JMR WITH DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER McCORMACK
Passengers at Waurn Ponds Station are benefiting from an increase in parking spaces with a car park now open as part of the station’s upgrade.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the new car park will provide more options for passengers to park and catch the train from Waurn Ponds Station.
“Construction on the largest section of the car park upgrade started while patronage was lower due to coronavirus restrictions to minimise disruption to passengers and ensure more new spaces would be built sooner,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“The more than 200 new and upgraded spaces now available at the station will make it easier for commuters in this growing community.
“These major projects are part of the Australian Government’s record $110 billion infrastructure investment plan to help our economic recovery from the global pandemic.”
Construction contractor Downer is supporting the Victorian Government’s recently introduced Recycled First policy, with several sustainability measures featured as part of the project including the use of recycled asphalt to pave the new car park.
Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan said Downer used a recycled asphalt product derived from waste that would otherwise have been sent to landfill including soft plastics from plastic bags and packaging as well as waste toner from print cartridges.
“We want our construction partners to look at innovative ways to increase the use of recycled materials in projects and we’re using waste materials in our infrastructure to reduce our reliance on landfill,” Ms Allan said.
“Around 20 per cent of the asphalt used in the new section of the Waurn Ponds Station car park upgrade uses recycled product from other road maintenance and construction projects conducted by Downer across Melbourne, which is a significant sustainability result for the project.”
More than 3,500 tonnes of recycled concrete was also used from a local recycling site to stabilise and strengthen construction laydown areas, access roads and the site compound area.
Senator for Victoria Sarah Henderson said further work is being done at Waurn Ponds Station.
“New car park entrances off Sugargum Drive and at Rossack Drive are now open and will be used as the temporary station car park access points while the main car park and entrance outside the station building is closed to allow for piling works,” Senator Henderson said.
“More than 500 metres of piling is required at the station to support the new structures, with more than 70 piles to be bored for the new platform, pedestrian overpass, ramps, stairs and lift shafts.
“The station upgrade, which is targeted for completion in late 2021, also includes a reconfigured car park with better access for pedestrians and vehicles, extra lighting and CCTV and landscaping.”
State Member for South Barwon Darren Cheeseman said construction works on the new platform, duplicated track and accessible overpass were also underway on the Waurn Ponds Station upgrade to allow more services to and from the station.
“The local community will see construction ramp up at the station in the coming months, with work already underway on other sections of the Waurn Ponds Station upgrade,” Mr Cheeseman said.
“Crews have started piling work at the station to prepare the foundations for the second platform and accessible overpass, as the key features of the upgrade start to take shape to deliver better reliability and more services to Waurn Ponds passengers.”
More than $1 billion has been invested by the Australian and Victorian governments in the staged upgrade of the Geelong Line, including the Waurn Ponds Station upgrade, Waurn Ponds stabling and the South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplication.
The Australian government has provided $843 million and the Victorian government has invested $157 million and will deliver this vital project, which will deliver more frequent and reliable services for passengers on Victoria’s busiest regional rail line.
These projects form part of the Australian and Victorian Governments’ investment of more than $4 billion in regional rail, which is upgrading every regional passenger rail line in the state and creating more than 3,000 jobs and local supplier opportunities.
A further $4 billion has been invested to deliver faster journeys between Geelong and Melbourne, as part of Geelong Fast Rail.
More information is available at regionalrailrevival.vic.gov.au/geelong.
10 February 2021