Thursday, 5 October 2023

Pakenham line level crossing removals

Michael GALEA (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (18:13): (488) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Transport Infrastructure Minister Pearson. By the end of this decade the Allan Labor government will have removed every level crossing on the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines. On the outer section of the Pakenham line alone, we have already seen projects completed at the South Gippsland Highway in Dandenong South, Hallam South Road in Hallam, Clyde Road in Berwick and Cardinia Road in Officer. A number of projects are already underway, including at Progress Street in Dandenong South, Webb Street in Narre Warren, Station Street in Beaconsfield, Brunt Road in Beaconsfield, McGregor Road in Pakenham, Main Street in Pakenham and Racecourse Road in Pakenham.

Earlier today Dr Heath raised a constituency question about the Pakenham level crossing removals and the Premier’s visit to the south-east last week, and it was fantastic to have the Premier come down to the south-east, along with the hardworking local member for Pakenham, Emma Vulin, to check out progress on not one but three level crossing removals currently underway through the heart of Pakenham, as well as a full rebuild of Pakenham station and an extension of the line to East Pakenham. However, during Dr Heath’s constituency question a number of members opposite on the opposition benches interjected that these level crossings should not be removed at all.

A member: Extraordinary.

Michael GALEA: Extraordinary – extraordinary and shameful. Though I do note that Dr Heath herself had the good sense not to suggest such a ridiculous thing. It was not Dr Heath herself; it was other members interjecting. But we do know that the Liberals have opposed countless level crossing removals time and time again. So the action that I am seeking is that the minister update the house on why the level crossing removal projects on the Pakenham line are so important to the growing outer south-east and that he update the house on what the consequences would be if the opposition members’ reckless demands for these dangerous and congested level crossings to remain were to be heeded.