By Bonny Burrows
Member for Bass Brian Paynter has blasted the Victorian Premier for a “media stunt” promising a level crossing-free Pakenham line.
During a visit to the east Pakenham rail depot site on 4 April, Premier Daniel Andrews announced plans for a “level crossing- free Cranbourne/Pakenham line”, exciting locals including Mr Paynter.
However, when pressed for further information by the Gazette, the government revealed it was not removing all Pakenham line level crossings but rather the 14 between Dandenong and the city, as previously announced.
For Pakenham locals, it means crossings will remain at congestion hot spots Racecourse, McGregor and Cardinia roads, with the possibility of even more delays once the rail depot is complete.
Mr Paynter was quick to call Mr Andrews out on his “lie”.
“The government can’t continue with their media stunts. It’s time Pakenham started getting looked at in terms of infrastructure,” Mr Paynter said.
The local MP said once the facility, servicing the government’s new high-capacity metro trains, was open, there was “no alternative” but to remove the level crossings.
Traffic congestion due to the crossings was already of top concern to locals, he said, with locals frequently sharing their complaints with his office.
“There’s going to be a lot more trains on our section of the line, and we’ve already got an absolute nightmare with Racecourse and McGregor roads,” Mr Paynter said.
“Every morning and afternoon the boom gates are going to be down significantly more, and there’s already a huge congestion problem in our area.
“It’s going to get worse, and we’ve got to plan for that, so for the Premier to come out and say level crossing free, we have to hold him accountable.”
The Gazette tried to contact Mr Andrews for comment, but all questions were instead diverted to Transport Minister Jacinta Allan.
A spokesperson for Ms Allan used the opportunity to respond to Mr Paynter’s comments to slam the former Liberal Government.
“We’re removing every level crossing on the busiest rail corridor in Victoria to run bigger trains, more often on the Cranbourne and Pakenham line,” the spokesperson said.
“The former Liberal Government didn’t remove a single one of these crossings or order any high capacity trains — leaving local passengers stranded on crowded trains with no hope of better services.
“We’re getting on with this critical project, and making up for the four years the lazy Liberals wasted in government.“
Mr Paynter said he would continue to advocate for the removal of “dangerous, congested crossings“.
The government did not respond to a list of questions from the Gazette asking how it would deal with the added congestion the rail depot is expected to bring.
