Wednesday, 13 August 2025

Beaconsfield level crossing removal

Michael GALEA (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (18:48): (1831) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Transport Infrastructure in the other place, and it concerns the recent successful completion of Victoria’s 85th level crossing removal, that being at Station Street in Beaconsfield. The sound of ringing bells is no longer to be heard in Beaconsfield following the completion of not just the Station Street level crossing, of course, but the removal of the Brunt Road level crossing just a year earlier. With Station Street now gone and the fantastic new McKenna Drive zooming over that train line, avoiding the heritage railway house following a very successful community campaign, we are going to see an ability to run many more services on the Pakenham line into the Metro Tunnel in fact as a result of this. It is a terrific new bit of infrastructure for the community and, as the south side of that Berwick area grows, putting more pressure on the local area, a very timely investment indeed.

I know that Mr McGowan and I will be very excited to take that new 928 bus extension over the McKenna Drive bridge on a little outing, which we are going to arrange quite soon. We are going to stop at some of the best cafes in the south-east. We might pop into Primary or One Fine Day or even up to Pakenham, and we are going to have the benefit of the new McKenna Drive bridge, that great new piece of local road and active transport infrastructure taking people over the rail line safely, avoiding the very, very low height of the existing underpass that is frankly flood-prone and in a bit of a bad shape. This is a great piece of infrastructure for the local community. It has been an absolute privilege to work with many locals in the Beaconsfield area to make sure that this project has been as responsive to their concerns as possible. It is really important that when we are undertaking these projects we are listening to and working with the community. I really value the input of whether it is the Beaconsfield Progress Association, residents such as Fran or Leanne or many others who have been very much involved in working to get the best outcome and advocating for their community.

Nick McGowan interjected.

Michael GALEA: When we go out, Mr McGowan, we will take that bus. We will see the wonderful public toilets there at central Beaconsfield. You can even see them in Berwick and Pakenham as well, and even around Cardinia Road. There are lots of opportunities should you need to go, Mr McGowan, but we will have a great day out together.

The action I seek from the minister is an update on how the McKenna Drive level crossing removal in Beaconsfield is supporting constituents in Beaconsfield and the South-Eastern Metropolitan Region.