Over three years on from its initial announcement, Wendouree Train Station is set to receive an extra 200 car parks by the end of October.  

In 2014, then Premier Dennis Napthine promised the extra parking spaces would be added to the station if Liberals won the election.

However, it was not actually funded until Jacinta Allan committed $2.5 million in August, 2015.

At the time, it was announced it would be complete by late 2017.

Commuters had been hard pressed to find a park at the station, forcing them to get creative when it comes to searching for a place to leave their cars, often forcing them to parking on footpaths and over pedestrian crossings.

Daily commuter Steven Fry told The Courier in 2015 that the park is close to half-full by the time he boards the second train of the day, the 6.13am Wendouree to Southern Cross service.

“It’s not good,” Mr Fry said.

“This has been getting worse and worse for about the last three weeks.”

VicTrack blames the poor weather conditions for the delays, and is confident that works will be completed by the end of October.

“We are building 200 new parking spaces at Wendouree Station to help the growing number of people using the station to access train services more easily.” said a VicTrack spokesperson in a statement.

“There were changes to the design earlier this year to accommodate changes to the Station as required as part of the Ballarat Line Upgrade.

“Works on the project began in June this year, but heavy rain in July and August meant the site became waterlogged and works were unable to continue for safety reasons, and the risk of equipment becoming bogged.

“Following a delay because of wet weather, works will be back underway next week and are on track to be complete by the end of October.”

These sentiments were echoed by the Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allen. 

“As we're seeing more and more growth in people catching train services, of course we have to improve facilities around train stations and stations themselves.” said Minister Allen

 “But part of the challenge in delivering the Wendouree car parking project is that it's being done over winter, and as people in the local community know, particularly at the start of winter there was a lot of weather that slowed the progress down.”

While this is sure to please commuters, Ben Lever from the Public Transport Users Association believes improving bus lines and making it safer to walk and cycle to the station are a much more sustainable option.

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