Knox Council launches “Connect the Dots” campaign for Rowville rail

AN OUTER east council has erected four signs on busy roads as it renews its push for money for a major public transport project.

Knox Council has erected four signs in the muncipality calling for state and federal funding for the Rowville Rail project.

KNOX Council has renewed its push for the Rowville rail project, erecting four signs on busy roads calling on the State and Federal Governments to finally build the public transport infrastructure.

The “Connect the Dots” campaign calls for a train line to Rowville and the extension of the route 75 tram service from Wantirna South to Westfield Knox along Burwood Highway.

The council has erected signs on Burwood Highway, and Stud, Ferntree Gully and Wellington roads.

The signs have a controversial history — at a council meeting in October last year, then-mayor Peter Lockwood resigned because he was “absolutely opposed” to putting them up, and said if the council was going to advocate, it needed a proper plan.

But he changed his tune less than 24 hours later and resumed his duties.

Commuters have already been waiting 40 years for Rowville rail, Knox Council transport and mobility advisory committee chairman John Mortimore said with a growing population and a high dependence on cars, better public transport infrastructure was essential for the outer east.

“It’s not going to get any better. These projects will benefit a huge proportion of Melbourne’s population, remove pressure from other rail lines, reduce pollution and traffic on eastern suburbs roads, including the choked Monash Freeway,” Cr Mortimore said.

On its website, the council said the State Government believed it must wait until the Melbourne Metro project was complete before building the Rowville rail.

“With Federal Government assistance, this time frame could be brought forward as both projects could be built concurrently,” it said.

Aston federal Liberal MP Alan Tudge told Leader in March the rail was at the top of his wishlist.

“I think it is vital for our area and I will never stop fighting for it,” Mr Tudge said. “However, unless the State Government lists the Rowville Rail as a priority, it cannot be built, as it is ultimately a State Government asset.”

Kosta Pandos, spokesman for Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan, told Leader in March the Melbourne Metro project would boost capacity at the centre of the rail system, which paved the way for ­future expansion of the rail network including to Rowville.

Mr Pandos did not say if the Government would make a submission to Infrastructure Australia about Rowville rail.

Public Transport Users Association president Tony Morton said a Rowville rail line would mean commuters had an alternative to battling traffic on the Monash Freeway.

The State Government and Mr Tudge have been contacted for comment.