Residents want full details of ‘superstation’ being built near homes

Surrey Hills and Mont Albert residents say they are being kept in the dark over plans of a new “superstation” being built metres from their homes.

Residents living near a major level-crossing project in Melbourne’s east say they are being kept in the dark about detailed plans for a new “superstation” being built just metres from their homes.

The households in Mont Albert and Surrey Hills fear a 5m wall will be built on the road facing their properties as part of the project to remove two crossings.

The new Union Station will straddle the rail line between the two previous stops, but is so large it encroaches over local streets.

Residents are now seeking full public disclosure of three-dimensional drawings, especially as work has already begun on the project.

A few people were given a glimpse of the 3D images at the Level Crossing Removal Project offices but that was all.

“I was shocked by the height and visual bulk of the building that is in extreme proximity to homes,’’ residents’ spokeswoman Susannah Aumann said.

“The community has been misled on the size and scale of this building and the government is refusing to publicly release the images I was shown or detailed plans of this building.

Residents detailed plans for a major new railway station being built just metres from their Mont Albert homes. Picture: Rob Leeson.

“When we asked how the design avoids or minimises negative impacts, the LXRP responded that ‘No mitigation is required’.”

The scale of the construction work has also meant that residents cannot access their own garages to park their cars. Several mature trees have also been removed.

The project is expected to be completed by the middle of next year, with the state government aiming for the Lilydale line to be free of all level crossings by 2025.

The Surrey Hills & Mont Albert Progress Association has also contacted the Premier.

Its president Greg Buchanan said the Level Crossing Removal Project was playing out a “charade” with residents.

Nicole Ta-Ei Werner, Liberal candidate for Box Hill, said the government was treating residents in Surrey Hills and Mont Albert with contempt.

“Daniel Andrews has destroyed Lorne Parade Reserve – a prized local park and broken his promise to keep both Mont Albert and Surrey Hills stations,’’ Ms Werner said.

An artist’s impression of the Montrose Street pocket park and the entrance to Union Station.

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

“Now he’s refusing to show the final station plans to residents, and even (White Horse) council, after having promised their release. What’s he got to hide?”

LXRP chief executive Kevin Devlin said project staff were meeting residents to take them through the designs and computer models, showing where the infrastructure would be in relation to their homes.

“We know building infrastructure on this scale is a big change and that is why community engagement has been a huge part of the project for the past 18 months and there has been a huge amount of community support for this project,’’ he said.

The location of the station and the building a 1.3km trench to remove the crossings will avoid compulsory acquisition of homes, according to the project brief. And up to 1000 trees will be planted.

“Removing these two dangerous and congested level crossings, where two locals died after their car collided with a train, will have huge benefits for the local area including improved safety and eased congestion and more trains,’’ Mr Devlin said.

An extra 450 sqm of open space will be created to connect both sides of Union Rd, as well as a “heritage plaza” at the former Mont Albert station site.

A total of 60 metropolitan rail crossings have been upgraded out of the government’s 2025 target of 85 removals.