Toorak Rd sky rail graffitied before construction even finishes
The sky rail at Toorak Rd is a blessing for motorists used to long delays at the old level crossing. But it’s already attracting unwanted attention.
Inner East
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Motorists have been enjoying the removal of the Toorak Rd level crossing for about six weeks.
But while construction is still ongoing to complete the project, vandals have already targeted it with graffiti.
Stonnington councillor Matthew Koce was dismayed to find the markings, saying it was “a sign of things to come”.
“The Victorian State Government was warned that the sky rail was poorly designed and was going to become a disastrous graffiti magnet and that appears to be exactly what is starting happen,” he said.
“Construction has not even finished and the sky rail is already being targeted by graffiti vandals.”
Cr Koce said graffiti needed to be taken seriously as it could “make public places feel unsafe and encourage anti-social behaviour and crime”.
“The State Government should … be prioritising the installation of CCTV cameras on the underpass to help deter, catch and prosecute offenders,” he said.
Finishing works and landscaping will finish in early 2021, with more than 23,000 trees, plants and grasses planted in the area.
Government transport media manager Hayley Bester said graffiti was illegal and potentially dangerous to vandals.
“Our message to vandals is that the area around Toorak Rd is not only a busy road and live rail corridor but also a construction site — every person who attempts to deface this new rail line is trespassing and can be putting their lives at risk,” she said.
“The project team is aware of this particular instance of a graffiti tag and it will be removed shortly.”
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The Level Crossing Removal Project will remove any graffiti when it is safe to do so and is working with PTV, Metro Trains Melbourne, local councils and Victorian Police on longer term measures.
Practical measures in place include easy-to-clean surfaces and designing the spaces around the infrastructure to be inviting and well used by the community, deterring anti-social behaviour.
Many cameras are also in place around the construction site.