Tuesday, 18 February 2020

Evelyn electorate

Ms VALLENCE (Evelyn) (12:48): (1857) My question is to the Minister for Transport Infrastructure on behalf of Lilydale residents and the Lilydale Township Action Group. Can the minister confirm if after the Lilydale level crossing on Maroondah Highway has been removed it will be replaced by traffic lights? If so, can the minister advise what traffic modelling was undertaken and how replacing a level crossing with traffic lights will improve congestion at morning and afternoon peak in Lilydale? The government announced it will spend almost half a billion dollars to remove the Mooroolbark and Lilydale level crossings, and that this would improve congestion. With more than 53 000 vehicles using these crossings each day, my community in Lilydale want to know how long traffic will be at a standstill once traffic lights are installed, how this compares to congestion with the boom gates today and whether the minister will release this modelling to ensure transparency in the process and allow Lilydale residents to understand how spending half a billion dollars of taxpayers money to replace level crossing with traffic lights represents value for money.