State Government had misled Grovedale residents about the number of car parks at the suburbs new station, according to City of Greater Geelong Transport Portfolio holder Andy Richards.
“It’s important that a new train station be built in the Grovedale and Waurn Ponds area, but the state government has only made provision for 200 car parks on the north side of the station,” Cr Richards said.
“This is right in the middle of suburban Waurn Ponds and will mean that cars will be parked all the way through residential streets.
“There is also no promise on bus services from the Surf Coast, from the Bellarine and from Geelong, so the number of cars accessing the train station is kept manageable.”
Cr Richards also the ward councillor for Waurn Ponds and Grovedale, sits on the Regional Rail Link Community Reference Group.
“With the opening of the Regional Rail Link to Geelong in 2016, there will be an increase in rail passengers, presenting even more problems for residents around the new train station.
“Residents near Marshalltown station know what happens to suburban streets around a train station when parking and bus services are inadequate.”
Cr Richards said he urged South Barwon MP, Andrew Katos and the state government to rethink the provision of parking on the southern (Armstrong Creek) side.
“Council has always been of the view that the vast majority of car parking at the new train station would be on the south Armstrong Creek side, and that there would be bus services from day one.”
