Level crossing at Progress Street Dandenong South

The petition of:- The businesses and workers of Nathan and Fowler Roads, Dandenong South, and the logistics providers and drivers for these businesses:- Draws to the attention of the Assembly that proposed permanent closure of the negligible risk (according to documents obtained under FOI from the Office of the National Railway Safety Regulator) and uncongested level crossing (according to locals) in Progress Street, Dandenong will divert all traffic over 1km down twisty Fowler Road which will in turn put more than 7500 heavy haulage and over dimensional vehicles and day down an already congested street and into an even more congested South Gippsland Highway. Having this volume of over-dimensional heavy Haulage, Australia Post motorbikes and cars mixing on a curved, parked out and low visibility side-road is going to cause accidents. It will also add at least 4 minutes (probably much more) each way for each of the more than 1,000 employees of the 20 or so major manufacturing and distribution hubs in the Nathan Road Industrial area - including Australia Posts’ largest letter sorting centre. At least one business will be compromised in their ability to get their over dimensional cranes onto the Princes Highway with any safety due to the unsuitability of Fowler Road and its intersection onto the South Gippsland Highway. Fowler Road is not suitable for the sizes and volumes of traffic to be diverted.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Assembly of Victoria.: Calls on the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, to immediately suspend the permanent crossing closure at Progress Street. This is on the basis that closing it is actually much more dangerous and creates congestion.

The petitioners support a level crossing removal solution that improves access to the industrial area – such as a rail overpass or connection to the – still to be built – Dandenong bypass extension. Implementation of any new solution is requested to be done with genuine consultation, in advance, with the businesses in area to ensure all requirements are delivered for their special heavy manufacturing and distribution needs.