Don’t get us wrong, these are perfectly nice spaces. Picture: Norm Oorloff Source: News Limited

The outrageous amount of money being poured into Syndal Station, in Glen Waverley, has even prompted Public Transport Victoria boss Mark Wild to admit the costs were too high and in the future should be slashed to $10,000 per car space.

He said “we desperately needed” solutions to save money on carpark costs to build more spaces and take congestion off roads.

“Carpark construction is rather expensive, so really I am asking for innovative solutions. It’s important we have the most affordable carpark solutions we can,” he said.

“We want as much value for every Victorians dollar we can get and want as many carpark spaces as we can possibly get.”

A concrete multi-deck carpark with 250 spaces is being built at Syndal Station at a cost of $10.8 million.

Asked about slugging drivers to pay for parks in a bid to recoup costs Mr Wild said: “It is not part of government policy at the moment. No plans for that at the moment.”

He was speaking alongside Yarra Trams chief executive officer Clement Michel at a Committee for Economic Development of Australia transport forum.

Mr Wild also said Melbourne’s roads had 56 lanes of traffic getting motorists into the CBD and that carried 500 cars an hour.

He said for Melbourne to remain one of the world’s most liveable cities, more people needed to start using public transport.

“Obviously anything that helps ease congestion is good. We can’t just think of trains and trams and roads — it’s an integrated transport solution,” he said. PTV estimates patronage trips needs to grow to 740 million in a decade and one billion by 2021.

Mr Wild said public transport had to become a system people “want to use and not forced to use”.

“In 20 years time Manhattan will be here where we are sitting,” Mr Wild said.

Mr Michel said a new tram route connecting the city to Fishermans Bend “made a lot of sense”.

aleks.devic@news.com.au

@AleksDevic