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1999 the ALP promised to extend the Epping line to South Morang at a cost
of $8 million with work to start in its first term if elected 2000 The Department of Infrastructure commenced a feasibility study into this project 2002 The Whittlesea Strategic Transport Infrastructure Study was released. The number 1 priority was the extension to South Morang. 2002 The ALP promised to investigate the feasibility of track duplication between Greensborough and Hurstbridge in its second term 2003 The Department of Infrastructure completed it’s PPK feasibility study and made representations for funding in the 2003-04 state budget, estimated cost $16 million. 2003 The Minister for Transport released the North Poll report which indicated that only 37% of people in the north thought buses were an effective way of getting round the northern region 2003 December the Trainlink bus service from South Morang commenced claiming to meet every arriving and departing train from Epping 2003 The joint statement of priorities by the Whittlesea, Darebin, Hume and Moreland Councils indicated that increased investment in urban rail has strong public support at 83.7% April 2004 Council received a $100,000 state government grant for the South Morang Activity Centre planning including the rail extension 2004 Mayor Lara Carli announces a campaign to work with community groups and local residents to achieve the rail extension. 2004 Friends of South Morang (FOSM) collects 3500 signatures on a petition calling for the extension 2004 FOSM initiates the formation of the South Morang Rail Alliance consisting of representatives from the PTUA, MADRA and COWRA 2004 Local Leader newspaper launches another rail petition and collects over 5000 signatures 2004 December Clifton Hill Rail Group Review was released to coincide with Leader petition but also included a study of the Epping line which was not part of the original 2002 election promise 2004 FOSM completes a review of the Trainlink bus service 2004 Melbourne 2030, a statement of government policy intentions was released identifying the rail extension to South Morang as a priority Dec 2004 Mr Batchelor announces that a rail extension might not be viable for another 10 years 2005 Government extends Trainlink for a further 4 years without conducting a review as promised 2005 Alliance releases Evaluation of Clifton Hill Rail Group Review 2006 Government releases Transport and Liveability Statement showing the South Morang Extension will no longer be occuring until 2021 under a Bracks Labor Government 2006 NEITS draft report released for evaluation by the public, stating it agrees with the Clifton Hill Rail Group review in that the extension should not go ahead until 2021. This is despite the fact that it was reported numerous times in the report, the public, local councils, and community groups need the extension immediately. 2006 Greens and People Power make it policy that the rail extension be built immediately. Leader of the Opposition, Mr Ted Baillieu met with SMRA on the site of the proposed station, to listen to community concern about the lack of this essential service. 2006 Public Rally held on the site of the proposed station, attended by representatives of all parties that will contest the state election. Labor remained commited to 2021. Liberal policy at the time of the rally had not been formed. Greens are committed to building asap. People Power are committed to building asap. Dr Peter Harris from the Uniting Church asked for common sense to prevail and to build the railway line asap because of the huge population explosion that will happen in the next couple of years. 2007 Victorian State Budget put out by John Brumby with a mention that the South Morang rail extension is a POSSIBLE FUTURE EXTENSION, rather than a FUTURE EXTENSION as indicated in the Labor Party election commitment. It has been established that Danielle Green suffered a 8.44% drop in the Meadow Glenn and Lily D'Ambrossio also suffered a 9.08% drop in the South Morang area. Still the Labor Government did not put commit to this extension in the current term. 2007 Dr Ian McPhail, the state government's own public transport ombudsman, called on the state government to extend the suburban rail network into growth suburbs. 2007 Matthew Guy, shadow minister for planning re-confirms that if the state Liberal Party is elected in 2010, they will build the South Morang railway extension in their first term and also announced a further pledge to complete a feasibility study to extend rail to Mernda. 2007 Federal treasurer Mr Peter Costello and member for McEwen Ms Fran Bailey announce they will provide $80 million for road works to enable the Epping railway line to be extended not only to South Morang, but to Mernda as well should the federal Liberal Party be re-elected. 2008 SMRA and The Greens obtain the DOI commissioned report into the extension of the Epping Line to South Morang. Written by Parsons Brinckerhoff, it shows that it would have only cost the State Government $18 million to build the railway in 2003. 2008 State Government adopts 2005 SMRA recommendation to reverse the direction of the Epping/Hurstbridge trains in the City Loop in the morning. Whilst there is already enough capacity for the extension to built immediately, the reversal will allow more trains to come to South Morang and Mernda once the extensions are built. 2008 Council rejects the DOI's North East Integrated Transport Study unanimously due to the State Government not bringing forward the extension of the railway to South Morang and Mernda. NEITS had the extension to South Morang placed in 2021 and to Mernda in 2027. 2008 State Government releases the Victorian Transport Plan, and backflips on their policy of extending rail to South Morang by 2021 to announce that the extension will now start in 2010 and be completed by 2013. The single track from Keon Park to Epping will also be duplicated as part of this project. 2009 State Government commits to funding the South Morang extension in the State budget. 2009 The new railway bridge connecting Clifton Hill and Westgarth stations is completed. This allows more trains per hour to go through the Clifton Hill junction. 2010 Work commences on the Keon Park to Epping duplication project with signalling being moved to allow the second track to be constructed. 2010 Excavators begin earthworks on the South Morang easement to test soil density for the new railway. 2012 April 22nd, the new station at South Morang is opened by Minister for Transport Mr Terry Mulder. The station is opened over 12 months early, a credit to the workforce involved. Return to South Morang Rail Alliance page |
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