CLEVELAND MP Mark Robinson has again called on the state government to increase car parking at Cleveland Railway Station.
Dr Robinson said he had originally supported the redevelopment but now opposed it because car parks planned for Cleveland and Birkdale stations had been “stolen’’ from his electorate and given to Thorneside Station in the neighbouring Labor electorate of Capalaba held by MP Don Brown.
He said it was a blatant act of pork-barrelling.
Dr Robinson told Parliament this week that 47 car spaces that went to Thorneside were spaces that had been allocated to Birkdale and Cleveland.
“Many local residents and commuters are frustrated by the loss of the promised car parks,’’ he said. “I stand with the local residents and the rail commuters and demand that the government reinstate these stolen car parks.’’
Mr Brown said Mr Robinson’s stand was laughable given he was attacking a joint project between TransLink and Redland City Council which was started by his party.
“I find it surprising that Mark has backflipped on his support for the project when it is a continuation on from his government,’’ Mr Brown said.
“Thorneside train station car park project was a joint partnership between us and RCC, so is he accusing the Mayor (Karen Williams) also?’’
In August last year, Dr Robinson raised the issue but then Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the Cleveland development contained the same number of car parks as that which Dr Robinson supported when the LNP was in government.
Dr Robinson also told Parliament this week that traffic lights should be built at Cleveland’s busy Shore and Wellington street intersections as soon as possible.
“For many years the roundabout has needed upgrading and, under successive state and federal Labor governments, nothing has been done,’’ he said.
“After fighting for Labor to do something for years, it was the intervention of the federal LNP government via (MP) Andrew Laming that has kickstarted the project, with an investment of $3.5 million for a no-frills, basic intersection upgrade or, as another option, a shared approach with other levels of government in a bigger project.
“...After I raised the matter in the parliament and after Redlands mayor, Karen Williams, wrote to the minister, I am glad to report that the minister has written to the mayor and now seems to see that allowing the LNP federal government to invest $3.5 million into a state road is a good idea,’’ he said.
“… Options exist for the federal government and the council to go it alone or for the state government to partner in a better solution.’’
Mr Brown said he understood from last week’s cross boundary transport meeting that funding promised by Mr Laming was not enough for the upgrade.
“The state and RCC will work together to develop a solution – work that should have been done before the promise was made,’’ he said.