By Victoria Stone-Meadows
The Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution (GAIC) fund is being ploughed back into the community, with $2 million announced to upgrade the bus terminal at Cranbourne train station.
State Member for Cranbourne Jude Perera made the announcement on Friday 12 May that the bus interchange would receive four new bus bays with accompanying shelters.
The most recent upgrades to the train station will also see the addition of real time passenger information and safe and secure bicycle facilities.
The funding comes just one month after Shadow Minister for Planning David Davis called on the government to spend more of the money raised through the GAIC fund.
However, the State Government claims to have allocated $11.8 million in funds from GAIC’s Building New Communities Fund, and $22.2 million from the GAIC’s Growth Areas Public Transport Fund this financial year.
Mr Perera said the population increase in Cranbourne and surrounding areas has swelled GAIC funds, facilitating the government decision to provide much-needed infrastructure.
“Our community is thriving because more and more families are choosing to move here,” he said.
“We’re investing in the services and infrastructure needed to help us grow.”
Minister for Suburban Development Lily D’Ambrosio said building developers owe it to the community to put money back into public transport and infrastructure for everyone.
“These are exactly the types of projects that GAIC was introduced to fund. It’s all about developers giving back to the community they’re building,” she said.
“We don’t just want our growing suburbs to become bigger – we want them to be healthier, fairer and safer too.”
