Hume Council to up the pressure to secure a better deal for Broadmeadows station

A $4 MILLION upgrade of Broadmeadows station has been dubbed nothing more than a cosmetic effort that will fail to fix its “junk in the crown” image.

The Broadmeadows station will undergo upgrade works. Picture: George Salpigtidis

A $4 MILLION upgrade of Broadmeadows station has been dubbed nothing more than a cosmetic fix that will fail to shed its “junk in the crown” image.

Hume Council will explore options to increase its pressure on the state and federal governments to secure a better deal after declaring the funding fell woefully short of expectations.

The upgrade, expected to be completed by early next year, will improve access and amenity at the station with a new northern entrance, concourse and toilets, and renovations to the pedestrian subway.

RELATED: Broadmeadows station in line for upgrade and safety improvements

Cr Karen Sherry said while she appreciated the works, they were only cosmetic.

“We need a cleaner, more contemporary station with better amenities all-round,” she said.

Cr Naim Kurt said he wanted a station that met the community’s needs and reflected the important role it played in Melbourne’s transport network.

“Broadmeadows railway station is the pivotal hub for Melbourne’s northern public transport network and really should be the jewel in the crown for Broadmeadows,” he said.

“But at the moment instead of the jewel in the crown it’s the junk in the crown.”

RELATED: Rat-infested Broadmeadows station slammed as a disgrace

Cr Kurt said the council was seeking what had been originally promised.

The station was earmarked for a $27.5 million upgrade but the money was returned to consolidated revenue in 2013 by the former Coalition Government.

Cr Jack Medcraft said the station had instead become an “abomination” and an insult to Broadmeadows.

But Sacha Fenton, a spokeswoman for Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan, said the upgrade would complement the wider plans for revitalising the Broadmeadows Metropolitan Activity Centre and improve connections between the town centre, the station and the residential areas east of the site.