Adjournment- Balaclava Station

Mr SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) -- The matter I wish to raise is for the attention of the Minister for Public Transport. It concerns the Balaclava station, which is in my electorate. I ask the minister to provide an update to the house on the upgrade of the station that was provided for in the May budget. I seek from the minister a time line for when the constituents of my electorate and of the electorate of the member for Prahran, who has also been a strong advocate for the upgrade, can expect to see the refurbishment completed. The member for Prahran's vocal support for projects that improve services for his constituents is in stark contrast to his Labor predecessor and vastly different from the deafening silence from the member for Albert Park.

During last year's election the coalition campaigned on the need to fix the public transport system and to address the 11 years of neglect and mismanagement by the former Labor government. Delays and cancellations of trains were signs of the times. The state of the public transport system, including the infrastructure and platforms, needed to be rectified. Voters who live near the Sandringham line strongly campaigned for the coalition to fix these problems, and they voted to ensure that the problems would be rectified by the new government. In our first budget, in May, the Treasurer announced $484 million for new public transport and rail infrastructure. Already Victorians are seeing the results of our investments at work, and problems with railway stations across the state are starting to be rectified.

Over this parliamentary term and the life of the government the rail network will become more efficient, more reliable and, with the delivery of 940 protective service officers, more safe.

I note that in 11 months we have already begun to rectify the problems of the past 11 years. In my electorate, $11 million was provided to upgrade Balaclava station to premium status to improve accessibility, safety and comfort for commuters. The station will benefit from a comprehensive refurbishment that will see platforms widened and additional shelter provided to improve accessibility for people with disabilities, particularly near the front of these platforms. During the election campaign many residents of the area came to me with concerns about this station, wanting to see it improved. They expressed their worries about safety at night and the regular presence of antisocial behaviour. My constituents want and deserve a railway station they can feel safe at and that makes public transport more attractive for getting around the city.

I would like to know when we can expect to see an outcome of delivery of this project.

The Minister's response:

Mr MULDER (Minister for Public Transport) -- The member for Caulfield raised a matter for my attention in relation to Balaclava railway station and sought an update in terms of what progress had been made in relation to our key election commitment that we would invest heavily in an upgrade to Balaclava railway station.

 The 2010-11 budget includes $500 000 for planning, and subsequent budgets will include capital investment to make sure this important project can be completed. The member for Caulfield has been a great supporter of his community and this project, and he wants to take an active role in this project as it goes forward.

Officers from the Department of Transport have consulted extensively with the City of Port Phillip, which is very supportive of this project. I can inform the member for Caulfield that design work is progressing well. Ramps and stairs as well as provision for lifts, closed-circuit television cameras, platform wheelchair shelters, some additional platform verandas to provide cover for passengers and an improved walkway between Carlisle Street and Nightingale Street are all a part of the project that is currently being developed.

To ensure that we get the station right, we have also established a station user panel. Members of community groups and organisations who regularly use railway stations are assisting the design team to make sure we get the best outcome. As I have already pointed out several times in the past, it is about functionality over form. We want to make sure we get these stations right. To that end, I can inform the member for Caulfield that community consultation should commence by March 2012, but it is quite possible that it may start before then.

I will make sure the department keeps the member for Caulfield informed.

The site is narrow. One of the aims of the officers who are undertaking the planning is minimising the number of days that Balaclava station is going to be closed while the works are carried out. It is a busy interchange involving the Sandringham line, the no. 33A tram and the no. 6 tram, not to mention the no. 78 tram and the no. 79 tram, which travel to Chapel Street.

I thank the City of Port Phillip for giving the government access to the council car park for construction purposes, because it will make the project much easier. I can assure the member for Caulfield that this project is progressing well. I look forward to being at the station with the member for Caulfield some day in the not-too-distant future to declare the completion of that station upgrade.