A Mernda resident has started a petition to save the Mernda and South Morang Rail Reserve from being developed into a rail corridor.
William Sharp started a petition two weeks ago calling on the state government to seek an alternate route for future rail infrastructure and preserve the reserve as a recreation area.
He said Whittlesea council’s Access Denied campaign, launched last month as a community advocacy campaign in the lead-up to the state election, did not reflect the views of Mernda residents.
The campaign focuses on the municipality’s lack of access to basic transport services and cites the delivery of the O’Herns Road interchange and train services to Mernda as its two key projects.
“I think they’ve jumped on board the slogan without looking at the logistics and speaking to residents,” Mr Sharp said.
So far, 97 people have signed his petition, and 26 people have “liked” his “Save Mernda-South Morang Reserve” Facebook group page. The government-owned rail reserve has been unused for almost 60 years after trains that ran to Whittlesea stopped running in 1957 because of a lack of patronage.
Residential development has sprung up on either side of the reserve, and Mr Sharp argued it was now valuable open space.
Whittlesea council’s director of advocacy and communications, Griff Davis, said the original strategic planning for Mernda did plan for the re-establishment of the rail service.
In response to Mr Sharp’s concern about a rail line creating a divide between Mernda residents, Mr Davis said it was a deliberate divide. “On the west side [of the reserve] it will be a commercial centre and on the east side it’s residential,” he said.
An access road will also be provided on top of Bridge Inn Road.
“In a pure sense, it will divide the community, but planning has provided the necessary links, including bicycle links.”
So far, the council has received more than 1400 postcards from residents to be sent on to the government and opposition in support of their Access Denied campaign.
The ‘Extend the rail line to Mernda’ Facebook group has more than 4100 ‘likes’.
