Level crossing removal works to close train station carparks at Mentone and Cheltenham

Two of bayside Melbourne’s busiest railway stations will lose hundreds of car parking spaces for a staggering 24 months, due to level crossing removal works. These are the worst-hit suburbs.

Hundreds of parking spots will be lost for level crossing removal works. Picture: Norm Oorloff

Commuters and traders in Mentone and Cheltenham are gearing up for two years of pain, with hundreds of carparking spots removed from both stations until 2021.

Major level crossing work will begin later this year and a total of 620 car spaces will be closed.

During construction the Level Crossing Removal Project will provide 420 free alternative car spaces for rail passengers: 136 along Como Parade East and West in Parkdale and 284 at two locations at Southland.

But Mentone traders, already reeling from lost business due to the council’s Euro-piazza revamp, are furious.

Paul Beaumont, who owns Morris Meats on Mentone Pde, said his business had lost thousands of dollars since works on the precinct began and hasn’t taken a wage in almost three months.

“Shop owners are already reeling from lost business in the area and if there’s no sufficient commuter parking then we’ll lose more customers,” Mr Beaumont said.

He said customers were still unable to access Mentone Pde from Florence St, with only buses allowed through — causing a “huge loss” of customers.

Ron Gordon is furious with carpark and road closures. Picture: Norm Oorloff

ClearCut Hairdressing owner Ron Gordon said he was furious about parking plans in Mentone.

“They (LXRP) are pinching the public carpark spots along Como Pde East and West on the railway sides, which is public parking but this won’t be suffice as we’ll still miss out on more than 150 car spots,” Mr Gordon said.

Bobby and Lisa Cannistra, who regularly visit the shopping strip, said they were concerned about the loss of commuter carparks.

“All these works are taking so long and this will just add to it. It’s also going to create more congestion in the area,” Mr Cannistra said.

Both stations will also close in mid-2020 for a two-month construction blitz.

Mentone is already facing a parking squeeze, traders say. Picture: Norm Oorloff

South Eastern Metropolitan Liberal MP Gordon Rich-Phillips said the State Government needed to provide sufficient free all day parking for commuters in Mentone and Cheltenham impacted by these “very slow” construction works.

Level Crossing Removal Project director ­southern program Adam Maguire said Cheltenham and Mentone were going to have a busy year and thanked the community and traders for their patience.

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“The temporary car park changes will enable major construction to remove three level crossings, build two new stations and make Mentone and Cheltenham safer and easier to get around,” Mr Maguire said.

Kingston Council and the LXRP last weekannounced they would splash $2.9 million towards the creation of bigger decks at Cheltenham and Mentone Stations as part of the level crossing removal projects, including 36 additional carparking spaces next to Cheltenham Station.

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