Surf Coast Times & Bellarine Times

Petition for Torquay train station gathering steam

Local residents have stepped up their campaign for a Torquay train station, with a petition calling for a “railway extension to Torquay and fast trains in line with 21st century technology”.

The petition has attracted more than 100 signatures.

Torquay mother Evgenia Kainz, who commutes to Melbourne for work five days a week, instigated the petition in response to her own experiences.

“In order to catch a 7.09am train at Marshall Station I need to leave the house at 6.30am, as it takes over 20 minutes to drive from Torquay to Marshall station,” Ms Kainz said.

“I have put the petition together and collected more than 100 signatures from local taxpayers. It is absolutely critical for my family as well as thousands of local residents to get a railway station at Torquay.”

Surf Coast Shire councillor Dean Webster, who has long been in support of extending the train line to Torquay, threw his support behind the petition.

“The more community members who lobby the government for a Torquay train station, the more chance there is of it becoming a reality,” he said.

Ms Kainz said a train station in Torquay would make life easier for the significant number of residents who juggle coastal living with work in the city.

“Torquay has grown dramatically in the last few years and is today full of young families who are managing work and children in their everyday life,” she said.

“One has to drop off children at the childcare and be able to pick them up at 6.30pm and the direct train from Torquay to Melbourne would reduce the overall travel time significantly.”

The State Government recently gave the go-ahead for an investigation into the possible route for either a heavy or light rail line or a rapid transit bus between Grovedale and Torquay.

Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder said he is awaiting further detailed advice from the Department of Transport regarding the exact timing of the study.

“The Government hopes to identify a possible route by the middle of 2012. One option to be considered is an alignment that would be close to the Surf Coast Highway,” he said.

Mr Webster said late last year that there was a two-year window of opportunity for a commitment on the train station, due to the planned residential developments between Grovedale and Torquay, which would ultimately lead to the easement process becoming too complicated.

“We need to act fast if we’re serious about a Geelong-Torquay rail line.”

South Barwon MP Andrew Katos agrees that investigating the easement process should be the short-term focus of his government.

“The key will be getting the easement in place, especially in North Torquay,” he said.

In the 2011/12 State Budget, the Baillieu government committed funds for a $25 million train station at Grovedale.

“This (Grovedale station) will provide for easy access from the Surf Coast Highway, Torquay and Geelong’s fast-expanding southern suburbs including Armstrong Creek,” the project description states.