Ms Patten (Northern Metropolitan) — My question today is for the Minister for Public Transport. High Street, Reservoir, is a major north–south arterial road which connects to the M80 ring-road in the north and Melbourne’s inner city in the south. The 2014 RACV red spot survey found that the level crossing consisting of the South Morang train line, High Street, Cheddar Road and Spring Street and carrying 32 000 cars per day was the third most congested area in Victoria. The intersection comes to a standstill between 7.00 a.m. and 9.00 a.m. as the boom gates are closed for over 25 minutes during this peak time.
The level crossing removals that the Andrews Labor government is delivering are long overdue and welcome, but the people of Northern Metropolitan Region cannot wait until ‘sometime in 2018’, which is when work is due to commence. I ask: will the minister move to revise the time line for the Reservoir level crossing removal, ensuring it is completed within two years?
ANSWER:
I thank Ms Patten for her question and note her concerns regarding the timeframe for completing the removal of the High Street level crossing in Reservoir.
The timing of the removal of level crossings on the South Morang line, including the High Street and Bell Street level crossings, is determined by factors including the level crossing removal projects on the nearby Hurstbridge line and those on the wider metropolitan railway network.
The package of works recently released to the market for the Hurstbridge line will bring the total number of level crossings removed by the Victorian Government to 25 by the end of 2019, including two level crossings on the Hurstbridge line.
While these projects will deliver significant safety improvements for drivers and pedestrians and improve travel around Melbourne’s north, they will also pose significant challenges during construction, particularly in terms of managing disruptions to the rail and road network.
The removal of the High Street level crossing will commence in 2018 and will be coordinated with the Bell Street level crossing removal in Preston to minimise disruptions to the community in the northern suburbs. This will also allow for works to progress on the Hurstbridge line without placing further strain on the road network in Melbourne’s north.
High Street is one of the most complex level crossing sites that requires significant time for planning and development. This level crossing includes six boom gates and a network of five roads — High Street, Spring Street, Cheddar Road, Edwards Street and The Broadway— that converge to form one of Melbourne’s most congested intersections.
Before construction starts, LXRA will continue consulting with major stakeholders including residents and businesses, VicRoads and Darebin City Council to determine the best way to remove the level crossing at High Street.
