Thursday, 20 June 2024

Ministers statements: level crossing removals

Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC) (14:36): I rise to update the house on how the Allan Labor government is getting on with a bumper winter works program on Melbourne’s Level Crossing Removal Project. While the Leader of the Opposition might be in for a long, cold and dark winter, on this side of the house works will be heating up as we deliver Victoria’s biggest ever road and rail investment. Just last month our fantastic member for Pakenham joined teams as they removed the 80th dangerous and congested level crossing at Main Street, Pakenham. Along with removing the three level crossings, the Pakenham community can now access new stations at both Pakenham and Pakenham East. I can tell you, the East Pakenham station is the Gare du Nord when it comes to stations at Pakenham.

While standing at the new East Pakenham station, it brought me back to 2014 where it all began, when former Premier Napthine, most likely on the learned advice of the Leader of the Opposition, said we could not do it. He said level crossing removals would be ‘a recipe for gridlock, congestion and chaos’. Two things have happened since then. We have gotten on and we have removed 80 of these deadly and dangerous deathtraps while those opposite have blocked and delayed and opposed us every single step of the way. But we are not stopping anytime soon. Next month we will be gearing up for the Lilydale line to be Melbourne’s first completely level crossing free rail line. In the member for Mordialloc’s electorate crews are in the final stages of removing the level crossing at Parkers Road and building a new Parkdale station.

Across our state the Allan Labor government is committed to transforming Victoria’s rail network, and I am proud to share that tomorrow we will be opening the architectural marvel at the new Keon station, our 50th new or upgraded station. In Melbourne’s west, thanks to the tireless advocacy of the member for Melton and the member for Kororoit, we are getting on with removing four level crossings on the Melton line by 2026 as well as building a new state-of-the-art Melton station. While those opposite will be spending this winter arguing amongst themselves and scouring the state for nuclear power sites, we will be getting on with the job.