No plans for Coolstore Rd and Bedford Rd level crossing removals in Maroondah

Maroondah has been snubbed for level crossing removals, with the State Government in no rush to remove two of the last remaining crossings in the outer east.

Croydon’s level crossing on Coolstore Rd won’t get removed until after 2025 at the earliest. Picture: Chris Eastman

Maroondah motorists will be stuck with boomgates for at least six more years despite tw o more confirmed level crossing removals on the Lilydale railway line.

Lilydale and Mooroolbark will get sky rail as part of the crossing removals at Manchester Rd and Maroondah Highway by mid-2022.

The two crossings will be removed as part of the State Government’s plan to ditch 75 of the state’s most dangerous level crossings by 2025.

But Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said two remaining crossings in Maroondah — Coolstore Rd in Croydon and Bedford Rd in Ringwood — were not a priority.

The first artist's impression of the new proposed Lilydale railway station. Picture: Supplied.

“We are very focused right now on getting rid of the 75 we’ve already committed to … we’re pushing along with the release of the designs of these two (Lilydale and Mooroolbark), and they are the priorities which we are working on right now,” she said.

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The Government revealed its plans for the two new crossings last week and chose sky rail as its preferred design.

Lilydale’s station will be moved closer to shops on the opposite side of Maroondah Highway, while a new multi-deck 450-space carpark will be built at Mooroolbark.

Eastern Transport Coalition chairman Stuart James said the group would have preferred track duplication between Mooroolbark and Lilydale before their crossings were removed.

Eastern Transport Coalition chairman Stuart James at the Croydon level crossing on Coolstore Rd. Picture: Chris Eastman

Cr James also felt it was more sensible to remove all remaining Lilydale line level crossings at the same time.

“From our point of view, remove anything from Lilydale and Ringwood in one hit … why come back and do one now and a few more later?” he said.

Nathan Hill, who runs The Croydon Project Facebook page, said he felt Croydon was getting short-changed for infrastructure improvements compared to other suburbs.

“Mooroolbark and Lilydale get level crossing removals, Ringwood gets an extension to REALM for council buildings and Croydon gets a reduction of services with a $2 million federal funding grant … plus a carpark with a start date not defined,” he said.

Maroondah Mayor Rob Steane said the council was still advocating to MPs and the State Government to include the two crossings in the removal program.

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