Wednesday, 8 February 2023

 Will FOWLES (Ringwood) (09:50): Labor is doing what matters, and our level crossing removals fit squarely into that commitment. The Andrews Labor government is removing 110 level crossings right across the state of Victoria, including the very last crossings to be found in the Ringwood electorate. We have already removed crossings at Blackburn Road, Blackburn; Springvale Road, Nunawading; and Heatherdale Road in Heatherdale. But there is more to do, and in the coming years we will be removing our last local crossings, at Dublin Road and at Bedford Road.

This project is a crucial step in making the Lilydale train line level crossing-free by 2025 and creating a safer, less congested and more connected community. We are also building a brand new Ringwood East station, with a main concourse, a second entry, accessible platforms and upgraded pedestrian and cycling paths, and it will be easier to get to the station with a significant parking upgrade as well. These level crossings at Dublin Road and Bedford Road see over 23 000 vehicles each day and can have the boom gates down for up to 23 minutes during the morning peak. Removing them means not just faster commutes but also more trains, more often. Construction starts in early 2023, and by 2025 trains will be running in the new rail trench – a huge milestone for our community, plus it will create hundreds of great jobs for local workers.

I would like to thank the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure for her leadership and commitment to the Level Crossing Removal Project, which is continuing to deliver for my community of Ringwood as Labor gets on and does what matters.