Knox tram: Liberals pledge $2m to explore extensions to Bayswater, Upper Ferntree Gully

Catching the tram to Westfield Knox and the foothills of the Dandenongs could finally become a reality if the Liberal Party win the state election. See the plans.

Trackless trams could roll along to the foothills of the Dandenongs under the State Opposition’s plan to begin work on a long-mooted route extension into Melbourne’s outer east.

The Liberals have pledged $2m for a feasibility study into extending the Route 75 tram from Vermont South into two Knox suburbs – Bayswater and Upper Ferntree Gully – if it wins the November 26 state election.

Leader has campaigned for the tram route extension this year, and the announcement is the first funding commitment towards the project from either side of politics at state or federal level.

Ferntree Gully state Liberal MP Nick Wakeling said the study would explore extending the route along two major roads, including continuing along Burwood Highway with a stop at Westfield Knox shopping centre, before ending in Upper Ferntree Gully.

It will also explore the addition of splitting from Burwood Highway and continuing along Mountain Highway and into industrial areas in Bayswater.

The study will investigate the best form of transport options, such as a trackless tram, and the economic value of the project.

Mr Wakeling said the pledge was to ensure the project, which has been mooted since 1999, got off the ground and provided better public transport for “a forgotten part of Melbourne”.

“We’re open to any form of tram option and it may well be the traditional tram,” he said.

“All we’re saying is let’s explore all the options as part of the study, and let experts have their say on what they think is best, in consultation with community.

“This (the tram extension) has been talked about since 1999 but nothing’s happened, and the community wants this forgotten part of Melbourne to get some transport connectivity.”

The tram route terminates at Vermont South Shopping Centre before connecting with a shuttle bus service to Westfield Knox, implemented by the then-Labor government in 2005.

It had originally pledged to extend the tram to Westfield Knox while in opposition in 1999.

The Liberals’ commitment aligns with Knox Council’s push to fund a feasibility study exploring both options.

A trackless tram route between Caulfield and Rowville has also been proposed, which Labor pledged $6m for a feasibility study prior to winning this year’s federal election.

Knox mayor Susan Laukens welcomed the state Liberals’ commitment, saying it was pleasing “both levels of government and different sides of politics are recognising the need for better public transport solutions in Melbourne’s outer east.”

Mr Wakeling, whose seat is being abolished, will face off against Bayswater state Labor MP Jackson Taylor for the seat at November’s election.

Mr Taylor, who supported the tram extension as a Knox councillor before entering state politics, did not say if he and the government would match or better the opposition’s pledge for the project.

But Mr Taylor said the government was “always looking at ways to further improve transport connections in the community, whether it be trams, trains or buses, including extending the current 75-tram line to Knox”.

He also believed the Liberals couldn’t be trusted to act on the project given their track record with the Rowville rail project.

“The Liberals promised to provide rail to Rowville in their last term of Government but didn’t lay a single metre of track.

“If they don’t deliver projects they promised, there is no chance they will deliver projects they haven’t promised.”