Tuesday, 30 May 2023

Ministers statements: level crossing removals

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery) (14:29): Last week, level crossings 69 and 70 were removed in Surrey Hills and in Mont Albert. These were two of the most dangerous level crossings in the state, where two women lost their lives in 2016. Along with the member for Box Hill and the member for Sunbury, we were pleased not only to mark the removal of these dangerous and congested level crossings but also to open the brand new Union station, station 41 being delivered by the Level Crossing Removal Project – 70 level crossings, 41 new train stations transforming the metropolitan rail network.

We are getting great feedback from the local community. I am sure the member for Box Hill is getting a bit of feedback. I can share with him that an email I received says thanks for this ‘amazing’ project that:

… was all done on time and with such great committed attention and friendly staff.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Caulfield is warned.

Jacinta ALLAN: We are not stopping at 70 or 75 or 85. We are pushing on to remove 110 dangerous and congested level crossings, and as the member for Ringwood knows, that will make the Lilydale line level crossing free. As the members for Footscray, Williamstown, Laverton and Werribee know, that will make the Werribee line level crossing free. On the Frankston line the members for Caulfield, Bentleigh, Frankston, Carrum and Mordialloc know that by 2029 the Frankston line will be level crossing free. There are some who also have seen firsthand – they have not always supported these projects, but they have seen firsthand – the safety benefits, the congestion-reduction benefits and the more train services benefits that we bring to these projects. I also want to acknowledge the 3 million hours that are being worked across our projects by Indigenous Victorians who are a big part of our Big Build. They are now and they will be into the future, thanks to the investment of the Andrews Labor government.