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RESIDENTS across the north-west are sick and tired of the state of public transport and want governments to be held accountable for not doing more.
Victorian Auditor-General Des Pearson’s report, which was released last week, concluded that the Transport Department was not prepared for the challenges of the past decade, including strong growth from 2004-09.
The report showed passenger numbers on train lines serving the west and north are expected to double by 2021.
Delahey Action Group secretary David Anderson said there had not been enough money spent on transport infrastructure in Brimbank and public transport didn’t adequately move local people to their places of employment.
“There is not enough connectivity between trains and buses and many residents live a long way away from bus pick-up zones,” Mr Anderson said.
“Looking specifically at Watergardens station, there are so many areas where people are exposed to rain and wind and there are no creature comforts to accommodate commuters.
”It’s a severe safety risk and so much funding is needed just to make the system safe for moving people around.”
Mr Anderson said governments had neglected Brimbank for too long.
“Too many eggs have been put into baskets in the east and south.
“Rising fuel costs and costs of parking in the city have made it harder for people to drive to work so more money should have gone into these high-growth areas.”
Long-time Caroline Springs resident Simon Beach said the lack of a train station in the area was causing congestion on local roads.
The previous Labor government had announced plans to build a station at Caroline Springs and preliminary works started in 2010.
However, the Coalition government has not confirmed construction plans.
“This is an area with around 20,000 residents and you have to travel eight kilometres to a station in Deer Park, which is falling apart, or go 12 kilometres to Watergardens station which has limited parking space and more and more people use it,” Mr Beach said.
Transport Minister Terry Mulder’s spokeswoman, Larissa Garvin, said the previous government had promised to build Caroline Springs railway station but failed to provide any money.
