Federal Labor will invest $4 million to expand Park and Ride facilities at Geebung train station to ease parking shortages and encourage more commuters to use public transport.
Federal Labor’s investment will be drawn from its $300 million National Park and Ride Fund for new or expanded car parks at public transport hubs.
The Queensland State Labor Government is already investing $3 million to double the capacity of the existing Geebung Station car park to 70 spaces.
Federal Labor’s commitment will add up to 70 extra spaces, again doubling capacity.
Across suburban Australia, commuters are struggling to find parking spaces at train stations and are having to park in nearby streets, causing further congestion.
Shadow Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said Labor’s commitment to improving Park and Ride facilities was a sensible response that would make a real difference for commuters and people living near train stations.
“We’ll not only invest in new public transport services, but also deliver practical measures to help commuters get to work with a minimum of fuss, including through our new Park and Ride Fund,’’ Mr Albanese said.
“Public transport isn’t just about the train line or bus route itself. It’s also about the surrounding infrastructure that makes it work for local residents.’’
Mr Albanese said the Geebung announcement followed Labor's previously announced plans for car park upgrades at Mango Hill, Narangba and Northgate train stations.
Labor candidate for Lilley Anika Wells said Federal Labor had already committed to a range of major infrastructure projects in South East Queensland, including the transformative Cross River Rail Project to create a second rail crossing of the Brisbane River in the city’s CBD.
“While the Morrison Government has focused on itself and its internal tensions, we’ve been working with communities to come up with projects that will reduce traffic congestion and make life easier,’’ Ms Wells said.
“Labor has always been the party which in Government has delivered nation-building infrastructure here on the Northside. I hope to be able to deliver the Geebung project for Lilley as a member of a Shorten Labor Government.”
In addition to Cross River Rail, key infrastructure projects that would be funded by a Shorten Labor Government include the Rockhampton Ring Road, the Mackay Ring Road, the M1 Upgrade, Gladstone Port Access Road, Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road Upgrade and the extension of the Bruce Highway to Cairns Airport.