The Nationals’ Member for Shepparton District, Kim O’Keeffe, has called on the Minister for Transport Infrastructure to visit Shepparton Railway Station to see firsthand the desperate need for a carpark upgrade.
The existing carpark is home to just 45 spaces, completely inadequate given the increasing level of demand on Shepparton Line V/Line services.
Speaking from Parliament, Ms O’Keeffe said the infrastructure was simply not fit for purpose.
“It is virtually impossible to find a parking space and surrounding streets are becoming clogged with cars,” she said.
“Drivers are dangerously double parking and causing congestion, in and out of the carpark. This is all due to the inadequate number of parking spaces.
“Locals shouldn’t have their narrow streets clogged by parked cars all day nor should surrounding traders have their street frontage used by commuters just because of the substandard facilities at the station.
“In the evening this is a safety risk with some areas having little street lighting and uneven road and path surfaces.”
Despite Stage 3 of the Shepparton Line Upgrade being plagued by delays, once completed, nine return services per weekday will be delivered from Shepparton, further increasing demand for parking spaces.
“When extra services are delivered, the demand on the station’s infrastructure will be impossible to accommodate with the existing carpark,” she said.
“At the moment a lot of locals will drive to Seymour and park there when travelling to Melbourne, where there are more regular services.
“Once the additional weekday services are finally delivered these commuters are likely to board at Shepparton and need additional parking space.
“We are a growing region and patronage at the station will only keep increasing.
“We need to ensure that we have fit-for-purpose infrastructure and that includes adequate car parking.
“I urge the Minister to visit our community and see firsthand why the carpark upgrade is urgently needed.”