Opposition throws SOS a lifeline

THE State Opposition has pledged to try and renegotiate with developers on land around Ballarat Station should it win office in November.

Shadow Minister for Public Transport, David Davis, made the promise after meeting with members of the Save Our Station campaign last week.

“What is absolutely clear here is that Labor have mismanaged this project,” he said. “They have not developed a comprehensive long-term solution for this station.

“We need to work to get a better outcome here.”

“I know Labor has signed a number of contracts with various developers on aspects of this site… But it’s surly not impossible, if a Liberal/ National government was elected in November, to work with the developers and to seek to renegotiate aspects of that set of contracts.”

Mr Davis said parts of the development like the goods shed, carpark, bus interchange and accessibly needed a second look.

“It seems to me that there’s no solution for disabled persons access and we need to make sure that there is,” he said.

John Barnes, spokesperson for SOS said he was pleased with Mr Davis’ commitment but there was more the Coalition could do.

“This is a great first step,” he said.

“We’ve been asking for Labor and Liberals to take the view that this contract can be renegotiated, and they are the first ones to make a move, so congratulations to them.

“We would love to see the next step taken, and that is they actually pledge some additional money toward making the renegotiation feasible.”

Many elements of an alternate plan put forward by SOS align with aspects on the Coalition’s pledge.

The SOS plan includes renegotiating the redevelopment contracts, winding back the sale of the goods shed and then completing a restoration, an upgrade and restoration of the station building, improved disability access via an underground tunnel, a bus terminal inside station grounds and completion of the multi-story carpark but with the addition of at least 500 more spaces.

On access, Mr Barnes said it was an opportunity of both parties to commit money and make gains.

“The disability access issue needs to be addressed,” Mr Barnes said. “That hasn’t been funded in what Labor has proposed so far and it’s a blank for both of the parties.”

Mr Davis did not mention a key component of SOS’s goals, the relocation of 77-room apartment hotel.

Several sources close to the redevelopment of the station issue have suggested it’s shaping up as an important election battleground.

As a result, Mr Barnes said some leftleaning SOS supporters would have a tough choice on their hands come polling day.

“They are struggling with this whole thing,” he said. “They are really are torn over this. They think it’s bad policy
from Labor. Whether it’s enough to tip them over the edge and not vote Labor is another thing.”

Minister for Regional Development and Western Victoria upper house MP, Jaala Pulford, took issue with a number of Mr Davis’ and SOS claims, including the pledge to try to renegotiate the contracts.

“That’s fascinating that David Davis has said that because David Hodgett, who is the relevant shadow minister, has said that they will honour the existing contracts,” Ms Pulford said.

She also said that while she respected the right of SOS to put forward a different view, the current development plan was a long time coming.

“This project has its origins from more than a decade ago and we’re getting on with it,” Ms Pulford said.

“The contracts were signed almost two years ago, work is underway, and I find it extraordinary the Liberal Party are proposing to unravel what is a $50 million investment in Ballarat, particularly given the master plan was launched by Denis Napthine.”

Ms Pulford said the SOS campaign, “keep telling the community lies about the project,” around issues like carparking and disability access.

She also had a message for wavering Labor voters.

“This is going to be a fabulous development,” she said. “We are going to have a convention and exhibition centre that Ballarat desperately needs, we’re going to have public open space that we currently don’t have, and we’re going to have more commuter parking than we’ve ever had before.”