Werribee MP and treasurer Tim Pallas says he would be keen to encourage more privately-owned operators to set up carparks near Tarneit station.
Speaking at the Committee for Wyndham annual Victorian Government Budget Breakfast on Friday, Mr Pallas said any private services would not replace government efforts to improve parking.
He said the government needed to take action on the lack of parking at some Wyndham stations, including Tarneit station.
“I think that as a government we have to acknowledge we’re going to have to put more effort into parking and also better aligning bus services with train stations,” he said.
Mr Pallas said Wyndham council had made him aware that many commuters were resorting to illegally parking in and around the station.
While making a presentation on the state government’s 2018-19 budget during the breakfast, Mr Pallas outlined some of the investments it contained for Wyndham, including additional V/Line services for Wyndham Vale; land acquisition for the Werribee Justice Precinct; the Greening the Pipeline project; and $1 million to develop a business case for the planned expansion of Werribee Open Range Zoo.
Also on the issue of transport, Mr Pallas answered a question from one of the breakfast’s attendees.
Dr Joe Garra from the Werribee South Ratepayers Association, asked about the need to remove the Hoppers Crossing level crossing.
Mr Pallas said that although he could not say if the crossing would be earmarked for removal after the state government finished its current program, he considered the Hoppers Crossing site a “very worthy” candidate for consideration.
In response to a question about the progress of the East Werribee Employment Precinct plans, Mr Pallas said the government was keen to see residential housing included in the development, or else it would be at risk of becoming “a ghost town” after business hours.
