Rally for extension of Cranbourne train line: put Clyde Back on Track
FIRED up ratepayers turned out in force to demand action on the area’s long-awaited train line extension.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
FIRED up ratepayers turned out in force to demand action on the area’s long-awaited train line extension.
Dozens stood together at a rally in Cranbourne East to send a message to both sides of government that the community will not put the brakes on it’s campaign for a duplicated train line to Clyde.
STATE GOVERNMENT SETS ASIDE $3M FOR CRANBOURNE EAST STATION
REPORT FINDS CRANBOURNE LINE MUST BE EXTENDED WITHIN DECADE
More than 240,000 people are expected to live in the Cranbourne East/Clyde area by 2025 and Casey’s population will hit almost 500,000 by 2041.
The Cranbourne Leader has since 2015 been campaigning for the train line to be extended to service the predicted population explosion through its ‘Put Clyde Back on Track’ campaign.
In January, the council joined the push, launching its biggest ever advocacy, calling on the State Government and Opposition to ‘Commit to Casey’ and extend Cranbourne Rail.
Casey Mayor Geoff Ablett said the community-led fight would not stop until the train line was a reality.
LEADER LAUNCHES PUT CLYDE BACK ON TRACK CAMPAIGN
AIRPORT AND RAIL UPGRADES ON CASEY’S WISHLIST
“Residents won’t stop advocating until they see shovels in the ground,” Cr Ablett said.
“We still have a long way to go to ensure the priority projects that form the Commit to Casey
campaign come to fruition, but we are thrilled with our progress so far.
“Events such as these continue to demonstrate our commitment and dedication to ensuring that the City of Casey isn’t left behind any longer; and that we are delivered with the roads and public transport we need to ease the congestion that Casey faces.”
In July, Liberal Leader Matthew Guy said the Opposition would spend $487 million to build 5km of electrified double line, with work to begin next year and be finished by 2022, if they win power at the November State election.
SUPPORT GROWS FOR RAIL LINE TO CLYDE
ILLEGAL PARKING AT PACKED CRANBOURNE RAIL STATION
“We need to ease the population squeeze which is why I am so focused on planning for population growth so every Victorian can enjoy living in their communities,” Mr Guy said.
The State Government set aside $3 million in 2017 to buy land for a rail station in Cranbourne East, but has so far fallen well short of matching the Liberal pledge.
“The Liberals have form with these announcements — when last in Government they promised to build Doncaster Rail and then did nothing, they also promised a rail line to Avalon airport and that never happened either,” Acting Premier James Merlino said at the time.
To find support the council’s campaign, go to committocasey.com.au or follow ‘Commit to Casey’ on Facebook
TIME LINE:
1888: Dandenong Cranbourne rail line opened
1891: Line extended through Clyde to Leongatha
1993: Last passenger train, Melbourne to Leongatha
1994: Cranbourne state Liberal MP Gary Rowe pushes for line upgrade for suburban
passenger service to Clyde
1995: Dandenong-Cranbourne section of line electrified for suburban travel
1999: Coalition and Labor both promise to extend the electrified line to Cranbourne East
2002-3: Line extension included in State Budget papers
2003-4: Line extension dropped from Budget papers
2015: Cranbourne Leader launches campaign to reopen the line
2017: The State Government sets aside $3 million to buy land for a rail station in Cranbourne East
MORE NEWS: