By Karen Poh
THERE are never enough parking spaces at Ginifer Railway Station, a commuter who catches an early morning train complains.
On a working day, Mimi leaves her Taylors Hill home about 6.30am and arrives at the station by around 6.45am.
“The car park is already half-full by then,” she said.
There are approximately 47 parking bays on the east side of the station off St Albans Rd and another 110 on the west side off Willaton St.
Brimbank City Council said Ginifer railway station and the supply of commuter parking is the responsibility the State Government Department of Infrastructure (DOI).
In November last year, the council called for more parking on behalf of the local community, after a concerned resident living near the station complained that cars were parked in the grassed areas beyond the limits of the car park.
They received a letter from the DOI, saying the department was aware of the pressures on existing commuter car parks in all areas of Melbourne, including those in the north-west corridor.
“DOI has identified Ginifer railway station as a possible site for car park expansion due to the availability of land along the rail corridor,” the letter said.
“Funding for future car park upgrades may be considered in future budgets once detailed investigations have been completed.”
But Brimbank City councillor Anthony Abate said the DOI’s response was disappointing.
“(It) really doesn’t address the concerns of the residents and the users of Ginifer train station,” he said.
There are no railway stations to service residents in Caroline Springs and those who are intent on using public transport have to park at Ginifer station to catch their train.
“Petrol is going up, and you actually have people from all over Brimbank using that station, not only the people of St Albans and Cairnlea,” Cr Abate said.
“If we’re serious about public transport and if we’re serious about getting people to think alternatively about energy use, then we have to create the infrastructure that goes with the service,” he said.
Mimi said the needs of a growing community needs to be addressed.
“Caroline Springs is a growing community and as ratepayers they are entitled to a train line,” she said.
All this puts added pressure on working parents, Cr Abate said.
“Parents who live in the St Albans area, or who live in any other parts of the municipality, are running tight deadlines from work to home to pick up kids from childcare… taking over from their partners who are doing the night shift.
“These are real issues,” he said.
“What I’d like to see is a Sydenham-St Albans line transport working group, to directly liaise with the DOI and develop strategies to actually alleviate some of the issues,” he said.
