Ferntree Gully train station to receive carpark upgrade
A PACKED train station carpark in Melbourne’s outereast is set to receive an upgrade, with up to 215 new parking spots to be added.
Outer East
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UP TO 215 car spaces will be added to Ferntree Gully train station, in a move that will ease traffic chaos in the area.
But work won’t start on the new spaces until mid-next year.
RELATED: Ferntree Gully Senior Citizens’ Club at risk of closing due to lack of parking for members.
RELATED: Ferntree Gully rail commuters promised 110 extra car spaces.
After years of congestion in local streets — including fears emergency vehicles couldn’t get through because roads were jammed with commuters’ cars — the State Government has confirmed more car spaces.
Bob Neilson, spokesman for Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan, said the spaces, to be added to the carparks on both sides of the station, would make it easier for more people to drive to the station and catch the train.
He said construction was expected to start mid to late-2017, with completion in mid-2018.
Money for the project will come from this year’s State Budget, part of $20 million to improve parking at train stations across outer Melbourne and regional Victoria.
The Coalition Government made an election promise in 2014 of $1.1 million to build 110 more car spaces at Ferntree Gully train station, but until now it had not been matched.
Ferntree Gully state Liberal MP Nick Wakeling said it was a fantastic outcome for the community.
“We’ve been pushing for this for a long time,” Mr Wakeling said.
Cr Karin Orpen said the extra parks were well overdue.
“This is great news for residents of Ferntree Gully and train commuters because it has been such a growing issue,” Cr Orpen said.
“I’ve been getting complaints from people in neighbouring streets, about roads being blocked, concerns about emergency vehicles not being able to get access and garbage trucks not being able to get through.”
She hoped the Government would also look at more car spaces at Upper Ferntree Gully station.
The Ferntree Gully Senior Citizens’ Club operates out of a building near Ferntree Gully station and their parking spaces are often taken up by commuters.
Club president Mary Longley welcomed the news of the extra parks and hoped the project would be completed as soon as possible.
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