LXRA releases final designs for Noble Park sky rail, residents say plan still too high

HERE’S your first peek at the new Noble Park train station.

Artist impression of final design of Noble Park Train Station, courtesy of the Level Crossing Removal Authority.

HERE’S your first peek at the new Noble Park train station.

The final designs for the controversial sky rail have been released, following months of criticism.

The station, expected to be completed by late 2018, will be rebuilt closer to Heatherton Rd, to link with the Douglas St activity centre and Ross Reserve.

Among its features will be covered platforms and allocated drop-off zones, taxi bays and relocated bus stops.

CCTV and PSO facilities will improve safety at the busy station and more than 22ha of public space will be transformed into parkland beneath the rail line.

The works are expected to create a better north-south connection for road users, pedestrians and cyclists, with the establishment of a two-way road from Ian St to Leonard Ave.

A shared pedestrian and cycle path will link Noble Park to Carnegie and the EastLink Trail.

But residents told Leader they were unhappy with the final design.

Noble Park Community Action Forum group secretary Gaye Guest said residents had been “kept in the dark” and were concerned the height of the elevated station would pave the way for overdevelopment, which would “ruin the village feel” of the area.

“We are not the CBD, we are still a suburb and we need to be treated as such,” she said.

“It’s just hard surfaces, there’s nothing pleasant to look at.”

The sky rail has long sparked controversy, with Douglas St residents previously venting their frustrations to Leader .

In February, Graham Ambrose said the concrete pylon walls would be a magnet for graffiti artists and the 9m high line was “out of kilter with the rest of the suburb”.

Eric D’Cruz said he was alarmed about the proximity of the rail lines to his home and how houses would deal with vibrations from the heavy freight trains.

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The LXRA has maintained the project’s benefits and that it has listened to community concerns, reducing the height of the station canopy by 1.8m, improving open spaces, relocating the Douglas St substation away from the forecourt, and increasing security.

Project director Brett Summers said the removal of the three dangerous and congested level crossings in Noble Park at Corrigan, Heatherton and Chandler roads would make the community “safer, better connected and more liveable”.

“We are transforming Noble Park Station into a modern transport interchange, where it is quicker and easier to get to the station and through to the Douglas Pde shopping area,” he said.