Lack of consultation and ‘ugly’ look of new stations slammed by community

The “dated” concept designs for the new-look Moreland and Coburg train stations have drawn the ire of the community as questions were also raised about the chance to provide feedback.

Concept design for the new Coburg railway station. Supplied: Victorian Government.

Designs for the new Moreland and Coburg stations have been slammed as “dated” and “ugly”, with anger also growing over a lack of consultation on the crossing removals.

The early designs for both stations were released by the State Government last Wednesday, with the elevated rail to sit alongside the heritage-listed buildings.

Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed no houses would be acquired as part of the work, but people would be able to sell their homes to the government if they didn’t want to live next to the sky rail.

The designs for Moreland station. Supplied: Victorian Government.

The designs were released just three days before public consultation was closed by the Level Crossing Removal Project on Saturday.

No Sky Rail Upfield Line Association secretary Zarn Takiari said the community had been kept in the dark about the designs consultation sessions held in the past two months.

The current heritage listed stations will remain.

“Many of the locals who have seen the designs today, feel that they are not at all in line with the heritage character of the area, have a dated ‘70s look and are frankly, quite ugly,” she said.

“It’s clear to me, that the LXRP knew very well, the answers to the questions the local community were asking … and yet we were told that they couldn’t give us any answers.”

Moreland Mayor Natalie Abboud said it was unsatisfactory that designs had been released just as consultation was closing.

Trees in Gandolfo Gardens are under threat. Picture: Sarah Matray

A group of 80 community members met on May 25 to create a vision for the Upfield line, which focused on retaining the heritage aspects of the line and maintaining open space.

The group is also fighting to retain trees in Gandolfo Gardens, which sits next to Moreland station.

Responses to the LXRP designs on the Moreland Leader Facebook page were mostly negative, with several people describing them as “ugly”.

The current look of Coburg station. Picture: Ellen Smith

The LXRP will incorporate feedback received in the final three days of consultation into final designs.

“We will be back out to the community with more information as we get closer to construction starting,” north west program project director Michael Caink said.

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A majority of the work on removing the crossings at Bell St, Munro St and Reynard St in Coburg, as well as at Moreland Rd in Brunswick, will be done in a three-month construction blitz next year, involving more than 1000 people working around the clock.

During that time, trains will still run between Anstey and the city.