Thursday, 19 February 2026

 John PESUTTO (Hawthorn) (17:25): (1547) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Public and Active Transport, and the action I seek is for the minister to join me for an inspection of Canterbury station so that together we can assess a number of maintenance and accessibility concerns that have been raised by local residents and in particular Wendy Wilkinson, who is a champion for our local area. Canterbury station is a vital transport node in my electorate. It serves commuters, school students, older residents and families every single day. It is also architecturally something of a modernist incarnation within our rail network, a station that reflected the design ambition of its era and the civic importance once attached to public transport infrastructure. It deserves to be properly maintained.

In recent days my office has received correspondence from residents concerned about the condition of the track adjacent to platform 1, including timber sleepers that are conspicuously aged and a rail joint beyond the city end of the platform that clearly warrants attention. Moreover, there are longstanding accessibility challenges at the station. Canterbury station remains difficult to use for many elderly residents and people with disability. The ramp access is steep. There is no lift, something I began campaigning for more than 10 years ago. For some passengers the gap between the train and the platform can be difficult to negotiate, particularly for those with mobility aids or for parents managing prams. In a community with a significant ageing population these are not minor inconveniences. They affect independence, safety and confidence in using public transport. In addition, sections of the platform surface are cracked, with uneven bitumen. While this may seem minor in isolation, for someone unsteady on their feet, uneven surfaces present real health risks. I campaigned on this issue four years ago, and while some work was done at the time, the repairs have not been maintained.

I therefore ask the minister to attend Canterbury station with me for this purpose: inspecting the tracks’ condition, the platform surfaces and accessibility arrangements firsthand. Together we can outline what steps can be taken to ensure the station is safe, accessible and properly maintained. Our community values this station not only as infrastructure but as part of our local identity and midcentury heritage. It is reasonable to expect that it can be maintained to a standard befitting both its heritage character and its essential role in Melbourne’s transport network.