Melbourne’s eastern suburbs traders blame level crossing removal for ‘ghost town’

Traders in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs say the “total chaos” of level crossing removal works has driven them to the wall.

Mont Albert and Surrey Hills traders are fuming over major disruptions caused by level crossing removal works. Picture: Tony Gough

Eastern suburbs traders affected by a level crossing removal project (LXRP) say they have been driven to the wall by the “total chaos” of disruptions.

Businesses affected by works to remove crossings at Surrey Hills and Mont Albert stations claim they have lost millions of dollars due to customers avoiding the area.

Both stations, currently surrounded by shopping strips, will be demolished and a new one built under the project due for completion in 2023.

Mont Albert and Surrey Hills Traders spokesman Simon Jamison said businesses in Union Rd and Hamilton St shopping strips had been decimated by constant disruptions, including road closures, loss of carparks, and muddy and dusty conditions.

“You can’t blame the customers, there’s nowhere to park, huge trucks rolling up the street, clouds of dust, roads blocked off and trains suspended,” he said.

“It’s like a ghost town.”

Both stations will be demolished and a new one built under the project due for completion in 2023. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Mr Jamison said the group’s survey found that 95 per cent of traders experienced a detrimental impact from the project, while 75 per cent said the effect on their small business was severe or unsustainable.

“The Andrews government and the LXRP do not care that traders are going under in our shopping strips, they are treating them with disdain and disrespect,” he said

“The LXRP state that they will not compensate these small family businesses, even though they are sending us broke.”

Mr Jamison said LXRP marketing programs were unsuitable or had failed for 90 per cent of traders, and they wanted significant compensation for losses.

Liberal candidate for Box Hill, Nicole Ta-Ei Werner, accused the government of treating the local community with contempt, such as not showing detailed plans for the proposed Union Station.

Businesses affected by works to remove crossings at Surrey Hills and Mont Albert stations claim they have lost millions of dollars due to customers avoiding the area.

“More must be done to help local traders whose small businesses have survived the world’s longest lockdowns, only to be followed by dire trade interruptions, thanks to Andrews’ vanity Big Build projects,” she said.

LXRP program director Travis Edmonds said that removing the level crossings would make it safer and easier for the community to access local shops with less congested roads and new pedestrian links to the Union Rd and Hamilton St shopping villages.

“We thank locals for their patience while these works are underway. We’re working closely with traders to minimise impacts, and encourage residents to continue shopping in their community while we carry out these important works,” he said.

The LXRP said it had launched several measures to lure shoppers to the precinct, including a trader directory, a loyalty program, with more than 3000 people participating, and about 50 traders involved.

It also worked one-on-one with traders to co-design social media campaigns to drive new customers to their shops while work was under way.