Labor has committed $5 million to expand car parking facilities at Narangba Station on Queensland’s North Coast Line, looking to secure the seat of Longman ahead of its Saturday by-election.
The funding will come out of Labor’s planned $300 million National Park and Ride Fund, which would see grant funding going to local communities to build new or expanded car parks built at public transport hubs, including train stations, across Australia.
The announcement was made by shadow transport and infrastructure minister Anthony Albanese during his visit to the Queensland seat yesterday.
“We’ll work with other levels of government to deliver practical measures to help commuters get to work with a minimum of fuss, including through our new Park and Ride Fund,’’ Albanese said.
“Public transport isn’t just about the train line or bus route itself. It’s also about the surrounding infrastructure that makes it work for local residents.’’
The current Narangba Station facility has space for 387 vehicles. On average, however, an average of 559 vehicles park at the station each weekday, with many commuters forced to park in the surrounding streets.
The Narangba Station announcement follows on from the commitment made by Labor last week to provide $4 million for extra parking at Mango Hill Station on South East Queensland’s Redcliffe Peninsula Line.
Susan Lamb, Labor’s candidate for Longman, said that locals had frequently complained about the lack of parking space at Narangba station.
“Labor is listening and acting,’’ Lamb said. “It’s hard enough commuting to the city each day for work without having to drive around in circles trying to find a parking spot.’’