Liberal and Labor commit to Frankston transit precinct overhaul
THE cash splash for the crucial seat of Frankston has finally begun with both major parties throwing money at the troubled Frankston transit precinct.
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THE cash splash for the crucial seat of Frankston has finally begun with both major parties throwing money at the troubled Frankston transit precinct.
Liberal MP Terry Mulder and Frankston Liberal candidate Sean Armistead announced exclusively to the Frankston Standard Leader that, if re-elected, the government would commit $33 million to revitalise the area.
The plan included a six-level multi-deck car park at the northern end of the station, wider footpaths and a realignment of Young St, moving the bus layover area away from Young St and a civic space to the south end of the station.
Promises were first made to rebuild the end-of-the-line station in 1975 and successive governments have failed to deliver on promises ever since, including one made immediately before the 2010 election by then Liberal leader Ted Bailleau.
Mr Mulder told the Leader that “bickering and infighting” in Frankston Council had stalled the 2010 plan.
“There was a lot of disagreement within the council on what should and should not happen,” he said.
“It was frustrating to come up against a council that was putting blockers up against us each and every time we tried to move the project forward.”
Mr Mulder said the Frankston Council push for electrification and duplication of the rail line to Baxter, which it has lobbied hard for over many years, was part of a long-term plan.
Now Daniel Andrews has announced Labor’s plans for the precinct with a $50 million revamp if elected.
Mr Andrews visited the station today with Frankston Labor candidate Paul Edbrooke and promised that within the first 100 days a Station Precinct Taskforce would be established to work on a fast-tracked master plan for the precinct, in consultation with the community.
Labor’s Master Plan will explore establishing a permanent police beat within the precinct to clamp down on drug activity and crime, a new retail and cafe strip and multi-level car park, a state-of-the-art hub for businesses and entrepreneurs developed in partnership with Chisholm TAFE and moving the bus interchange to the eastern side of the station.
New mayor Sandra Mayer welcomed the announcements but rejected suggestions that infighting within the council in 2010 had derailed the previous plan.
“Expressing an opinion is not infighting. Council has one outcome in mind and that is to get a redeveloped interchange,” she said.
“We welcome ... working with the State Government in the new year to further the plans for the benefit of our community.
Cr Mayer said today’s announcement by Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews was “the best news for Frankston so far” in the three-month Speak Up for Frankston campaign led by the council.
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