Underground movement

By Shaun Inguanzo
AN underground railway in Springvale is closer to reality after the City of Greater Dandenong Council revealed it has formally pitched the idea to the State Government.
A subway-style train station and nearby railway line would eliminate traffic congestion at Springvale Road and allow development on land occupied by existing tracks, council CEO John Bennie said.
Mr Bennie said the council had made a formal submission to the Department of Infrastructure regarding planning for the first stage of a third track on the Dandenong rail line.
The State Government allocated $37 million in its 2007-08 budget for the first stage, which will cover the Springvale to Caulfield link.
Mr Bennie said the council would strongly push for Springvale’s rail station and tracks to be placed underground, particularly where the line intersected with Springvale Road.
“We clearly need to make the point that a lot more planning needs to be done to understand if this is possible,” he said.
“But there are significant opportunities if the tracks can be laid in this way.
“It will create economic opportunities for the land above the rail reserve, and will connect the north and south sides of Springvale.
“And it goes without saying that if we eliminate the level crossing at Springvale Road, it would reduce the significant traffic congestion issues.”
Mr Bennie said existing businesses would benefit from underground rail because it would remove traffic turning restrictions that exist purely because of the Springvale Road rail line intersection.
“There are currently significant turn ban restrictions into Springvale’s activity centre, namely Queens Avenue and Lightwood Road, that are caused by the rail line,” Mr Bennie said.
“Those would be somewhat reduced (by underground rail).”
City of Greater Dandenong mayor Youhorn Chea told Star that traders he had spoken to in Springvale were “very happy” about the submission.
The council has little time to pressure the State Government to run the tracks underground, with the Department of Infrastructure flagging its intentions to begin building the Caulfield to Springvale link as early as next year in the Meeting Our Transport Challenges document.
Mr Bennie this week flew to Canberra as part of the Eastern Transport Coalition of council representatives to lobby the Federal Government to pump more money into the ailing transport infrastructure in Melbourne’s east.
“We will be seeking strong partnerships between Federal, State and local government to ensure that public transport opportunities are advanced,” he said.