Clyde could glide

I HAVE a suggestion on how Clyde Road traffic could glide all day.
Firstly, VicRoads last week had not yet made up its mind about relocating the oak trees in Clyde Road, although experts say they could be root prepared and moved by 2012; when the road to four lanes job is due to start. VicRoads say costs of relocating the oak trees is a factor in deciding.
I’ve had many hours of discussions with VicRoads; the ministries of Roads and Ports; railways; Simon Crean’s new Federal Department of Regional Infrastructure; Peter Costello’s Future Fund with $60 billion; MPs, Paul Harmon and Berwick Chamber of Commerce chairman.
Based on all their advice I’ve come strongly of the opinion that the only sensible thing to do is to put the rail under Clyde Road as soon as possible. Advice from a railway expert, whose long standing good local knowledge is that that will also mean the Berwick station also has to go underground.
Commonsense also decides for us all, that to put in the four lane upgrade, with more red stop lights, in 2012, and then, due to traffic volumes, soon after to put the rail under the red lights, which will be trashed will waste a lot of money.
Thus it is better and lower cost overall to put the rail underground first up.
Rail train frequencies average a train about every 10 minutes and this is rapidly getting more frequent.
The underground rail station could be financed by a public-private partnership, or Federal infrastructure and such as a commercial building over the station.
How about a Technology Centre to go with Monash University and Chisholm TAFE and office space and a small shopping mall and some accommodation units on top?
What is needed immediately is a feasibility study.
I am writing to Simon Crean to examine the subject. I call on the whole region to back this venture. The Berwick Chamber of Commerce is interested in this planning.
Syd Pargeter,
Former Mayor of Berwick
Harkaway.