Council signals train station move

CASEY Council has called on the State Government to fulfil a seven-year promise and provide a clear starting date for the Cranbourne East Railway Station.
Since the early 1990s a Development Contribution Plan has been in place and $1 million has been collected to offset the State Government’s costs to build the station.
Despite the Labor opposition pledging in 1999 to deliver the project, since being elected into government, no firm commitment to the project has been given.
Instead, the station was left out of the State Government’s recently released Meeting the Transport Challenges document.
This was despite predictions that 32,000 people would eventually live in Cranbourne East.
At Tuesday night’s council meeting councillors resolved to write to the Minister of Transport advising that the Cranbourne East station was essential to the long-term development of the new suburb.
The council will also request that the station be added to any future Meeting the Transport Challenges documents and request that the minister provide a date and time line for planning for the delivery of the project as part of the New Stations in Growth Areas project.
Councillors also decided to write to Opposition transport spokesperson Terry Mulder seeking commitment to the project in the 2006 election.
Some councillors branded the motion as a political move but others said the State Government needed to fulfil their obligation and deliver on their promise.
Councillor Lorraine Wreford said it was important that the infrastructure was in place as the population continued to grow. She said the station was vital to the Cranbourne East community.
Casey mayor Kevin Bradford said he was confident that the State Government would honour their commitment as Cranbourne East’s population continued to grow.
“I dare say they will stick to their commitment once there are enough people,” he said.
Councillors also resolved at Tuesday’s meeting to write to the Federal Government and opposition seeking funds to assist with the building of the new Cranbourne East railway station.