By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
THE State Opposition has promised to install public toilets at Hallam train station, if successful at next month’s election.
Shadow Minister for Public Transport Jill Hennessy made the promise at Hallam station on Monday, joined by Labor MPs Judith Graley and Luke Donnellan.
Hallam resident Kushan Nawagamuwage, who previously spoke to the News about the need for public toilets at the station, also attended the announcement.
The Opposition had previously been unable to guarantee public toilets will be built at Hallam train station should it win the November election, despite local party members lobbying the Coalition Government to have them constructed.
But Narre Warren South MP Judith Graley on Monday welcomed the new announcement.
“I’m so very pleased that the community jumped aboard our campaign. Labor has listened and Labor will act,” she said.
“It’s something so simple but so important. Under Labor, locals won’t be forced to wait so long for a toilet.”
The former Labor Government had allocated funding for Hallam station to be upgraded to premium status – which includes public toilets being built at the site – in the 2010 State Budget.
No funding to upgrade Hallam station was announced in the Liberal Government’s latest State Budget released earlier this year.
Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder said unstaffed stations, including Hallam, were not provided with public toilets, and did not indicate whether this would change in the future under a Liberal Government.
“The Government ensures that public toilets are available for all hours that Metro or V/Line trains stop at Metro’s 80 plus Premium stations,” he said.
“At these stations such as Dandenong, Narre Warren and Cranbourne, there are Metro station staff in the booking office from first train to last, seven days a week.
“However, Hallam station is unstaffed.
“Due to ongoing concerns about vandalism and graffiti and the cost to Victorian taxpayers in constantly repairing damage, public toilets are not provided at unstaffed stations.”
