Mr BARTON (Eastern Metropolitan) (17:32): The matter I raise tonight is for the Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Jacinta Allan, and concerns the grade separation of the Coolstore Road level crossing at Croydon. I ask the minister: when will the Coolstore Road level crossing at Croydon be included in the level crossing removal program?

Coolstore Road Croydon Level Crossing Removal

The Croydon community wants skyrail to link the township and make the Coolstore Road level crossing safer, but this intersection isn’t on the Government’s list. Yet.

I hear that despite disruptions and confusion within communities where level crossing removal works have been undertaken, these works have been largely successful and welcomed by communities. I congratulate the government on this initiative, and I hope we will see great benefit from these removals.

The Croydon community wants this level crossing removed. At the moment the main street, the community precincts and the Croydon Central shopping centre are separated by the rail line, limiting access and development in the area. An elevated rail crossing here would create a great amenity for the area by improving traffic, cycling and pedestrian circulation; increasing car parking; increasing public open space; and providing access to the bus interchange.

The level crossing removal project is currently in planning stages for the Mooroolbark and Lilydale crossing removals on the same line, yet Croydon remains off the list. Including Croydon alongside these projects would avoid additional construction shutdown and allow for service integration for bus and rail passenger interchanges. So I ask the minister: will she approve investigations into removing Croydon’s Coolstore Road level crossing at the same time as the Mooroolbark and Lilydale level crossing removals? This seems to make sense.

Croydon level crossing removal and station upgrade

Find out about Council’s investigation into the options for grade separation of the rail line at Coolstore Road, Croydon, in order to create a more accessible and connected Croydon Town Centre. Read more here: http://www.maroondah.vic.gov.au/CroydonStationUpgrade.aspx