By ALESHA CAPONE
MORE than 200 new car parks could be constructed for the Keilor Plains train station if a planning application is approved.
Brimbank City Council has received a proposal from the Public Transport Corporation (PTC) to build approximately 220 new commuter car spaces at 2/336 Main Rd West in St Albans.
City development director, Stuart Menzies, said the planning application has requested permission to add new car spots to the south of the existing Keilor Plains car park.
The PTC has estimated the project could cost around $700,000.
The proposal to install new car spaces comes after last month when Brimbank City Council released its Transport Priorities Paper (TPP).
The document has been designed to help guide the council’s future advocacy to the State Government and other agencies.
A section of the TPP focuses on the need for more car parks at stations located along the Sunbury line.
“There is a significant shortfall of commuter parking at train stations,” the report said.
“Cars are inappropriately parked in neighbouring streets and on reserves, causing damage to council and railway infrastructure.
“This practice is also causing amenity issues and at times, restricting access ways and making areas unsafe for other users and pedestrians.
“A review of the supply of commuter parking facilities at all railway stations in Brimbank is required, with a plan for increasing the available car parking to be developed.”
The TPP also said the Zone One ticket fare border for Brimbank trains should be extended beyond Albion station.
The report said this would make public transport more affordable, spread the commuter parking demands across more stations and create a fair ticket system comparable to the rest of metropolitan Melbourne.
