Thursday, 24 March 2022

Mordialloc electorate level crossing removals

Mr RICHARDSON (Mordialloc) (17:22): (6305) My adjournment this evening is to the Minister for Transport Infrastructure, and the action I seek is for the minister to update my community on the progress of the Parkdale level crossing removal open space advisory panel, including the time frames for the release of the first conceptual designs for the new Parkdale station, level crossing removals and open space.

It was in July last year that the Victorian government announced the removal of 10 further level crossings as part of an economic stimulus package to support local jobs and transform our community for the future. This will include 85 level crossing removals by 2025, including the dangerous and congested level crossings at Warrigal Road and Parkers Road in Parkdale. To date the Andrews Labor government has removed 58 level crossings, which is substantially further ahead than we anticipated with the commitment of 50 level crossing removals by 2022, and this amazingly includes 16 level crossing removals on the Frankston train line and the building of several new stations.

In and around my community we have seen a new train station at Cheltenham and the removal of the Charman Road and Park Road crossings; a new station at Mentone and the removal of the Balcombe Road level crossing; a new station at Edithvale and the removal of the Edithvale Road and Lochiel Avenue crossings; a new station in Chelsea, the removal of the Swanpool Avenue, Chelsea Road and Argyle Avenue crossings and a new road bridge connection at Thames Promenade; a new station at Bonbeach and the removal of the Bondi Road crossing; and a new Carrum station, the removal of the Station Street and Eel Race Road crossings and a new road connection at McLeod Road.

The Andrews Labor government has delivered generational change and improvements to our region, creating thousands of jobs and making our communities safer, and it is incredible to think that in just over two years time Parkdale will be level crossing free after its train station was built back 100 years ago and surrounded by road connections. These two level crossings at Parkers Road and Warrigal Road take 20 000 vehicle movements each and every day on average. The boom gates are down for 44 minutes during peak times for the 34 trains that go through, and with the Metro Tunnel opening up in 2025 this will see substantially more train services coming through the area.

As part of the Parkdale level crossing removals the open space advisory panel was recently appointed. It is made up of local residents around the Parkdale community. The community members will contribute ideas and feedback on the design, the new open spaces and the broad range of community perspectives to be considered and share that project information and those updates with our community. These designs and spaces will be developed in conjunction with the panel and with the ongoing input from the community. These opportunities are visionary. They include new open space, including trees and landscaping, walking and cycling pathways, playgrounds, recreational spaces, sporting facilities and more parking around the local shops. So I am really keen to understand from the transport infrastructure minister when these early conceptual designs for the Parkdale level crossing, the open spaces and the Parkdale station will be released.