Mont Albert Village: Community censoring concerns on LXRP’s new accounts

Community members claim they’ve been censored on new social media pages created by the state government to promote traders near a level crossing removal in Melbourne’s east.

The Union Rd level crossing in Surrey Hills, which will be removed for an underground rail trench. Picture: Josie Hayden

The state government has denied claims “independent marketing experts” are controlling interactions on social media accounts promoting traders near level crossing works in Melbourne’s east.

The Level Crossing Removal Project say they created Facebook and Instagram pages at the request of traders in the Mont Albert Village and on Union Rd Surrey Hills in late December.

The “commercially focused” accounts come after months of consultation with local traders on how they could be supported while construction for the $631m project was taking place.

They were created despite an existing Facebook page for the village strip already having more than 650 followers.

The accounts are being managed by a third party and will be handed over to traders to operate once construction is complete.

Mont Albert resident Lindsay Wynne claimed she had an “innocent” comment asking about the page’s creation removed last month, and has since been banned.

She claimed up to seven other community members also had their comments hidden, which were later returned.

Ms Wynne said LXRP hadn’t publicly stated their involvement on the accounts and felt the pages could create “division and angst” in the community.

“It’s wonderful they (LXRP) are getting involved and supporting local traders, but why isn’t it advertised?” she said.

“It flies in the face of open and transparent conversation.”

Rail Corridor Residents Group spokeswoman Suzannah Aumann said she felt the new accounts had a “high level of spin” and questioned their creation when similar pages already existed.

Page operators updated descriptions on the accounts to reflect they were an initiative of the LXRP following Leader’s inquiries.

An LXRP spokesman said no community members had been blocked or restricted from interacting with the pages, apart from those who appeared to have fake profiles or linked to spam.

The spokesman said the pages were “moderated in line with community guidelines as part of our trader support initiative that is being delivered during project”.

“All content is informed by the traders themselves and at the completion of the project, each trader precinct will have established brands and followings to carry them into the future, further encouraging people to shop local,” the authority wrote.

The project includes the removal of level crossings at Union Road, Surrey Hills and Mont Albert Road, Mont Albert, and construction of a new combined station on an underground rail trench.

The works have already angered some residents after trees in an unofficial avenue of honour for fallen local WW1 soldiers were cut down on Churchill St last month, to make way for a hi-rail access pad.

The LXRP did not reveal the name of the third party operating the accounts or how much money was being spent on its services.