Regent train station carparking upgrades leave overflow site alone, frustrating residents
A RESERVOIR train station carpark that was only partially upgraded almost a year ago has become an eyesore, full of stray fencing, chunks of concrete and pools of water.
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UPGRADES to carparking at Regent railway station ignored a gravel section which has now become an “eyesore” full of stray fencing, chunks of concrete and pools of water, residents say.
VicTrack completed the work in December last year, upgrading 121 parking spaces as part of the government’s $20 million commitment to add more carparking to stations across Melbourne.
SOUTH MORANG’S PARKING PANDEMONIUM
The land was used by workers from Melbourne Water while the station was being upgraded and, in order to deliver the parking spaces quickly, the gravel section was not included in the scope of works.
But Melbourne Water spokesman David Walsh said its contractors vacated the site in September and left the area in an improved state.
Station neighbour Julian Polachek said the site’s appearance was “frustrating” and residents had expected the area would be upgraded when the renovations took place.
“They did drop some gravel down and grade the area, it wouldn’t have taken much to seal it,” he said.
“They’ve left it with pools of water, rubbish, it’s an area for people to go do burnouts in.”
Mr Polachek said the initial resurfacing had improved the site for a while, but it had already started to degrade back to the bogged up area it was in 2016.
“I want to see someone take responsibility for it first of all,” he said.
“It’d be nice to get someone to say ‘we’ll fix it up, it’s on our radar’.”
A letter obtained by Leader shows Ace Infrastructure was hired to conduct a site clean-up in April 2018.
The letter states the company was engaged as part of ongoing work at the station and duties included “the removal of the current stockpile on Robinson Rd”.
The comapny did did not respond for comment.
Transport for Victoria spokeswoman Tanya O’Shea said VicTrack would consider options to expand carparking as part of future planning.
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