Thursday, 22 June 2023

Broadmeadows train station

Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (17:28): (312) My adjournment tonight is seeking the action of the Minister for Public Transport, and the action I seek from the minister is a commitment for an upgrade of Broadmeadows railway station in line with the 2020 report from the Northern Councils Alliance. The report, called Building Communities, Connecting People: Northern Horizons 2020, outlined the need for a new commitment by 2024 for a serious overhaul of Broadmeadows station. It noted the rapidly expanding population of the northern suburbs, which is expected to have a 50 per cent increase by 2036 to 1.5 million, and it identified how the state government has been underfunding Melbourne’s north since 2014. The report lists several infrastructure projects that require funding, including Broadmeadows train station. It has been rated the fifth-worst train station on the network by RACV. It is old. It is not fit for purpose and for current use.

We hear the state government plans to build a new Broadmeadows train station, which is great news for residents. It is something that many have been calling for. But currently it is only a press release, because they say they are going to upgrade Broadmeadows station as part of the Suburban Rail Loop North in 2053. The people of Broady have to wait about 30 years for that to happen.

Former mayor of Hume Carly Moore said it was unacceptable that the station had just 210 car parks given it is a key public transport connector between Melbourne Airport and the city. The former member for Broadmeadows Frank McGuire, who I am sure you all miss, has long campaigned for an upgrade, and in 2018 he said a solution was coming soon. Hopefully soon is not 2053. He also said in advocating for this project:

Such bias against Broadmeadows must change, especially given that it has the greatest need and would deliver higher value …

Well, we see no such ‘frank’ criticism from the current member for Broadmeadows. He also then advised the council to upgrade the train station through the state government’s own Growing Suburbs Fund. As the council and the Leader newspaper advised, that was not possible under the state government guidelines for that fund. They also helpfully advised the former member that this was a state government asset, not a council one.

I do not know whether the Minister for Public Transport has been to Broadmeadows train station recently, but I remind the minister that we do not need to wait until the 2050s to see upgrades that need to happen, because Broadmeadows train station is already a major transport hub in the north. It already takes V/Line passengers to and from Seymour, Shepparton and Albury. It takes passengers to and from Sydney. It is the main hub for no less than nine bus services from across the north of Melbourne. So I seek the action of the minister to get on board with building infrastructure in the north and commit to upgrading Broadmeadows train station – not in 30 years. I reckon we should get a commitment now.