Delays anger residents

By Melissa Grant
CONSTRUCTION of the proposed Cardinia Road Railway Station will begin in 2010 and will take at least two years to be completed.
A letter recently penned by Transport Minister Lynne Kosky to Eastern Victorian MP Edward O’Donohue clearly states: “construction will commence in 2010, with completion expected in 2012-13.”
Members of the Lakeside-Pakenham community are furious at the revelation, and will again fire-up their campaign in a bid to bring the completion date forward.
They were celebrating in December when the project was included in the State Government’s $38 million Transport Plan. Residents were told construction would begin in 2010 and expected it would open within a year.
Jack Mitchell, chair of the Lakeside Community Development forum, said it was “outrageous” that the station would take so long to build.
“It’s hard to imagine it would take up to three years to build a darn station,” he said.
Eastern Victoria MP Edward O’Donohue said the State Government’s timeframe was absurd.
“It’s not a large infrastructure project,” he said.
“The government should be able to complete it in a year. Two to three years is ridiculous.”
The construction timeframe was revealed in correspondence between Mr O’Donohue and Ms Kosky.
Mr O’Donohue said the State Government had misled residents.
“I think we were all led to believe with construction beginning in 2010 that would mean an open station in 2010/’11,” he said.
“I thought the (State) Government had listened to the community’s campaign.”
Mr Mitchell said there was a desperate need for an additional railway station between Pakenham and Officer.
“There are currently 4000 people who live in Lakeside, next year it will be closer to 6000,” he said.
“And you only have to drive through Arena (estate in Officer) to see the housing under construction in there is quite significant.
“Needless to say we will continue to fight for construction of the station.”
The Cardinia Road Station is expected to feature two 160 metre long platforms, ticket machines, pick-up bays for buses, a taxi rank, closed circuit camera security surveillance, a major park and ride and bicycle facilities.
A spokesman for Ms Kosky said construction of Cardinia Road Station was expected to begin next year, but declined to give a completion date.
“The new station has to be built while maintaining current rail services. New infrastructure needs to be put in place, like the station building, car parking, access to local streets, signalling and a range of other rail works,” he said.
“Obviously we would like the station to be up and running as soon as possible but we have to build the station while maintaining rail services on the Pakenham line.”