Wednesday, 5 June 2019

 Mr HODGETT (Croydon) (09:46): My statement this morning comprises two local issues that are continually raised with my office in Croydon. The Manchester Road level crossing removal was promised in 2014, it was re-announced in 2018 and my successive opponents have both campaigned solemnly for the removal, yet residents are still kept in the dark and have been offered very little information about the project. During the 2018 campaign a new 450-vehicle car park was also promised for commuters at Mooroolbark station, yet there is no funding in the 2019–20 budget for the projects to go ahead. Residents have been advised that the crossing will be removed by the end of 2022, but surely it would make sense to remove the crossing and construct a new car park at the same time.

Can the relevant ministers please confirm whether the Manchester Road level crossing removal will be under-rail or whether residents and business owners in Mooroolbark will be faced with a sky rail option? Residents also want to know what the government’s time line is for the construction of a new car park, whether they will be expected to pay for the parking and how the fees will be passed on to commuters. Will the government be imposing a betterment levy on local residents and local businesses within 1 kilometre of the level crossing removal? And given the cost blowout on level crossing removals and Labor’s failure to manage and deliver major projects on time and on budget, we will continue to watch these two projects with great interest.