By Cam Lucadou-Wells
There are no plans to enact key items of Greater Dandenong Council’s wishlist for further infrastructure in Noble Park, according to the Level Crossing Removal Authority.
Last year, the council lobbied the State Government for a suite of projects as part of the sky-rail, otherwise known as elevated rail, project.
The items included a multi-deck car park at Sandown Park railway station and traffic signals at the roundabout at Heatherton Road, Lightwood Road and Douglas Street, Noble Park.
Other requests were a signalised pedestrian crossing at Heatherton Road and Mons Parade, and the extension of a Caulfield-Yarraman shared-user path to Dandenong station.
The LXRA has completed the signalised pedestrian crossing, and an upgraded – though not multi-deck – car park with an extra 145 spaces at Sandown Park has been announced.
It is set to build a north-south link road under the rail line between Ian and Leonard streets.
There are no plans to build the other requested items, the authority stated.
“We’re well on the way to finishing a fresh, landscaped station precinct that’s not only great for train travellers but for locals who’ll soon be able to move freely between shops, services and homes on either side of the rail line,” project director Brett Summers said.
“We’re taking this opportunity to not only remove level crossings but to make Noble Park a better place to live.”
Greater Dandenong councillor Matthew Kirwan requested an update from the council at a meeting on 9 July.
Residents were asking particularly about the multi-deck car park and roundabout traffic signals given the extra traffic expected to use the roads after the level crossings’ removal, he said.
The lack of a cycling path link to Dandenong station was a “very obvious gap” in the local bike network, he said.
Acting engineering services director Craig Cinquegrana said VicRoads had agreed that signalisation was warranted at the roundabout intersection within 10 years, but not as part of the LXRA project.
The cycle link to Dandenong station remained a “prioritised” lobbying item for the council, Mr Cinquegrana said.
