A new and upgraded carpark with 485 spaces opened at Watergardens Station earlier this month, along with 26 new accessible car spaces and 70 new bike parking spaces.
Transport Infrastructure Minister Gabrielle Williams said the new carpark will help locals access public transport in rapidly growing areas.
“By backing these car park projects in Melbourne and across regional Victoria, we’re delivering for communities in our fast-growing suburbs – making it easier for families to use public transport and helping to ease congestion in local streets,” Ms Williams said.
Improvements were also made to lighting and CCTV as part of the upgrade.
The state government said the opening of the Watergardens car park meant it had now delivered over 21,000 new and upgraded car parks at train stations across the state.
The opening of the new carpark comes at the same time as an announcement for the permanent closure of the gravel car park located at 499a Melton Highway, Taylors Lakes, later this year, which locals currently use for parking close to the station.
Alternative parking at a new carpark on the corner of Kings Road and Watergardens Circuit Road was suggested to residents.
Locals took to social media with mixed responses about the closure.
One commenter said “[the closure] will only move the carpark shortage, not increase capacity.”
Another commenter highlighted extra spaces in the new carpark as well as additional parks on Sydenham Road and said “… in light of the situation I think they did okay.”
The state government said the new Watergardens carpark replaces the temporary gravel one, which has been leased to the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) by the Watergardens Shopping Centre.
The gravel carpark will close to the public from November after DTP’s lease expires the same month.
The state government said any future development of the area is the responsibility of the land owner.
An additional 95 new car spaces were also delivered by Brimbank council on Sydenham Road in 2022, which the state government said brings the total number of formal commuter car parks in the station precinct to 1215.
