Statement from Mayor, Kris Bolam: Enhanced commuter parking

We appreciate there’s currently some community concern following a Herald Sun article which appeared online yesterday evening, indicating that a prior Election commitment by the Federal Government to fund increased commuter car parking at Frankston Station, Kananook and Seaford stations would not be met – and that funds would be redirected to other projects.

Last week (11 May) as the Federal Government prepared to hand down its 2021/22 Budget, Council CEO, Phil Cantillon and I travelled to Canberra where we spent three days meeting with more than 18 Federal and Shadow Ministers, along with ministerial advisors to discuss potential local projects and Council’s advocacy initiatives in the lead up to next year’s election.

As part of this delegation, a meeting also took place with advisors for the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, Paul Fletcher MP where we discussed, among many things, the delivery of commuter car parking projects promised to the City as part of a previous Federal Election commitment.

While Council is pleased to see enhanced car parking at Frankston Station reflected in the Budget, we will continue to work with and advocate to the Federal Government to see if a solution can be delivered at Kananook and Seaford.

It is my hope that all seven hundred car parks can be delivered as per the Coalition’s 2019 commitment – and if Council has to use its land holdings to get the remaining car parks for Seaford and Kananook railway stations over the line, so be it.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the varying advocacy undertaken by different tiers of government to getting these much-need commuter car parks realised, including Federal Member for Dunkley, Peta Murphy, Senator David Van, State Member for Frankston, Paul Edbrooke and former Federal Member, Chris Crewther.