Level Crossings: Stonnington Council undecided on Kooyong, Malvern project designs

A council has been labelled “weak” for splashing cash to ask residents how level crossings should be removed before not choosing an option.

The Glenferrie Rd, Kooyong level crossing is set to be removed in the near future. Picture: Ellen Smith.

An inner-city council has been labelled “weak” for spending tens of thousands of dollars of ratepayers money and not taking a position on the design of two planned level crossing removals.

Stonnington Council spent $40,000 late last year to get residents’ thoughts on planned level crossing removals at Glenferrie Rd, Kooyong and Tooronga Rd, Malvern.

The council claimed it undertook the consultation due to a lack of engagement by the Level Crossing Removal Authority, engaging JWS Research to survey 500 residents by phone, half of which lived near the planned works.

Residents preferred the level crossings to be built under the road, with 41 per cent choosing the option for Glenferrie Rd and 37 per cent for Tooronga Rd.

The remainder of voters preferred skyrail or didn’t have a preference.

But despite the results, mayor Kate Hely said the council didn’t have a preference on the design.

“Each has pros and cons in the design, implementation and outcomes which our residents are interested in,” Cr Hely said.

“Therefore, council is not pushing for one outcome over another as much as we are simply trying to make sure the local voice is strongly represented in the decision.”

Cr Hely said the results were passed onto the authority to show the community’s opinions and to request a “collaborative approach be adopted for the design development.”

The Federal Government committed $260 million for the removal of the Glenferrie Rd level crossing in April 2019 to put it under the road, and for the preparation of business cases for both crossings.

Ratepayers Stonnington president Dean Hurlston condemned the council for not taking a definitive stance on the designs.

“Sitting on the fence for $40,000 is a complete waste of time and money,” he said.

“They have conducted research, and come up with a fence-sitting position, enabling the State Government to roll over the top of them.

“The majority has spoken, the majority wants under ground, and it is council’s responsibility to take that the State Government and push the majority’s view.”

The two crossings are not on the list of 75 crossings which the State Government plans to remove by 2025.

But Level Crossing Removal Authority chief executive Kevin Devlin said it would prepare business cases and feasibility studies for both crossing removals with the Federal Government’s funding.

“That work will be provided to the Commonwealth this year, and any next steps will be a matter for them,” he said.