MP’s assurances after Hume Council slams Broadmeadows station parking

Hume Council lashes “unacceptable” problem, but Broadmeadows MP Frank McGuire says solution is close.

Hume Mayor Carly Moore and councillors Geoff Porter and Karen Sherry are pushing for the State Government to fund more car parks near Broadmeadows train station. Picture: Ellen Smith

Broadmeadows State Labor MP Frank McGuire says he is fighting for more carparking spaces at Broadmeadows train station, after Hume councillors demanded he and his party take action on the problem.

Hume Mayor Carly Moore said it was “unacceptable” the station had just 210 car parks given it was a “key public transport connector between Melbourne Airport and the city”.

“Other premium stations on the Craigieburn line such as Glenroy has 618 car parks, while Essendon has 499,” she said, adding the council had been pushing for better carparking for more than eight years.

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At a recent Hume Council meeting, councillors resolved to write to Mr McGuire asking him to advocate for a portion of the 11,000 commuter carparking spaces recently offered by Labor if re-elected last Saturday.

That letter was sent on November 15 and Mr McGuire confirmed his office received it on November 21.

However, speaking before Saturday’s election, Mr McGuire told the Leader he had already written to the State Government appealing for more carparking spaces. He also said he had helped facilitate a multimillion-dollar deal between the council and VicRoads which would improve traffic flow and carparking near the train station.

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“The City of Hume has an offer from VicRoads to purchase the loop road, which would open up the opportunity to create up to 300 car parks,” he said.

“I’ve done a lot to bring those parties together and now it’s a decision for the City of Hume.”

However, the council’s chief executive Domenic Isola said it had not made a decision as to whether or not it would acquire the loop road at the price offered by VicRoads.

“Council will consider its options at a future council meeting in order to make a decision as to where car additional spots might be best provided in the precinct,” Mr Isola said.

“Whether it’s at the loop road or somewhere else, we will need to create more carparking.

“Given that we’re going to essentially create additional spots in the precinct, why wouldn’t the State Government work with us?”

VicRoads told the Leader no formal agreement had been finalised regarding the loop road.

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