By Brendan Rees
Reverend David Powys believes Cranbourne is in danger of “being left behind” with roads and public transport.
“Anyone that’s driven on the roads knows what a miserable experience it is,” the vicar of St John’s Cranbourne said.
With the population of Cranbourne East/Clyde area tipped to hit more than 240,000 people in 2015, Mr Powys says there was “nowhere near enough” improvements being made.
Mr Powys recently unveiled his painting outside his church depicting the abandoned rail track, overgrown by grass, to Cranbourne East.
“I guess I’m just reflecting on the distress of many of my church, and in the community of just how difficult life is becoming as Cranbourne grows,” he said.
“I think in terms of population we’re still going at a huge rate and I think we’re in danger of being left behind.
“Melbourne as whole has forgotten about the south east,” he added
In the lead-up to this year’s state election, Casey Council announced its biggest advocacy campaign yet, calling on the State Government and Opposition to ‘Commit to Casey’, in fixing the region’s roads and extending the Cranbourne rail.
Dozens also turned up to a council led rally in Cranbourne East in October, where residents determined not to stop campaigning until they saw “shovels in the ground” for the Cranbourne rail to be duplicated and extended.
Casey Mayor Geoff Ablett said the city of Casey was playing “catch up” in infrastructure and “didn’t blame” Mr Powys for being frustrated.
“He’s a great artist and we share his emotions, it’s something we desperately need,” he said.
“We’ll playing catch up in so many areas. It was promised back in the 1990s and not delivered.”
With Labor currently holding the Cranbourne seat by two per cent, Cr Ablett said: “I’ve been very non-partisan of all parties but the fact we’re in a marginal seat this is our opportunity to really have the best organised Commit to Casey.”
“Wherever I go and say we need to do road and rail everyone just stands up and applauds.”
Both parties have promised to upgrade the Cranbourne rail line in the lead up to the state election, and Cr Ablett has assured residents “we will make sure they do it.”
He said Mr Powys was “right on the money,” and “illustrated what the whole of Casey feels; I congratulate him.”
