Proposed sky rail plan under cloud after existing elevated lines revealed as vandalised eyesores

THE Premier’s vision of a “beautiful” parkland oasis beneath the proposed Cranbourne-Pakenham sky rail is under a cloud as it emerged that existing elevated lines are neglected and vandalised.

THE Premier’s vision of a “beautiful” parkland oasis beneath the proposed Cranbourne-Pakenham sky rail is under a cloud as it emerged that existing elevated lines are neglected and vandalised.

Premier Daniel Andrews has promised “community open spaces, parks, playgrounds and netball courts” beneath the controversial tracks, being built to remove nine level crossings. But a Herald Sun analysis has exposed a reality of concrete pillars and elevated track beds covered in ugly graffiti tags.

West Richmond, Clifton Hill, Hawthorn, Oakleigh, Gardenvale, Elsternwick and Balaclava overpasses have all fallen victim to vandals and open spaces have become desolate litter-strewn wastelands avoided by residents and traders.

Hoon drivers frequented Atherton Rd under the rail lines at Oakleigh, said local Etan Reisman.

And Michael French, in Elsternwick, said graffiti was a problem.

“The walls have to be repainted every 10 days,” he said.

The Government’s proposed Skytrain idea.

The reality of train overpasses in Melbourne.

A Balaclava resident, who did not want to be named, said groups of troublesome young children congregated beneath the railway overpass near his house, and hard rubbish was often dumped on a patch of land nearby.

Announcing the sky rail project, Mr Andrews said: “I look forward to taking my kids to enjoy this brand new and beautiful open space.”

The Sunday Herald Sun revealed the State Government is pushing ahead with the sky rail project as part of its $1.6 billion program to remove nine level crossings stretching between Dandenong and Caulfield by November 2018.

Tracks would be raised nine metres along three sections of the Cranbourne-Pakenham line, which is Melbourne’s busiest rail corridor.

Mr Andrews said on Sunday the project, due to start later this year, would create an extra 225 square kilometres — or 11 MCGs’ worth — of public land beneath the rail lines.

Warrigal Road overpass near Oakleigh station.

But residents have raised concerns over graffiti and visual and noise pollution from trains travelling at rooftop level past their homes.

Stop Sky Trains member Dianne Hunt said the State Government’s proposed green spaces beneath the nine-metre rail overpass were nothing more than “pretty pictures”.

“I wouldn’t let my grandkids play on the playground underneath,” she said.

About a dozen residents from Melbourne’s southeast were present in the gallery of the Legislative Council yesterday as the Opposition’s planning spokesman, David Davis, tabled a petition against the sky rail project.

More than 2700 people had signed the petition, which calls on the Government to go back to the drawing board.

Locals are also angry about the consultation process, labelling it as “abysmal”.

Protest leader Karlee Browning said that further protests were planned for this week.

Ms Browning said affected residents were visiting local council meetings last night to lobby for councillors to oppose the project.

It has also been revealed that Victoria’s regional rail crisis is costing taxpayers at least $4 million a week in costs of hiring replacement buses and compensating passengers.

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