THE state government has been asked to look into ways to improve disability access at Kananook Station.
At their last meeting, Frankston councillors agreed to ask the state government to commit to an evaluation of the site. They hope that planning will begin soon to introduce more inclusive access at the station.
Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke has contacted public transport minister Ben Carroll about the issue. He confirmed that upgrades at Kananook are not included in the current budgeted works program, but that the matter had been forwarded to the Department of Transport for consideration.
Frankston councillor Kris Bolam said that the station’s current design affects a large number of railway users. “The access issues at Kananook Railway Station don’t just affect people with disability. The lack of accessibility also affects those recovering from injury, senior citizens, students carrying heavy school bags and parents pushing bulky prams,” he said. “The vast majority of public railway stations along the Frankston train line are disability compliant. Kananook Railway Station is only of the very few without disability compliant access and egress.
“Logistically and even from an engineering perspective, any solution is going to be a feat due to the layout of the railway station. But I remain confident that there is a solution to be found”.
This is the second time this year that council has requested the state government to act on disability access at the station. In January councillors approved a motion to write to state MPs, saying that “Kananook Railway Station is reliant upon the pedestrian overpass. Given this, Kananook Railway Station would not classify as a disability compliant public asset and requires improved accessibility and usability.”
