Glen Iris Junior Football Club warns of traffic chaos
Glen Iris Junior Football Club and its supporters are fearing traffic armageddon, as a level crossing removal project will force parents to make a 1.3km dogleg on to Glenferrie Rd.
VIC News
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A prominent junior football club in Melbourne’s east fears traffic armageddon with a key road near the Toorak Rd level crossing removal to permanently shut.
Talbot Cres — which leads to Kooyong’s Sir Zelman Cowen Park — is set to close permanently at Toorak Rd after Stonnington Council on Monday backed the move.
Glen Iris Junior Football Club believes it will force 800 players and their supporters to make a 1.3km dogleg on to Glenferrie Rd, rendering training sessions and game days unworkable.
Some would have to negotiate boom gates at the busy Kooyong Railway Station level crossing.
Glen Iris Junior Football Club president Andrew Chambers told the Herald Sun: “It will be complete traffic chaos.”
“With peak hour traffic it will be a nightmare — there is just not the capacity for Glenferrie Rd to take those numbers trying to turn into Talbot Cres,’’ Mr Chambers said.
“It will be completely unworkable.”
The club, known as the Gladiators, had already staggered Friday evening training and Sunday games on Righetti and Ferrie ovals because of its huge membership base which includes 1200 parents.
“I am worried about safety in terms of traffic but I am also really concerned about safety in terms of proper access for ambulances,’’ Mr Chambers said.
“I would hate to see an ambulance being prevented from having easy and quick access to an injured player by reason of this gridlock that’s going to be created.”
Stonnington Council Mayor Steve Stefanopoulos said residents wanted the road shut for good.
It was closed in July for the $89 million level crossing removal project and was to re-open mid next year.
“This decision was made for the residents of Talbot Cres,” Cr Stefanopoulos said.
“In making the decision, councillors took into account the permanent and detrimental effect of the now elevated train line at Toorak Rd which has seen their residential street constantly used by through traffic.
“When consulted on the proposal, Talbot Cres residents were overwhelmingly in support.
“Access to Sir Zelman Cowan Reserve will still be possible via Glenferrie Rd.”
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The Level Crossing Removal Authority has power to shut Talbot Cres and has indicated it would do so if there was council support, according to a council letter to residents.
Program director Steve Brown said it was yet to receive a formal request to permanently close Talbot Cresc.
Baseball, soccer and athletic clubs also based at Sir Zelman Cowen Park were contacted for comment.