By Charlene Macaulay
Election promises continue to come thick and fast one month out from the polls, with the Labor Party pledging more carparking spaces at three Wyndham train stations and a community hospital at Point Cook.
The Labor Party promised it would build up to 1600 new and upgraded carparking spaces at Tarneit, Werribee, Wyndham Vale and Watergardens train stations – if Labor is re-elected next month and also wins the next federal election.
A total 500 spaces will be built at Tarneit, and 500 at Watergardens.
The projects will also include new lighting and CCTV to make the stations safer.
As reported by Star Weekly, Tarneit train station is the second busiest V/Line station behind Southern Cross, with its 1000-space carpark full by 7.30am each weekday.
To add to the pain, buses run only every 40 minutes and their schedule is not synced with the train timetable. As a result, many commuters park illegally so that they can catch their train. A total 2921 commuters were fined for parking along the Leakes Road entry to Tarneit station between July 1, 2015, and the end of April, 2018.
Lalor MP Joanne Ryan said it was likely the new carparking spaces at Tarneit and Werribee train stations would be multi-storey.
“In an area with so many families, and young families, commuter carparking is critical,” she said. “This is about making our lives less stressful.”
No timelines for the new carparking spaces have been given.
Meanwhile, state Labor has also announced plans for a new “community hospital” in Point Cook that is expected to include primary healthcare and specialist services, a day procedure centre and mental health services.
Other services – which could include paediatric care, dialysis, palliative care, chemotherapy and rehabilitation services, public dental and pharmacy – will be determined after consultation with local doctors, health services and the community.
A site for the hospital has yet to be determined, and design work is expected to begin at the start of the new government term, should Labor be re-elected.
