Beveridge, an outer-northern suburb of Melbourne, is experiencing rapid growth - but locals say the lack of public transport is leaving the community gridlocked. Just 1.2 per cent of residents currently use public transport, with most forced into their cars due to no nearby train station.
Population Growth Without Infrastructure
Beveridge is already home to around 11,000 people, with that figure expected to double within five years. Earlier this month, the Victorian Government approved plans for the new Beveridge North West suburb, which will add another 47,000 residents by 2052.
Despite this growth, Mitchell Shire Mayor John Dougall says state investment in infrastructure has not kept pace. He has renewed calls for a long-promised Beveridge train station to be built along the Seymour V/Line route, where land is already “shovel-ready.”
“We’re still waiting for the basics,” Mayor Dougall said. “Beveridge station is a test: deliver it now, not in 10 to 15 years.”
Locals Frustrated by Traffic Chaos
For residents, the impact of missing infrastructure is clear. Scott Reid, a local commuter, said travelling just two kilometres to pick up his children from school took him more than half an hour.
“I was fuming. I could walk faster,” Reid said, describing heavy congestion at the freeway overpass.
Reid said driving to his workplace in Clifton Hill can take between 40 minutes and 90 minutes, depending on traffic, with no reliable public transport alternative. He urged the government to act, calling a station “well and truly overdue.”
Outer Melbourne Councils United in Calls for Action
The push for better transport links isn’t just limited to Beveridge. At a recent meeting of Outer Melbourne Councils in South Morang, leaders from across the region echoed similar frustrations:
- Yarra Ranges Mayor Jim Childs called for a new station between Mooroolbark and Lilydale to service the growing Kinley development.
- Melton, Australia’s fastest-growing local government area, faces daily bottlenecks on the Western Highway, with families forced onto freeways even for school runs.
- Wyndham is pushing for electrification of the V/Line service, with Tarneit Station now the second-busiest V/Line stop in Victoria.
- Nillumbik Shire has highlighted the need for more buses to connect young people and seniors to services.
‘We’re Falling Behind’
Infrastructure advocates warn that Victoria is already behind schedule on providing for its growing population. Opposition spokesperson Richard Welch said the government risks leaving fringe suburbs permanently under-serviced.
Mayor Dougall added that Beveridge residents are already frustrated by the approval of a new quarry in the suburb and said a station would help restore confidence in planning decisions.
“The quarry has pushed the community in Beveridge to the edge. For us, a train station would be an appropriate return for underpinning that infrastructure development.”
Looking Ahead
With Beveridge’s population set to explode and congestion worsening, locals argue that the time for debate is over. For many, the train station is not just about convenience - it’s about giving families reliable transport options and preventing years of gridlock.
