Newport residents are fighting a $369 million state government plan to remove their level crossing – and permanently close the road that connects a community.
The Level Crossing Removal Program released plans for crossings at Champion Road and Maddox Road in Newport last week, including permanent closure of Champion Road after work is completed in 2026.
Hobsons Bay councillor Michael Disbury and community activist Gill Gannon say closing Champion Road will hurt Newport. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui
A proposal to close the road sparked a community backlash two years ago, but the authority says it is not possible to build an elevated “sky rail” or trench under the road, as it has done at dozens of other sites.
Authorities say a rail trench or bridge, or a road underpass or overpass, were not possible because they would interfere with Mobil refinery’s underground fuel lines, restrict access to Newport’s train stabling yards, or require aquisition of nearby homes.
But Gill Gannon, from the Keep Champion Road Open group, argued the pipelines could be moved, and the stabling yards could be moved to the end of the line at Werribee, but those options were deemed too costly.
“What we’re saying is slow this down, do it properly, work with the community here and come up with a solution that we’re all happy with,” she said.
Traffic from Champion Road, which connects Newport and Williamstown, will be diverted via a new extension of Akuna Drive to Maddox Road, where the rail line will be elevated.
Gannon said locals were deeply concerned this would push thousands of vehicles onto residential streets already at capacity.
“Every single person in this community said the road solution is not going to be suitable and is going to create more danger than it mitigates,” she said.
Gannon said designs for the section of two elevated rail bridges near Maddox Road and the grade crossing at Champion Road were “brutal” compared to other level-crossing removal projects, which include open space, playgrounds and greenery.
Soundproof barriers are not included on the rail bridge design, and existing mature trees along Market Street next to the rail line will be axed.
“We’re told that that’s because this is an industrial area and not a community area, which is kind of insulting to all the people that live, work, play and move around this area,” Gannon said.
The Newport train stabling yards are to the south of the rail corridor, between the tracks and Champion Road. A mix of industrial buildings sits immediately to the south of the level crossing, while residential areas are further south behind the Williamstown Cemetery and to the north of the rail line along Market Street, Railway Parade and Maddox Road.
A total of 84 level crossings have been removed across Melbourne, and the Allan government has promised to remove 110 by 2030, including all crossings on the Werribee Line.
Hobsons Bay councillor Michael Disbury said the project was “trying to fix a problem that isn’t a problem”.
“Leave it as is. We’re about to spend $400 million on something the community doesn’t want. It’s just crazy,” Disbury said.
The project said last week it had signed a contract to remove the two level crossings in Newport for $369 million. Removing a single level crossing on Maidstone Street, Altona by building a road bridge will cost $151 million.
On Saturday, project officials held a community information session at K. C. White Reserve to explain the designs to residents.
Brendan Hunt, who lives on Challis Street just off Champion Road, said project officers told him there had been six near misses at the level crossing in the past 15 years.
“I have more than that when I reverse out of my driveway per week,” he said. “The road solution is terrible and everything they’ve done is forced, rushed, ill-thought out and ill-conceived.”
Hunt said the decision would sever the connection between the single community that spans Newport and Williamstown.
Megan Pearce, whose child attends Newport Gardens Primary School on Maddox Road, said the road was already congested and would get worse with the addition of traffic from Champion Road.
“Already there are so many near misses … and the congestion is insane around [school] pick-up and drop-off times,” she said. “Kids are safer trying to cross the train track than they are crossing the road.”
Hobsons Bay Mayor Daria Kellander said the council remained opposed to permanent closure of Champion Road, which it challenged in a submission to government in August.
“We will continue to advocate for what our community has made clear it wants, which is for this important local thoroughfare to remain open,” Kellander said.
A project spokesperson said boom gates at Champion Road were down for about 50 minutes during the morning peak, and would be down even longer if more train services were added to the Werribee Line.
“Every level crossing is dangerous, and getting rid of the two level crossings at Maddox and Champion roads in Newport will improve safety in the area and reduce congestion,” the spokesperson said.
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