Heathmont railway station on Belgrave line to be upgraded for first time in decades
A small railway station in Melbourne’s east where commuters claim they feel unsafe at night, and which has ageing shelters and no toilets or staff, is finally getting a much-needed revamp.
Outer East
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A rundown Maroondah railway station is to get a facelift after almost four decades of neglect, in a big win for local commuters and Maroondah Leader’s ‘Make Our Station Safe’ campaign.
The State Government announced $23 million for a ‘Better Stations Fund’ on Monday to improve 10 railway stations around Melbourne.
The initiative was part of a $2.7 billion package to kickstart the Victorian economy following the coronavirus outbreak.
Bayswater state Labor MP Jackson Taylor announced yesterday Heathmont would be one of the stations to benefit from the works, which could include new toilets and seating and improved accessibility for passengers.
It is unclear how much will be spent on the works at Heathmont, what will be done and when they will begin, but the Government claims it has started planning for the project.
The station has been mostly unchanged since a second platform was added in 1982, and according to Metro Trains’ website is unstaffed and without toilets.
“In the past, I said that everybody has the right to feel safe around and on public transport — and I’m proud to have ensured that Heathmont station has been included on a list of important upgrades,” Mr Taylor said.
“I have been advocating to the (Public Transport) Minister about the needs of Heathmont station, and I’m glad that this upgrade will be happening.”
Public Transport Minister Melissa Horne said the upgrades would improve commuters’ experiences on the rail network and provide jobs for local workers.
Last year, Maroondah Leader started its ‘Make Our Station Safe’ campaign, calling for major improvements to Heathmont railway station including better lighting and security.
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It came after a female commuter claimed she was groped by a man while walking home from the station.
Maroondah Council has since installed an additional light on a service pole on Campbell St, near a playground and the station, as part of footpath improvement works.
The council also purchased nearby land last month for a planned $15 million multi-deck commuter carpark to be funded by the Federal Government.
Construction of the carpark is expected to start in mid to late 2021.