The Andrews Labor Government is making catching the train easier in Melbourne’s northern suburbs with car park upgrades underway on 440 new and upgraded spaces across Merlynston, Eltham and Wattle Glen stations.
The major upgrade at Merlynston Station will transform the previous gravel carpark and increase capacity to just over 300 spaces. Eltham Station parking will increase by 90 spaces and car parking capacity at Wattle Glen Station will double, with 60 more spaces.
The new and upgraded spaces at Merlynston Station will be built within rail land and will extend to the north of Boundary Road and south of the station on either side of the rail corridor to Shorts Road.
At Eltham Station the new and upgraded spaces will be located within the western car park, extending parking south within the current train maintenance yard, along Youth Road and include a minor reconfiguration of the existing eastern car park.
At Wattle Glen Station, the new and upgraded spaces will be built within vacant land south of the station along Main Hurstbridge Road and through a reconfiguration of the existing car park.
Commuters will also benefit from more bicycle parking, lighting and CCTV for improved safety, and additional accessible spaces across the three stations. Merlynston Station upgrades will also include a new secure bike Parkiteer, as well as completing the missing link of the Upfield Bike Path alongside Bain Avenue.
The project will also plant around 18,000 new trees, shrubs and grasses across the three sites.
The new Wattle Glen car parks will open in late 2022, with Eltham shortly following in early 2023. At Merlynston, the eastern car park will open in late 2022, followed by the western car park in 2023.
Works are also continuing on the Hurstbridge Line Duplication allowing more trains to run, more often. The project includes the opening of two brand-new stations at Greensborough and Montmorency, and a new 100-space car park and bus interchange at Greensborough Station to give people more options to park, catch the train and connect with essential services.
Since 2014 almost 14,000 new and upgraded parking spaces have been delivered at stations across the state, and the Government is on track to deliver an additional 7,000 spaces.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll
“Stations across the Northern suburbs will soon be safer and more accessible with hundreds of extra parking spaces, covered by CCTV and lighting, as well as additional bicycle parking.”
“Once the car parks are complete people driving to Merlynston, Eltham and Wattle Glen stations will find it much easier to connect to public transport.”
Quote attributable to Member for Pascoe Vale Lizzie Blandthorn
“The potholes are gone for good. The new sealed carpark and shared path will improve conditions for cars, bikes and people on foot alike. And we will keep our community safe with improved lighting and cameras.”
Quote attributable to Member for Eltham Vicki Ward
“Car parking at our stations is such an important issue for local commuters, having these new additional car parks is a great win, helping even more people to use our public transport”.
Quote attributable to Member Yan Yean Danielle Green
“The project doubles the amount of parking available at Wattle Glen Station, and the extra car parks and bicycle facilities will provide more options for all members of the community to get to and from the station.”
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Reviewed 02 June 2022