By Marcus Uhe
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has declared a Liberal State Government would extend the Cranbourne rail line to Clyde, with two new stations to be built at Clyde and Cranbourne East.
An upgraded Cranbourne Station and six road-rail grade separations between Cranbourne and Clyde would also be part of the $928 million project, announced on Thursday 6 October.
“Under this plan, residents across southern Casey will finally be connected to the Metro network, meaning quicker and more reliable travel for hundreds of thousands of Victorians and their families,” Mr Guy said.
“Only a Liberals and Nationals Government will deliver this long overdue project and cut congestion in the rapidly growing south-eastern suburbs of Casey.”
The Liberal Party is doubling-down on its 2018 State Election promise, which would have also seen an extension and the two new stations, at a cost of $487 million.
While he could not confirm the nature of the tracks and whether they would mirror the Skyrail built on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines, Mr Guy said the grade separations would ensure no level crossings were constructed.
“We will take advice from DoT and from construction as to what is being planned and what is being envisaged,” Mr Guy said.
“It won’t require level crossings and that’s why the costs have gone out significantly (from 2018) because the level crossings will be eliminated.
“Whether it’s road under or rail over, whatever it chooses, that’s why the cost of the project is what it is at over $900 million.
“The outcome here is to make sure we get an extended Cranbourne line down to Clyde, with two new stations servicing all these houses.”
The five-year project will also include planning for provision of a possible future extension of the rail into Kooweerup.
Travis Mitchell has been leading the campaign to restore the line to Kooweerup for the benefit of the expanding community, to reduce road congestion and connect the region to the city through crucial infrastructure.
A petition was tabled and submitted to Parliament earlier this year after an extensive social media campaign and strong local advocacy from constituents.
He said it was important the provisions for a possible extension were included in the planning.
“It would just make things so much easier,” Mr Mitchell said.
“People from Kooweerup would no longer have to get a bus or drive to Pakenham. People from Lang Lang wouldn’t have to get a bus to Kooweerup and then change at Pakenham.
“Getting to Clyde was always going to be the first major thing. You can never put a train on the tracks that are there now.
“Hopefully that petition sent a message that beyond Clyde, the transport hub is needed.”
City of Casey chair of administrators Noelene Duff said she welcomed the announcement from the Liberal Party, having advocated for the project for many years.
“Community support for this project is strong with 97 per cent of residents surveyed in mid-2021 telling us they support the project,” Ms Duff said.
“Clyde Rail Link is needed to connect our fast-growing communities to essential services and jobs and to ease traffic congestion.
“For example, the booming Clyde and Clyde North suburbs are set to be home to more than 100,000 residents by 2031 and are currently without access to a local train station.
“The duplication of the Cranbourne Line was completed in February 2022 and paves the way for the extension of the line. The rail corridor for this project already exists and funding is all that’s needed to get it under way.
“We’d like to see commitments from all major parties towards Clyde Rail Link in the lead up to the election to see that it gets delivered and achieves the benefits for our community sooner rather than later.”
Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan said the government’s upgrade of the Cranbourne Line, which had so far included eight kilometres of duplicated track between Cranbourne and Dandenong and a new Merinda Park Station, would be completed by 2025.
“We delivered the Cranbourne Line Duplication and we are removing every level crossing in Cranbourne,” Ms Allan said.
“Only Labor can be trusted to deliver public transport in the South East.”
The Victorian State Election will be held on Saturday 26 November.
