Whitehorse Council welcomes Labor promise on Box Hill Transport Interchange

LABOR has pledged to create an advisory group to discuss the future of the Box Hill Transport Interchange if it wins the State Election.

Council is annoyed the state government hasn't yet funded much needed upgrades to the Box Hill Central Activities area, including a full upgrade of the public transport interchange.Left to right ward councillors Robert Chong, Helen Harris and Mayor Andrew Munroe.

WHITEHORSE Council has welcomed a Labor pledge to create a ministerial advisory group for the Box Hill Transport Interchange if successful in ­November’s state election.

But the State Government has accused Labor of “playing catch-up”, saying it is already looking at options for the future of the site.

The advisory group would be chaired by the Box Hill state MP, which is presently Liberal Robert Clark. It would include representatives from the Department of Transport, the council, Victoria Police, Box Hill Central shopping centre, Box Hill Institute, Box Hill Hospital and Deakin University.

Labor public transport spokeswoman Jill Hennessy said the advisory group would report directly to the Transport Minister and ­produce a clear direction for the future of the interchange, through improving and ­linking trains, trams and buses.

“The advisory group, made up of all the relevant stakeholders and facilitated by the local Member of Parliament, will report directly to the Minister for Public Transport,” Ms Hennessy said.

Labor candidate for Box Hill Stefanie Perri said the interchange could be “a prime example of a ­transport-oriented development, with great access to trams, buses, and trains all in the one location”.

Mayor Sharon Ellis said Labor’s pledge was a welcome start to the process of renewing Box Hill.

“It recognises the ­campaign run by the council and the Box Hill community over the past decade,” Cr Ellis said.

“The council agrees with the idea underpinning the announcement, that by working co-operatively and especially with local business and community stakeholders we can achieve some amazing outcomes in Box Hill.”

But she said the commitment needed to be followed by “real money” once the planning work was done.

Box Hill state Liberal MP Robert Clark said the Government was “already getting on with examining options” for the site.

Mr Clark said both he and Transport Minister Terry Mulder would this week meet with key stakeholders, including the council, transport operators and ­Federation Centres, which operates Box Hill Central.

“(We will) discuss the best way to plan and develop proposals for the future of the interchange and the potential for broader redevelopment of Box Hill Central and surrounds,” Mr Clark said.

The details

BOX Hill is one of the busiest transport hubs in Melbourne, with two train lines, a tram and 21 bus routes

THE station is ranked among Melbourne’s 10 busiest stations on weekdays

WHITEHORSE Council has been lobbying for an interchange upgrade for the past decade

THE interchange is less than 15km from the Melbourne CBD and is the halfway point between the city and the Dandenong Ranges