Transport the most pressing issue for Oakleigh electorate

TRANSPORT is shaping up as the most pressing issue for Oakleigh candidates interviewed by Leader during questions without notice.

Clayton Railway level crossing.

TRANSPORT is shaping up as the most pressing issue for Oakleigh candidates interviewed by Leader during questions without notice.

And Liberal candidate Theo Zographos, also a Monash councillor, hinted that an announcement would be made before the election about the large and congested gravel carpark at Huntingdale Railway Station.

Leader interviewed Cr Zographos, Australian Labor Party candidate Steve Dimopoulos (also a Monash councillor), Australian Greens candidate Steven Merriel and independent candidate Parashos Kioupelis.

Leader made three attempts to contact independent candidate Anna Scotto via the email address provided on the Victorian Electoral Commission website.

When asked to nominate the key issue for Oakleigh constituents, Cr Dimopoulos and Mr Merriel both mentioned level crossings.

Cr Dimopoulos, who lives in Murrumbeena, said level crossings were the “bane of people’s lives” with drivers getting stuck at boom gates for 12-19 minutes during peak hour.

Level crossings are the “bane of people’s lives” with drivers getting stuck at boom gates for 12-19 minutes during peak hour. — Australian Labor Party candidate Steve Dimopoulos.

Mr Merriel, from Oakleigh, also said he wanted to build Rowville Rail, which he said would help alleviate traffic.

Mr Kioupelis, from Oakleigh East, said roads were the key issue because they were “in very bad condition” and dangerous.

Only Cr Zographos, who also lives in Murrumbeena, nominated an issue unrelated to transport.

“The key issue is making sure we have a strong economy because everything flows from having the finances to provide better services for people in the Oakleigh electorate,” Cr Zographos said.

When asked later what he would do to fix Huntingdale Railway Station, including the bus interchange and adjoining gravel carparks, Cr Zographos said an announcement was imminent.

“In regards to the Huntingdale carpark, there will be further announcements to be made before the election regarding that,” Cr Zographos said.

He said the State Government was working on the bus interchange with Public Transport Victoria.

But Cr Dimopoulos said his party had already promised $5 million for a new bus interchange, and capping zone two fares at zone one prices would alleviate pressure on parking in the area.

“But my view would be that the gravel carpark also needs to be made over,” Cr Dimopoulos said.

The level crossing in Clayton is notoriously busy.

Mr Merriel said he was pushing for a “major upgrade” for the area as part of a $200 million assessment of Rowville Rail.

Mr Kioupelis said he would make plans to address the bus interchange if elected.

All four candidates indicated varying levels of support for a government secondary school in Oakleigh, although Mr Kioupelis said nobody had raised the issue with him yet.

Of the four candidates interviewed, only councillors Dimopoulos and Zographos could name the Victorian treasurer, Michael O’Brien.

Mr Kioupelis said “now you’ve got me”, while Mr Merriel said “I’ve blanked on it right now”.