Mernda residents are celebrating after work began on the extension of the South Morang train line to Mernda last week.
Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan turned the first sod on the $600 million project last Monday, while Whittlesea mayor Ricky Kirkham and community campaigners held their own celebrations last Wednesday.
South Morang and Mernda Rail Alliance spokesman Darren Peters said it was great to see work starting on the project, given how long the community had to fight for it to be funded.
“The unanimous support of the council and media ensured that our campaign was heard loud and strong, and ultimately, we forced the government’s hand to build the extension now instead of in 2032,” he said.
“Without our campaign, there would be no extension of rail to Mernda. Thank you to everyone who wrote letters, signed petitions, came to meetings and commented on social media because you got behind our campaign and did not allow the government to get away with doing nothing about essential services.”
Cr Kirkham said he was proud of the community’s tireless campaigning.
The Mernda Rail extension will include eight kilometres of train tracks from South Morang to Mernda, and three state-of-the-art stations at Mernda, Hawkstowe and near Marymede Catholic College.
About 2000 parking spaces will be created across the three stations, which are expected to be used by about 8000 passengers daily. The stations are expected to open in early 2019.
It is estimated the project will create up to 3000 jobs.
