Greens ramp up push for Doncaster rail link

THE Coalition’s commitment to extend a rail line in Melbourne’s northeast has given local campaigners another reason to push for the Doncaster link.

If it is good enough for Mernda, local campaigners are asking why Doncaster is missing out on a rail link.

THE Greens say there will be money in the kitty for both the Doncaster and Rowville train lines if the State Government drops the East West Link.

The party is ramping up its campaign to secure a commitment to Doncaster Rail after the Government announced $700 million for a rail extension to Mernda to match Labor’s promise.

Greens Leader Greg Barber has drafted a motion to table the final Doncaster Rail report, which he will move when parliament ­resumes.

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A spokeswoman for Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder, Larissa Garvin, said the final report would be “released in weeks”.

Mr Barber said he had met with the Eastern Transport Coalition and was looking to meet with the council as soon as possible.

He questioned why any government would want to keep the final report in the dark.

“I can’t see why they would want to keep this ­report secret,” he said.

Ms Garvin said the ­Coalition didn’t believe the issue should be used “to play petty games in Parliament”.

When the Manningham Leader contacted Planning Minister Mathew Guy, who is also the state member for Bulleen, he said it was “up to the Transport Minister when he releases his ­reports”.

The independent Doncaster Rail Study Phase One draft report was publicly ­released in March 2013.