There’s light at the end of the tunnel for commuters fed up with parking in a mud bath opposite South Morang station.
Public Transport Victoria (PTV) is in talks with Westfield to lease land on the corner of McDonalds Road and Civic Drive for a temporary carpark for about 450 to 500 cars.
PTV spokeswoman Jess Maguire said a lease was being negotiated with the retail group to retain car spaces where commuters now park.
“PTV is negotiating and finalising arrangements with the private owner to retain the temporary car parking at the current location, where commuters are parking to minimise walking distances,” she said.
A planning permit application was lodged with Whittlesea council on July 3.
“Works will commence shortly thereafter, with the project to be completed in late 2015,” Ms Maguire said.
PTV has been working with Whittlesea council since May to find a site for temporary additional commuter parking.
Spokesman Adrian Darwent said PTV was undertaking a wider survey of commuter parking at South Morang and Mernda “to inform longer-term parking demand and requirements through planning for the Mernda rail extension”.
The new gravel car park will boost the number of car parking spaces at the station to more than 900. The station’s 450 existing spaces often fill before 7am, forcing commuters to park on Westfield-owned land that has resembled a muddy paddock for two months.
