Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan) (12:56):
My question is for the Minister for Transport Infrastructure. I have been meeting with community as well as the team from the Level Crossing Removal Project in relation to the designs for the upgrades to the Upfield line.
Of specific interest to the community is the area around the Gandolfo Gardens. I had been told that extensive community consultation would take place before the release of the plans around the gardens.
This seems to have not taken place, and I was quite surprised to see plans in the Age yesterday. It showed that trees would have to be removed to make way for heavy machinery access.
The west side of this beautiful Moreland reserve was named after Coburg councillor Sam Gandolfo, the first foreign-born mayor of Coburg. These trees are 108 years old.
The Gandolfo trees have been there for, as I said, over 100 years, and the many residents want to ensure that they will not be removed.
My question to the minister is: will the minister meet directly with residents to hear their concerns about the Gandolfo Gardens and ensure they find an alternative site for their heavy machinery and plant during the level crossing construction?