Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor David Gill accuses Frankston Council of dumping parking woes in Baxter
FRANKSTON Council is trying to dump its car parking woes in Baxter, a Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor says.
South East
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FRANKSTON Council is trying to dump its car parking woes in Baxter, a Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor says.
The Federal Government has committed $225 million to electrifying and duplicating the line from Frankston to Baxter.
Advocates have long argued this will alleviate chronic parking problems plaguing central Frankston.
FRANKSTON TRADERS CALL ON COUNCIL FOR PARKING SOLUTION
PARKING SPACES ANNEXED FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITS $225M FOR PROJECT
DUPLICATION OF LINE TO BAXTER STEP CLOSER
But in a blistering attack, Cr David Gill accused Frankston Council of “carrying on” like Baxter was in Frankston City and not the Shire.
Cr Gill said Frankston Council was trying to move its “end of the train line” parking problems to Baxter, which would put huge pressure on the quiet village.
He has received strong support from environmentalists.
Watson Creek Landcare Group member Joyce Welsh warned it would “change the character of Baxter completely” and South Eastern Centre for Sustainability president Steve Karakitsos said Baxter’s country ambience would be compromised and vital habitat lost.
Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors have agreed to support the extension of the rail line to Baxter as a first stage, but say it must be duplicated all the way to Hastings, which was an activity centre with growth potential.
Shire mayor Bryan Payne said Baxter was not suitable as an “end of the line” station as it was surrounded by the green wedge, but said the shire looked forward to working with state and federal government officials to bring the project to fruition.
Frankston mayor Colin Hampton said the rail project would increase access to the region and create jobs and potential impacts could be addressed through planning.
Dunkley federal MP Chris Crewther said Baxter was the “first crucial step”.
“We all support better future metro rail connections, including to Hastings,” he said.