State Election 2018: Labor pledges to upgrade Merlynston station carpark

MORE than 130 new carparking spots will be added to a key northern suburbs railway station under a Labor pre-election pledge.

Cars at Merlynston station have been forced to squeeze in on gravel.

MORE than 130 new carparking spots will be added to a key northern suburbs railway station under a Labor pre-election pledge.

The “appalling” gravel carpark at Merlynston station on the Upfield line will be removed and an extra 137 car spaces added if Labor is re-elected in November.

The 355 new and upgraded car parks were announced by Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan and Pascoe Vale state Labor MP Lizzie Blandthorn.

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The existing 218 spaces at the station are full by the morning peak, forcing commuters to park on gravel or clog up neighbouring streets.

But independent candidate for Pascoe Vale and Moreland councillor Oscar Yildiz said it was “no coincidence” the announcement was made just six days after he posted a video to Facebook promising to fix the carpark should he be elected.

Cr Yildiz questioned the timing of the upgrade, which will be funded from the State Government’s $150 million Carparks for Commuter Fund.

“My argument is this has been a safe Labor seat for 63 years, why didn’t they make this announcement three decades ago?” he said. “It’s Third World standard and it’s been like that for decades … I actually damaged my car quite badly because the driveway is too steep.”

Cars at Merlynston station have been forced to park on gravel.

Leader reader Lucy Palermo said it was about time the parking situation was improved.

“That area is appalling, can’t believe its taken so long,” she said.

Ms Blandthorn said she had been campaigning for the upgrade.

“I am very excited that we will seal the carpark, provide more parking spaces and make the station safe with better lighting, CCTV and bike cages,” she said.

Buses stop at the station every 30 minutes on weekdays. When questioned about increasing services, Ms Allan told the Leader: “buses are a big part of what we do”. The pledge was part of a funding blitz last week from Ms Blandthorn, who also announced $9.2 million for renovations at Glenroy Secondary College and $1 million for an upgrade of learning areas at Corpus Christi Primary School in Glenroy.

@Josh__Barnes

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