Planning Minister Richard Wynne calls in decision on Upfield train line heritage
Planning Minister Richard Wynne will have the final say on the heritage value of an 1892 signal box and 100-year-old trees in a Coburg park after calling in part of the Upfield train line Level Crossing Removal Project. But the move has many seeing red.
North West
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A community group fears a decision by the planning minister to call in heritage decisions on the Upfield train line will hurt its fight to save 100-year old trees in Gandolfo Gardens.
Planning Minister Richard Wynne has taken over the decision making process for the heritage decisions of the Level Crossing Removal Project, cutting short the period for submissions by nearly a month.
It means all submissions made to Heritage Victoria, which includes one from the Upfield Urban Forest on the Coburg park, will now be read by the minister.
A State Government spokesman said the removal of level crossings was important for the safety of all Victorians and must be delivered on time and on budget.
“It’s appropriate the final decision is made by the Minister responsible for both planning and heritage,” he said.
Residents fear their submissions won’t be taken seriously, as they believe Mr Wynne’s priority is getting things done as quickly as possible.
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Moreland Council Mayor Natalie Abboud said no explanation had been offered as to why the change had been made.
“The Minister’s decision usurps processes and has cut short a public consultation period with no explanation,” she said.
“As a result, both the council and the community have been denied a formal pathway to provide a submission for consideration on this important heritage matter.”
Cr Abboud said council welcomed the removal of level crossings in Moreland, but was disappointed in the lack of communication and transparency.
A community submission has also been made to save the Munro St signal box.
Brunswick state Greens MP Tim Read said the minister had robbed the community of its chance to have a say.
“Residents are rightly concerned about the destruction of established old trees in Gandolfo Gardens and an 1892 signal box,” he said.
“This closes the door on a consultation process that was initiated by a grassroots campaign.”
A community rally will be held on October 20 at Gandolfo Gardens as the community pushes for the use of Super T beams in place of the U-trough design.
The council approached the Level Crossing Removal Authority about the potential design shift, with community groups reporting it could save the elderly trees in Gandolfo Gardens.
However, LXRP Project Director — North West Program, Michael Caink, said trees would had to have been removed with either design.
“Extensive planning and investigations found the innovative U-Trough technology was the best option for this location,” he said.
“Each project is unique and this technology has been successfully used on previous projects with great aesthetic, noise mitigation and safety outcomes.
“By using the U-trough, the elevated structure can be lower and narrower which means there will be less visual impact.
“Every effort is made to minimise tree removal — unfortunately trees would have had to be removed regardless of the type of structure used.”
Mr Caink said LXRP will be planting more than three times the number of trees that were currently there.
Upfield Uban Forest also wants bridges to be built over Moreland Rd and Bell St.
Member Jane Holroyd said the Coburg community had expressed loudly its desire to see the heritage precinct around Moreland station, including more than 100 trees, preserved.
“The LXRP and Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan must go back to the drawing board to find a design solution that takes into account the high priority placed by Moreland residents on their urban forest, their heritage and improved outcomes for public transport users, cyclists and pedestrians,” she said.