A level crossing removal plan in Melbourne’s west is so controversial that even Labor MPs at a state and federal level are questioning whether it should continue.
Newport residents are fighting a $369 million plan to remove two level crossings because they say the project will cleave their community in two when it permanently closes Champion Road, a key thoroughfare that connects Williamstown and Newport, next year.
Gill Gannon and Bea Tomlin, who help co-ordinate the Keep Champion Road Open group.Credit: Joe Armao
The Level Crossing Removal Project released its designs in November and began early works the following month, much to the dismay of locals who had been campaigning since 2022 as part of the Keep Champion Road Open group.
Residents have said they would prefer to keep the level crossing as it is rather than proceed with the proposal.
Federal MP Tim Watts has now weighed in publicly for the first time on the Newport level crossing removal, amid signs at this month’s Werribee state byelection, in which Labor suffered a 16.5 per cent swing, that the ALP is losing favour with voters in its western heartland in a federal election year.
Watts, whose seat of Gellibrand takes in Newport and Williamstown, said in a statement that the level crossing removal project should not proceed in its current form and he had written to Premier Jacinta Allan and Transport Infrastructure Minister Danny Pearson asking them for a pause.
“As construction work on the project seems set to commence, I’m now making my position public,” Watts said.
“This project would, at significant cost, diminish the utility of the local road network to our community without offsetting safety or public transport benefits.”
Watts said the level crossing removal did not need to be rushed, calling for further consultation. “The state government has not shared a traffic study of the impact of this project on Maddox Road with me,” he said.
Two weeks ago, senior Victorian minister and Williamstown MP Melissa Horne told state parliament’s lower house that the community “vehemently opposed” shutting down Champion Road because it was a vital access point and the alternative route was potentially unsafe.
Champion Road would be permanently blocked off to remove the level crossing, under a state government plan.Credit: Joe Armao
“There needs to be much more work done on improving safety outcomes, particularly for children, pedestrians and cyclists,” Horne said.
The Level Crossing Removal Project has previously said that options built in other suburbs, such as an elevated sky rail or a trench under the road, were not possible in Newport because they could interfere with Mobil refinery’s underground fuel lines, restrict access to train stabling yards or require acquisition of nearby homes.
The authority instead wants to block off Champion Road and divert traffic along an extension of Akuna Drive to Maddox Road, where the rail line will be elevated. A pedestrian and cyclist bridge will also be built.
“If we could avoid closing the road we would, but engineering assessments show a closure is the only feasible way to remove this level crossing,” the authority wrote in November.
Gill Gannon, who helps lead the Keep Champion Road Open campaign, said she was concerned that local MPs could see the project would damage the suburb but would not be listened to by the Victorian government, despite being from the same party.
“People in the west have really had a gutful,” Gannon said. “There’s a huge sentiment on this side of town that we’re really sick of it.”
Gannon, who is president of Newport Traders Association and a resident of 21 years, said that to save Champion Road, the fuel pipelines and stabling yards could be moved, but this was deemed too costly by the Level Crossing Removal Project.
She said locals were devastated to see early site works begin over summer, and they feared the new Maddox Road route would be congested and dangerous.
“People feel as though we’ve lost,” she said. “We can see how this is going to impact our community, our ability to move around our area and get to work, school, recreational activities, essential services.
“If we ever needed to do a major evacuation, removing one road out of our network could create a disastrous situation.”
In addressing the lower house this month, Horne said: “I understand the [transport infrastructure minister] is considering a range of options in relation to these concerns.”
A Victorian government spokesman would not provide details but said the next designs would include amenity features.
He said three rounds of consultation had helped shape the project. He said the boom gates at the Newport level crossings were currently down for about 50 minutes of the morning peak.
“There have been six near misses at the Champion and Maddox road level crossings [since 2006].”
Hobsons Bay City Council mayor Daria Kellander said it was the council’s longstanding position to protect Champion Road.
“It’s very disappointing to have to wait this long for our local state and federal members to make any sort of public statement against this divisive project,” Kellander said.
“While they have come to the party very late, the community appreciates this support.”