Shadow Minister for Outer Suburban Growth and Liberal Member for Northern Metropolitan Region Evan Mulholland has called for the State Government to invest in a footbridge in Donnybrook.
In the legislative council meeting last month, Mr Mulholland asked the government to invest a portion of the $90 million owed to the Hume Local Government Area from the Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution, GAIC, Fund to build a footbridge connecting Kalkallo residents to Donnybrook Rail Station.
Donnybrook Station is used by the many residents living in Kalkallo, Donnybrook and Mickleham however it remains inaccessible for many Kalkallo residents by foot or bicycle as there is no point of access over the Merri Creek – separating Kalkallo estate with Donnybrook.
Mr Mulholland said the people of Kalkallo had been overlooked by the State Government when it came to investment in infrastructure.
“Kalkallo residents can see Donnybrook Station from their homes but can’t walk there. It’s madness that there is no direct path,” he said.
“This project is a no-brainer and an essential way for residents to access public transport without having to sit in the car for an hour just to get out of their estate and around to the train station.”
Mr Mulholland said developers had contributed to the GAIC to fund community infrastructure projects but instead of using the money when homes were built, the government had hoarded half a billion dollars for over two and a half years.
“The Labor Government scrapped the law allowing developers to pay their tax contributions in-kind to build vital infrastructure at the times homes are built, instead the State Government continues to hoard these funds in Treasury meaning areas like Kalkallo struggle to access the most essential of transport services,” he said.
The population of Kalkallo has increased from 106 people in the 2016 census to an estimated population of 7000 as of 2023.
Mr Mulholland said Kalkallo residents faced traffic and transport chaos as ‘the lack of investment in infrastructure has exacerbated challenges and pressures within this rapidly growing suburbs’.
It’s about time these developers started doing things like this the footbridge it’s the that are creating the problem they are making huge amounts of profit for the land sale