commuter car park at Frankston station with the state government, because that’s where we knew we could build a car park and where the demand is. And the Liberal government instead tried an outrageous bribe on the people of Dunkley. And yet again, a bit like the environment grants, which were announced when the programme didn’t even exist in the last term of this Liberal government for Dunkley, we’ve been sold a pup.”