THE South Morang and Mernda Rail Alliance is calling on the State Government to complete a seven-kilometre rail extension to Mernda by 2014.

Alliance spokesman Darren Peters said the current plan for an extension by 2027 was unreasonable considering the current levels of population growth across the City of Whittlesea.

“This is one of the fastest growing regions in Australia and the State Government must prepare for this growth by providing adequate public transport,” Mr Peters said.

“The railway extension to Mernda is needed immediately. It can’t wait another 17 years.”

“At the moment residents rely on bus transport that takes an hour and half to get to the city. A train would bypass congestion and the trip could take only 55 minutes.”

Mr Peters said there was growing public support for the extension was shown in a recent online Metropolitan Transport Forum study that invited residents to rate their public transport concerns.

The pt4me2 ‘What moves you what moves your vote?’ poll found that of the 466 respondents in the north region, 75 per cent named the Mernda extension as either important, very important, or a vote winner in the upcoming elections.

Whittlesea Mayor Mary Lalios said the result of the survey was significant and vindicated the efforts of the council to push for an immediate rail extension.

“The Mernda rail extension is the most important piece of transport infrastructure required within our municipality,” Cr Lalios said.

State Member for Yan Yean Danielle Green said the State Government was aware of the growing transport needs in the region and the Victorian Transport Plan was already funding the $650 million South Morang rail extension.

“People are moving to our region in increasing numbers because it is a great place to live and work,” Ms Green said.

“That means we need to look at how we deliver public transport infrastructure. I always have and always will campaign for public transport improvements.”

Ms Green also invited Minister for Public Transport Martin Pakula to the region last month to look at population pressure and public transport needs in the City of Whittlesea.

“The passing of the Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution tax opened up additional funding to improve public transport options in our growing suburbs,” Ms Green said.

“I wouldn’t put a time line on the Mernda extension yet as we will first need to do a detailed costing for any project and look at the funding available.”

State Liberal MP for Northern Metropolitan Region Matthew Guy said with the amount of growth occurring around Mernda it was obvious there would need to be a railway extension in the near future.

“I think the community would expect an extension sooner rather than later,” Mr Guy said.

“It is obvious that improving infrastructure in such a fast-growing area can’t wait another 25 years. Any extension would require significant funding but the truth is we all know it needs to be built and we need to start the debate now.”