A series of public forums and surveys has found diverging views on where to locate a new station when the rail line is extended from South Morang to Mernda.
But there was broad consensus that the Mernda station should be fully integrated with the new town centre.
A Public Transport Victoria (PTV) report on its two-month public consultation showed most people who completed online surveys and took part in online forums preferred a station at Hawkstowe Parade, South Morang, because it was close to where they live.
But those who attended community workshops or stakeholder forums preferred a new station at Marymede.
The report clarified the diverging views by noting that people who attended workshops and forums were given more information about potential locations, such as the availability of land for commuter parking.
The PTV report was released last Wednesday following the state government’s first stage of consultation with the public and major stakeholders, which include Whittlesea council and VicRoads.
PTV’s consultation focused on the public’s support for the rail extension to Mernda, its preference for a station located at Marymede or Hawkstowe, and what was envisioned for Mernda as the end point.
One key finding was that there was overwhelming support for the rail extension.
Others were that people are most interested in finding out when construction will start, when services will begin operating, and whether there will be adequate commuter parking.
“Most survey respondents would prefer to drive to the station and park,” the report stated.
The 2015-16 state budget allocated $9 million for further investigation into the extension of the South Morang line to Mernda.
A business case for the project is due before year’s end.
Pending confirmation of funding, the state government has committed to begin the project in its first term so that trains begin arriving at the new Mernda station in June 2019.
The Mernda Residents Association was contacted for comment.
