Wednesday, 8 June 2022

 Dr CUMMING (Western Metropolitan) (17:49): (1967) My adjournment matter is to the Minister for Transport Infrastructure in the other place, and the action that I seek is for the redevelopment of Albion station to be given priority. Albion station is long overdue for revitalisation, and the airport rail link via the Sunshine and Albion corridor provides the perfect opportunity for serious investment.

Albion station is regularly identified as one of the most neglected and lowest ranked train stations across Victoria, with amenity issues, overcrowding and concerns about access and safety. The Sunshine Priority Precinct: Vision 2050 identified the development of the Albion quarter and the SunRISE district—which stands for research, innovation, science and enterprise—as critical for the priority precinct’s ability to create thousands of new jobs. This can be achieved by connecting the Victoria University campus with Albion station through the coordination of urban renewal and precinct planning. Supported by Victoria University, the Sunshine priority precinct has earmarked the SunRISE district as a new university city with a focus on research, innovation, study and enterprise.

Upgrading Albion station will unlock major urban renewal land parcels surrounding the area and along Ballarat Road. Brimbank City Council has developed an Albion station, Albion quarter and SunRISE master plan that identifies and facilitates surrounding investment and development opportunities. The council urgently needs the reconstruction of Albion station into a fit-for-purpose public transport interchange acting as a second Sunshine CBD station. The station needs to be integrated into the surrounding precinct in a way that unlocks development opportunities, especially in the Albion quarter. New direct physical connections between Albion station, the Albion quarter and SunRISE district are needed for walking, cycling and a new light rail. A new St Albans Road extension could also create development potential in the Albion quarter while establishing high-amenity pedestrian walkways between Albion station and the Sunshine CBD. The council would also like the government to reconsider its plans for the airport rail flyover and adopt a staged approach by identifying and utilising existing at-grade tracks. The upgrade of the Albion station is essential not just to address the access and safety concerns but also to unlock the potential of the surrounding area of Albion.