By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
PROTESTERS took a stand at the first of the Level Crossing Removal Authority’s public meetings in Noble Park since the ‘sky rail’ project announcement.
Douglas Street resident Eric D’Cruz joined the 20-member No Skyrails stall, collecting signatures on anti-sky rail petitions outside the meeting on 20 February.
As of today, more than 4000 protest signatures have been tabled in State Parliament.
Mr D’Cruz said many of the 200 attendees were “let down” by the nine-metre-tall rail bridge that would eliminate traffic-choking level crossings at Chandler, Corrigan and Heatherton roads.
His major gripe is that the public had not been told about the sky rail option in earlier consultations.
“Everyone thought it would be the Springvale (rail under road) model. They think the (sky rail) will be a ghastly structure.”
The project removes six other level crossings in the Dandenong-Caulfield rail corridor. The state government touts the creation of 2000 jobs and train passenger capacity up 42 percent.
At the meeting, Mr D’Cruz was dismayed by news of the elevated rail tracks being possibly shifted 20 metres closer to his house – about 14 metres from his front fence.
In his neighbourhood, up to 50 households between Arnold Street and Chandler Road would be “staring at this concrete mass”, he said.
There would be no space for community space between the sky rail and the adjoining creek, he said.
Mr D’Cruz was not swayed by the level crossing authority’s pro-sky rail arguments at the meeting, namely less cost and designing around the area’s subterranean water table.
“They’re still encouraging people to put in submissions, including any objections.
“From the impression I’ve got, the government is determined to go through with the sky rail.”
The 20 February meeting garnered community feedback on the designs of open spaces under the rail bridge, such as playgrounds and bicycle facilities.
Chris Papapavlou, who lives next to the Corrigan Road level crossing, said the event was just “spin” from the level crossing authority.
“It was not a meeting. A meeting is where people discuss thoughts and ideas. This was more like ‘look at what we’ve got – isn’t that great?’
“A lot of people are disappointed. You don’t know what you’re voting for anymore.”
Keysborough Labor MP Martin Pakula said the project would lead to more community space, and remove that “horrible congestion and disruption that you get from level crossings”.
The government argues that community consultation began in April, with more than 1500 pieces of feedback “informing” the design.
“We’ve been consulting with the community, and the main thing they want is to get rid of these level crossings,” Mr Pakula said.
Upper house Liberal MP David Davis said a motion will be tabled in the Legislative Council today to demand the public release of all of the government’s sky rail studies and documents.
It would also put up a motion for the government to put rail under road instead of a “massively intrusive, unpopular, cheap and nasty” proposal.
“Nobody voted for sky rail and the graffiti and the crime that are guaranteed to follow in their suburbs.”
A level crossings authority representative will speak on sky rail at the Noble Park Community Action Forum at Paddy O’Donoghue Centre, 18-32 Buckley Street, Noble Park, tonight at 6pm.
