Frankston and Peninsula ‘rip-off’ fires upstate election campaign

A new report comparing government grants and infrastructure spending in Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula with Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula reveals shocking neglect on the Frankston side, says an advocacy group.

Committee for Greater Frankston says the region continues to be “ripped off” by government.

“Geelong will receive 10 times more money per person for planned infrastructure even though both cities and their neighbouring peninsulas have comparable economies and are similar distances from Melbourne,” committee president Rod Evenden said.

The report, Frankston & Mornington Peninsula Benchmarking Analysis, shows Geelong and the Bellarine has $6.2 billion ($22,823 a person) worth of infrastructure projects in the pipeline compared with $0.72 billion ($2317 a person) for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula.

“The disparity has been felt by the community for some time, but this report confirms the gap is now massive,” Mr Evenden said.

He said the region’s had just 40 per cent of Geelong’s spending on infrastructure including transport, schools, hospitals and “community and justice funding” over the past 10 years.

The committee is asking the State Government for a fair share of funds to extend the Frankston train line and revitalise the Nepean Highway through Frankston CBD.

“Miserable is a good description of infrastructure funding the State Government has given our region. And the disparity could get much worse. Unless the State Government agrees to extend the Frankston line and fund its share, we’ll lose $225 million of Commonwealth funds already committed to the project.”

He said the Victorian Government had committed $1.1 billion for South Geelong to Waurn Ponds rail extension and $4 billion for Geelong fast rail. Not included in the report is Geelong’s lion’s share of at least $2.6 billion Commonwealth Games funding.

“We don’t for a moment begrudge funds allocated to Geelong but the comparison tellingly shows the massive neglect of our region’s public transport infrastructure by successive state governments.

“Fixing the Nepean Highway through Frankston’s CBD is a nobrainer. Its redesign has been on the books for years.

“Major funding is needed to create a boulevard – like St Kilda Rd or Mordialloc’s main street – to appeal to visitors and locals alike, and connect our city centre with the beautiful foreshore.”

The committee’s vice-president, Pippa Hanson, said the region’s public transport system no longer met local needs. “One in 20 Melbourne residents – five per cent – now live beyond the end of the Frankston train line.

“This means instead of carparking being available for shoppers and visitors, Frankston’s CBD is currently clogged with the cars of commuters connecting with Melbourne-bound trains,” Mrs Hanson said.

“Frankston’s rail extension business case is simple – extend the line 5km to Peninsula Link to bring Metro trains to the doorsteps of 37,000 more people in Karingal and Langwarrin, include a new station to service Monash University’s campus and Frankston Hospital, and open up commuter carparking for 170,000 Mornington Peninsula residents to free up Frankston CBD parking.”

In 2020, fixing Frankston’s public transport connectivity was recognised by Infrastructure Australia as a national infrastructure priority that needed to be built in the next five years.

“It’s time for our fair share,” Mrs Hanson said.

MIKE HAST Mike Hast is a freelance journalist and former editor of Mornington Peninsula newspapers.