Croydon, Ringwood, Mitcham and Ferntree Gully train stations to get $15 million carparks
If you’re one of the thousands of commuters who struggle to find an early morning carpark around stations on the Lilydale or Belgrave lines, there’s some good news on the way.
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Multi-level carparks will be built at four stations along the Belgrave and Lilydale lines under a $60 million Federal Government plan.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Deakin federal Liberal MP Michael Sukkar will this morning announce the new carparks to be built at Croydon, Ringwood, Ferntree Gully and Mitcham stations.
Each carpark will cost $15 million and have between 400 and 500 extra all-day parking spaces each across three levels.
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The carparks will be paid for through the Federal Government’s urban congestion fund and planning is expected to begin immediately.
Three of the stations are in Mr Sukkar’s Deakin electorate, which he holds by 6.3 per cent and is shaping as a key battleground in this year’s federal election, tipped to be held in May.
Mr Sukkar said the carparks would be “congestion-busting” pieces of infrastructure.
“It’s not an election promise, it’s a delivered project,” he said.
“These are I think one of the most cost-effective and intelligent investments which will improve this area.
“It basically fulfils two important requirements, it facilitates more people to easily access public transport, and gets cars off the road.”
Mr Sukkar said the carparks would also ease early-morning parking woes for commuters at each of the stations.
He said parking at Ringwood station was full just after 6am and Croydon station by 7am.
“It’s a significant investment for commuters because they will now have a greater ability to access both stations, and in each case significantly increase capacity of those who drive to the station with all day free parking,” Mr Sukkar said.
Aston federal Liberal MP Alan Tudge said the new carpark would fix the problems at Ferntree Gully but also take pressure off the Upper Gully station carpark.
“I have secured $15 million, which will allow us to construct up to 500 carparks at Ferntree Gully station,” Mr Tudge said.
“The station carpark is often at capacity by 7am, which then pushes overflow into neighbouring streets. Upper Gully station has a similar problem.”
He said people from Rowville and Lysterfield also parked and got on the train Ferntree Gully.
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