Crossing cash

By Bridget Cook
THE State Opposition has pledged to fix the notorious Springvale level crossing if elected this month, committing $140 million in its first term to the project.
The Coalition will rebuild the intersection and remove the level crossing on Springvale Road, lowering the railway station to a different level.
Opposition leader Ted Baillieu said on Monday that the Coalition would fix the problems at this level crossing to give Springvale families less commuting time and more quality time.
“Road congestion is costing billions of dollars a year and keeping Victorians from their families,” Mr Baillieu said.
“Average road speeds have become slower, forcing commuters to spend longer travelling to and from work.”
Liberal candidate for Lyndhurst Tony Holland said the Coalition plan would separate cars and trains, along with pedestrians and bikes, to free up the intersection.
“The Coalition will consult with local communities and businesses with the intention of relocating Springvale Railway Station to a lower level to preserve the streetscape and minimise disruption to local residents and small businesses,” Mr Holland said.
“The new station will include ramps or subways to ensure full compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act and provide full access to Victorians with a disability.”
Greater Dandenong Council’s director of engineering services Bruce Rendall said the council would support anyone who endorsed the project.
“The council has been advocating for it (grade separation) for many years, and we will continue to lobby for it and work with all levels of government to make sure it goes ahead and is funded,” Mr Rendall said. “We will work with anyone who will make this a reality. We believe the project will bring enormous benefits for Springvale and surrounding areas.”
Mr Rendall said currently the railway line acted as a barrier and cut Springvale in half. “A road over would create the opportunity for Springvale working as a whole,” he said.
Mr Rendall said a grade separation, lowering the railway station to a different level, would produce a number of benefits.
“It will reduce congestion and make it easier to run trains and the SmartBus service on time,” he said. “It is also a risky level crossing, with several deaths, one as recent as May this year. It would help reduce or eliminate potential deaths or serious injury.”
Springvale Asian Business Association (SABA) president Frankie Chen said SABA has been campaigning to the council and government for this for more than eight years.
“This is definitely positive news for the community,” he said. “Not only is it needed for better safety, but also to reduce traffic congestion which builds up and stops people and customers coming through Springvale.
“It’s also about the perception of the area, both visually and functionally – we don’t want to turn shoppers away. At the moment it affects residents, commuters, traders, shoppers and visitors to Springvale. We would work closely with whoever’s in government to improve the safety at this level crossing.”
But a Labor Government spokesman said voters shouldn’t trust Mr Baillieu.
“He’ll promise anything for your vote and abandon you at his earliest convenience. The projects Mr Baillieu has committed to are yet again undercosted – and he won’t say how he will pay for them,” he said. “Mr Baillieu is refusing to submit any of his transport policy announcements to the independent Victorian Treasury and his undercosted transport pledges will leave an enormous black hole in the State’s budget.”