- Published:
- Saturday 21 October 2017
The Andrews Labor Government’s new station at Southland will open just in time for the busy Christmas period.
Minister for Industry and Employment Ben Carroll and Member for Bentleigh Nick Staikos were today given a special tour of Southland Station, which will open to the public on Sunday, 26 November.
The new station on the Frankston line will directly connect more than 4,400 passengers to one of Melbourne’s largest shopping precincts for the first time.
It will make it easier for staff to get to work, and for people to get to Westfield Southland to shop, spend money and support jobs and local businesses. Currently, staff and visitors have to catch the bus or walk from Highett and Cheltenham stations.
Southland Station will also help to ease traffic and parking congestion at the shopping centre and in the local area by enabling people to leave their car at home.
More than 350 people have worked more than 61,000 hours during the 15-month construction of the new station, moving around 600 tonnes of earth.
Key design elements of the station have been shaped in consultation with the local community.
The Southland Station will be the 12th new station opened by the Labor Government, and is one of dozens of public transport projects underway right across Victoria including the Metro Tunnel, 50 level crossing removals and 65 new high-capacity trains.
These projects are creating thousands of local jobs through Local Jobs First – Victorian Industry Participation Policy, and opportunities for apprentices, trainees and cadets through the Major Projects Skills Guarantee.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Industry and Employment Ben Carroll
“This new station is creating jobs, and directly connecting thousands of workers to Southland for the first time.”
“Investing in communities and supporting local jobs – that’s what the Andrews Labor Government is doing every single day.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Bentleigh Nick Staikos
“This new station will make travelling to Southland easier for thousands of staff and shoppers every day.”
“We promised a new station and we’ve delivered – right on time for the busy Christmas period.”