Cash, support for level crossing activists in Moreland Council budget

Activists fighting for the survival of trees in Coburg could be given a $30k boost from Moreland Council’s budget to lobby the level crossing removal projects, while a Brunswick flooding problem could also be solved.

Advocates like those at this rally on June 16, could be boosted by council funding.

Advocates will be given up to $30,000 to plead their case to the Level Crossing Removal Project on the Upfield train line thanks to Moreland Council.

The funding was added to the council’s budget, which was approved on June 24.

An amendment from Cr Mark Riley added the budget allocation and the council will also form a reference group with advocates to help press their case.

Activists are focused on saving trees in Gandolfo Gardens

The Upfield Corridor Coalition is expected to form part of the reference group. A document prepared by the coalition argues for the protection of trees in Coburg’s Gandolfo Gardens and greenery and cycling amenities underneath the sky rail.

Moreland Mayor Natalie Abboud said the support showed the council was backing activists. “We support the work that you’re doing, 100 per cent,” she said.

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Jane Holroyd, a member of the Upfield Urban Forest group within the coalition, said the council’s support showed consultation from the LXRP was inadequate.

The details of the reference group and criteria for financial support will be decided at the council’s meeting next week.

Plan to combat flooding funded

Elsewhere in the budget, a flooding problem in Brunswick is set to be solved thanks to a $720,000 plan to increase the drainage capacity in Saxon St.

Garages, buildings and the street itself has flooded after heavy rains in recent years.

The project will aim to contain rainwater for a brief period of time to avoid flooding.

Flooding like this on Michael St in November could be no more.

The council’s director of city infrastructure Grant Thorne said designs were still being completed and there was no start date for works.

But resident of nearby Michael St, Tony Weir, said he had been told the anti-flood work could be done in August.

“We had a water engineer review the plan of works and he was happy it should likely fix the problem,” he said.

The budget also included $1m for work at Brunswick Baths, $1.9 million for a master plan at Coburg City Oval and $1.5 million for Glenroy’s Wheatsheaf Community Hub.