By Parker McKenzie
The Victorian Labor Party has made an election commitment of $60 million to upgrade to Boronia Station by 2026 if re-elected at the November state election, making it more accessible for locals.
Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll and Bayswater MP Jackson Taylor announced the funding promise — contingent on the Labor Party returning to government for a third term — at the station on Monday 10 October.
Mr Carroll said he expects the upgrade to begin in 2024 after $500,000 was already been allocated for planning works.
“The station was last redeveloped in 1998 and while it’s lasted the community for 25 years, there is a very significant trench there where the community needs to get downstairs to get on the train,” he said.
“I know it has been well endorsed by the local community, the local traders, and the school students and on the local council as well.”
The upgrade will improve disability access to the station, build new shelters, create an open space by covering one of the rail trenches with decking, upgrade the façade and platforms, and improve lighting and CCTV in the area.
Mr Taylor said he was proud to be able to announce a major overhaul of the station.
“A deck over the trench on the southern part of the station will unlock lots of open space, it will bring communities together and it will create and activate the heart and centre of Boronia,” he said.
“20 projects now are either delivered, underway or have been delivered to revitalize the heart centre of Boronia, to make it an even better place to live and work.”
Mr Carroll said he expects to be back in Boronia in 2026 to unveil the new station.
“We’re very confident of the work we’ve done through the planning process,” he said.
“We need that easy access for pedestrians and people with disabilities. At the moment, you literally have what you can say is like a scar through Boronia Station here with it being underground.”
Ferntree Gully MP Nick Wakeling — who is running against Mr Jackson in the seat of Bayswater as the Liberal candidate after his electorate was abolished during redistricting — said the Labor Party has neglected the needs of Knox residents when it comes to public transport.
“With cost of living pressures impacting on Knox residents, the Liberal Party is focused on directly improving the ability of Knox residents to access better public transport services,” he said.
“That’s why the Liberal Party has committed to both the long-awaited study into bringing the tram to Knox as well as reducing the cost of all-day public transport to $2 for all residents and $1 for concession card holders.”
Over the weekend, the Liberal Party announced the reduction of all Myki fares in zone 1 and 2 from $9.20 to $2 and $1 for concession holders if elected, promising to maintain the fares for at least four years. The Parliamentary Budget Office costed the election promise just under $1.3 billion over four years.
