New designs released as skyrail looms in Melbourne’s north

From Coburg to Brunswick, residents are considering if they can stay in their homes as kilometres of elevated rail go up in Melbourne’s north. And this is what’s on the cards for commuters.

Render of the Munro St intersection.

Homeowners in Melbourne’s north are tossing up whether to sell their properties as skyrail looms.

The 2.5km of elevated rail — up to 11m high — will replace four level crossings between Bell St in Coburg and Moreland Rd in Brunswick

With construction to begin later this year, no homes will be compulsory ­acquired but impacted locals will be able to voluntarily sell their property.

But today, the state government could not say how many properties it ­expected to buy.

Resident Liz Kessegian said she was considering selling her Station St weatherboard terrace of more than 30 years.

“I’m fighting a losing battle,” she said. “It’s really sad because it’s your home.

“But no matter how strongly I feel about it, I don’t feel we’ve been heard at all.”

The Station St resident said she feared her house might be damaged by vibrations during construction and dreads the extra noise as well as possible graffiti.

“You can put all the grass and plants underneath it, but at the end of the day, it’ll all be in shadow anyway,” she said.

Audley St couple Tash Vickers and Miles Scott said the open space would be an opportunity to add value to the area.

“If you’re going to do it, do it properly,” Ms Vickers said.

“People would use something like a community garden.”

A render of Gandolfo Gardens’ sky rail.

Commuter Allison Christians said: “I think doing something about level crossings is incredibly important, but any development needs to be sympathetic to the area; it can’t be an eyesore.”

Releasing new designs today, Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan confirmed that the Level Crossing Removal Authority would soon be speaking to residents.

She would not be drawn on how many homes would likely be bought, saying that depended on the “result of those individual conversations”.

“This is a very narrow rail corridor, which is why in part the elevated rail has been chosen as the best way to remove these level crossings,” she said.

Train commuter Allison Christians at Moreland Station. She says the development must be sympathetic to the area. Picture: Ian Currie

“The Level Crossing Removal Authority will be making contact individually with each individual householder that has been identified as a potential candidate for the voluntary purchase scheme.

“We have done this at a number of sites across our level crossing removal program.”

Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien said: “Daniel Andrews should be upfront and honest with people who might lose their homes as a result of these works.”

Render of Coburg Station’s Bell St entrance.

Construction is due to begin later this year and be complete within 12 months.

The open space under the skyrail will be open to residents by 2021.

Playgrounds and dog parks are on the cards and trees will be planted across the 2.5km rail corridor.

Heritage listed Moreland and Coburg station buildings will be preserved and integrated into the new station precincts.

More than 400 submissions have been lodged online about what should be built under the looming skyrail.

Level Crossing Removal Authority boss Kevin Devlin said it would be a “complex building” in the narrow rail corridor.

“We are doing this extremely quickly — from starting construction later this year and then being complete essentially with 12 months,” he said.

“We are going to do that very carefully, there has been a lot of planning.

“We are just glad we can get the next stage of designs out and get the community’s further input.

“I know they have been very vocal and keen to participate.”

The construction schedule will avoid the AFL Grand Final parade. Picture: Mark Stewart

Render image of Moreland Station’s northern entry.

Commuters are also in for more pain this spring as a road and rail work blitz begins across Victoria — but luckily, won’t affect the AFL Grand Final.

Power, signally and track upgrades will hit during the school holidays, causing major disruptions to Melbourne’s road and rail network, and regional train services.

Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan said the improved services — delivered as part of the biggest train network overhaul — was worth the inconvenience.

“These works pave the way for more services, bigger trains and less congestion on our busiest roads,” she said.

MORE NEWS:

POLICE SET TO GO TO WAR FOR MORE PAY

URGENT WARNING AFTER BANK HACKED

The construction schedule has been designed to avoid the AFL Grand Final Parade and match day on September 27 and 28 respectively.

Buses will replace trains on sections of the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Gippsland lines beyond Caulfield from September 21-25, while services will be impacted on the Sunbury line between September 29 to October 11.

V/Line maintenance work will see coaches replace trains on the Ballarat, Geelong, Warrnambool, Ararat and Maryborough lines from October 19 to October 24.

The same lines, as well as the Swan Hill and Echuca lines, will have coaches replace trains from September 29 to October 4.

Trams along Flinders Street, between Elizabeth and Russell streets, will not run from October 2-7, while buses will replace trams between the Shrine of Remembrance and Commercial Road tram stops fro, October 14 to October 27.

The West Gate Freeway will also be hit with a series of closures between August and October.

[e-mail]

@GraceMcKinnonL