Level crossings: Hundreds rally against government's Essendon plan

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Level crossings: Hundreds rally against government's Essendon plan

By Clay Lucas
Updated

Hundreds of residents have rallied against the Andrews government's plan for Essendon as part of its $8 billion level crossing removal program.

But demands for a change to the government's Essendon plan have led the son of a pedestrian killed crossing Buckley Street to warn the level crossing is too dangerous to delay its removal.

Opposition public transport spokesman David Hodgett speaks at the rally in Essendon.

Opposition public transport spokesman David Hodgett speaks at the rally in Essendon. Credit: Daniel Pockett

The state government has signed contracts for builders to remove the Buckley Street level crossing next to Essendon railway station.

Melbourne has 178 level crossings, and the crossing in Essendon, on the Craigieburn line, is one of 50 going. Buckley Street is to be lowered beneath the railway line.

Essendon locals rally against the government's plans for the Buckley Street level crossing.

Essendon locals rally against the government's plans for the Buckley Street level crossing. Credit: Daniel Pockett

About 11,000 cars currently cross the tracks on Buckley Street daily.

But Moonee Valley Council, in a heavily politicised campaign targeting state Labor, is spending $50,000 fighting the plan.

It wants the government to instead lower the railway tracks from Moonee Ponds to Essendon.

This would remove three level crossings – those at Park and Puckle streets in Moonee Ponds would also go.

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The government's plan for Essendon railway station and Buckley Street.

The government's plan for Essendon railway station and Buckley Street. Credit: LXRA

The council's plan would likely see historic Essendon railway station, built in 1878, demolished or relocated.

Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said on Sunday the government had chosen the best option.

Protesters with signs produced as part of Moonee Valley Council's fight against the government.

Protesters with signs produced as part of Moonee Valley Council's fight against the government. Credit: Daniel Pockett

"Most people want the level crossing removed [and] road under allowed us not to touch the heritage station," he said.

He said digging a trench with a new railway station would have seen homes and businesses acquired.

Optometrist Graeme Wood opposes the government's plans for the level crossing removal.

Optometrist Graeme Wood opposes the government's plans for the level crossing removal. Credit: Daniel Pockett

A report done for Moonee Valley Council in 2015 suggested a small number of properties might be bought by the government if tracks and platforms were built below ground.

Opposition Upper House MP Bernie Finn was at Sunday's protest. He said the government's Essendon plan would hurt the retail strip opposite the railway station because it would restrict cars in the area.

Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan announcement this month of the builders and engineers for the Buckley Street work enraged Moonee Valley councillors because virtually no detail had been made public.

"We ask questions but we don't get answers," said councillor Richard Lawrence at the protest on Sunday.

He said the government had signed the contract for the level crossing removal without releasing the detail. "The transparency just isn't there," he said.

Optometrist Graeme Wood was also at Sunday's protest. His business Wood and Associates has been opposite Essendon railway station for 35 years.

He said the government's plan would push several bus routes into his shopping strip and ultimately drive out 150 retail jobs.

Moonee Valley Council's well-organised fight to stop the government's level crossing plan has alarmed Jan Laczynski.

His father John died when he was hit by a car in February 1999 while crossing Buckley Street near the level crossing. He was 72.

"My father was pronounced dead on Buckley Street," Mr Laczynski said. "Both the ambulance and the police that attended were delayed by the boom gates being down. It wouldn't have made any difference, but it was certainly a sign of the problem."

Mr Laczynski said it was not certain his father would have lived if the level crossing had been gone.

But he said those protesting against the design for its removal had to recognise how dangerous the level crossing was.

Any delay because of their protests risked the level crossing staying for good, he said. "No one needs to get a death knock like me on the door – it's an awful thing. It stays with me forever," he said.

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