Thursday, 20 June 2024

Western suburbs train services

Trung LUU (Western Metropolitan) (19:15): (991) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Public and Active Transport regarding the insufficient train services in the western suburbs. The action I seek is for the minister to commit to the construction of Thornhill Park train station and Mount Atkinson train station. My constituents and Melton City Council have detailed a concern about the inaction from this government towards the development of this vital infrastructure. The council have indicated that they attempted to contact the minister regarding these two key transport projects. Unfortunately, they have had no response. Over 40,000 residents in the Melton LGA do not have accessible and reliable public transport options near their home. One of my constituents from Thornhill Park, Daniel, stated that it was like living in a Third World country with the lack of service in the area. Nathan, another resident, stated that driving from Thornhill Park to Cobblebank railway station, 6 kilometres away, takes the same time as a train to Southern Cross.

A petition was created last year to build a train station in Thornhill Park, gaining over 1200 signatures from locals. However, still the government has taken no action to address this community’s outcry. There is $141 million in unallocated funds from the growth areas infrastructure contribution. This is an obvious opportunity to fulfil infrastructure needs in the most populated area where there are unallocated funds. The Melton City Council is the fastest growing LGA in Australia, with the area needing significant infrastructure upgrades. So I ask: when will the Allan government listen to community of Thornhill Park and Mount Atkinson and commit to the development of these two train stations to make Melbourne’s west a livable city for all Victorians?