Mont Albert yet to see final designs for ‘superstation’

Work on a new “superstation” in Mont Albert is well underway, but residents still don’t know what they will be faced with when the project is complete.

An eastern suburbs council has intervened in a simmering row between residents and the Level Crossing Removal Project over the release of final designs for the construction of a “superstation”.

Whitehorse mayor Cr Tina Liu called on project bosses to publicly reveal the images for residents who are concerned about the impact of the structure in front of their homes.

Until now only general images of the station including the platform and concourse have been published.

The project involves removing two rail crossings and stations at Mont Albert and Surrey Hills, and replacing it with a 1.3km “rail trench” and the creation of a station called Union which will encroach on to nearby roads.

Work is well advanced and is expected to be completed by next year.

Officals are yet to show residents detailed plans for a major new railway station being built just metres from their Mont Albert homes. Picture: Rob Leeson.

And even though heavy-duty piling work for the building is now taking place on Beresford St, Mont Albert, residents still don’t know what they will eventually be faced with.

White Horse Council unanimously supported community requests for the Level Crossing Removal Authority to release side elevations of the new station building which fronts Beresford St.

“We are calling on the Minister for Transport Infrastructure to instruct the LXRP to urgently release these architectural designs for public information,’’ Mayor Tina Liu said.

“Our residents are concerned about the impact of a large station building directly opposite their houses. We have written to the LXRP and Minister for Transport Infrastructure requesting they meet with residents.”

Until now, project staff have shown individual residents the elevations in the project offices but won’t reveal them any further.

An artist’s impression of Union Station.

A graphic of how the new Mont Albert heritage plaza, including the old Mont Albert station, will look. View from Hamilton St.

Level Crossing Removal chief executive Kevin Devlin said detailed designs had been released to the community.

“Construction of the rail trench is under way, with the boom gates on track to be removed next year,” he said.

The project said the new building at the eastern end of the new station would be about 5m high – about the same height as a single-storey home.

But residents’ spokeswoman Susannah Aumann wrote to Mr Devlin calling for the end to the secrecy over the designs, and for the community to be better informed.

“I implore you to place yourself in the shoes of residents living on Lorne Parade and

Beresford Street and ask yourself if you would be satisfied with this station building in such

close proximity to your home,’’ Ms Aumann said.

Next month when 24-hour work begins, as many as 150 households will be relocated for more than two weeks.