By CASEY NEILL
NOBLE Park residents fear removing the Chandler Road level crossing could divide the suburb in two.
In the next four years the State Government will remove all nine crossings between the Dandenong and Caulfield railway stations – including Chandler, Corrigan and Heatherton roads in Noble Park.
In Parliament on 5 May Greens South East Metropolitan Region MP Nina Springle demanded that the government consult the Noble Park community on the Chandler Road grade separation.
She said the community wanted the rail line moved under the road but feared the government would instead “take the cheapest option” and elevate Chandler Road over the top of the train line.
Ms Springle said this option would effectively split the Noble Park community down the middle.
“This is exactly what happened with Warrigal Road in Oakleigh,” she said.
She urged Transport Minister Jacinta Allan to “do a proper consultation with the community and local government to ensure that the community gets the outcome that best meets their expectations”.
A spokesman for Ms Allan said the State Government would consult closely with residents, the council and other local stakeholders.
City of Greater Dandenong CEO John Bennie welcomed the rail crossing removals at a Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce breakfast on 13 May.
“We want rail under road,” he said.
“Rail over road creates a bit of a blight on the environment.”
Mr Bennie said buses would replace trains while the works at Corrigan, Chandler and Heatherton roads took place.
He said the projects were due to be completed by August 2018.
“We’re probably going to cop 18 months to two years of significant inconvenience,” he said.
“But when that line’s complete, it will operate at an efficiency it never has before.”
