Tuesday, 28 November 2023

 Trung LUU (Western Metropolitan) (18:33): (628) My adjournment is for the Minister for Transport Infrastructure regarding the level crossing removal and the closure of Champion Road. The action I seek is for the minister to meet with council and local community members to understand the impact that the road closure will have on the community and discuss with them solutions to address their concerns. A petition was tabled in the other place by the member for Williamstown on 23 ‍March 2023. The petition was signed by 1466 people and called the attention of the house to the impact the closure of Champion Road will have on the community in Williamstown and Newport.

Champion Road is a vital link between the suburbs of Newport and Williamstown, and thousands of locals use it every day to access schools, supermarkets, sport and recreation. Removing this link will significantly impact the local businesses in Williamstown and Newport that rely on customers using the vital connection. It will also divert traffic to Maddox Road, where there are three childcare centres and a primary school. Turning this local street into a major throughway will increase congestion and pose greater safety risks for the children and families using it. The community have not been consulted about the possibility of road closure and have been told it is going ahead – no public consultation. The government has said it will conduct public consultations next year. The problem with this is the closure of Champion Road has already been announced. How can people take the consultation seriously when the government has already made its decision? I would like to invite the minister to come with me to meet the local residents and hear their concerns before making the final decision to close Champion Road forever.