NEWS DESK
Council delays decision on sky rail stance Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au FRANKSTON Council has officially decided not to take a stand against sky rail on the Frankston line after councillors voted to defer a stance on the contentious possibility of elevated rail as part of the separation of rail and road at level crossings. A packed public gallery, including Liberal state Upper House MP for the South Eastern Metropolitan Region Inga Peulich and anti-sky rail protesters, at last Monday evening’s public council meeting heard councillors debate whether council should now formally oppose elevated rail along any section of the Frankston line or wait until the Level Crossing Removal Authority (LXRA) release options for level crossings removals in July. Councillors voted 5-4 to postpone a decision on a notice of motion raised by Cr Rebekah Spelman calling on council to oppose sky rail. “I’ve spoken to hundreds of people in Frankston who are dead set against it,” Cr Spelman said. “The overwhelming response that I’ve received is a big fat no to any consideration of an elevated rail.” Crs Brian Cunial and Glenn Aitken argued they opposed sky rail but believed it was better to wait until official options to remove level crossings are on the table next month. Mayor Cr James Dooley reckoned elevated rail will not be built all along the Frankston line. “It will depend on geology and cost. I don’t believe for one minute that we’re
IT has emerged that the Level Crossing Removal Authority (LXRA) is currently monitoring the impacts of rail noise “for improved or new passenger rail infrastructure and changes to land use near existing and planned rail corridors”. A LXRA letter dated May 2016 obtained by Simon Johnson, founder of the noskyrail.com.au group, asked residents living near the Frankston line to allow the authority to install “noise loggers” at their properties “to seek your assistance in carrying out the noise monitoring for the Level Crossing Removal Project”. When contacted by The Times LXRA project director Adam Maguire said rail noise is assessed using Victorian Passenger Rail Infrastructure Noise Policy guidelines. going to see 15 kilometres of sky rail from Mordialloc to Frankston.” Labor Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan says every level crossing along the Frankston line to be removed will be assessed on an individual basis. Cr Suzette Tayler predicted property prices near elevated rail would plummet and crime and graffiti would be rampant. “We need to cut it off now. You don’t leave it to fester because the government will take it over. We need to put our hand up now and say there’s no sky
“LXRA is currently conducting noise monitoring at locations near the eight level crossings that are being removed between Cheltenham and Frankston to record all surrounding noise from trains and roads,” Mr Maguire said. “The testing is being undertaken by noise specialists AECOM using portable noise loggers at approximately 45 homes and businesses for periods of up to seven days with the permission of owners and tenants. “This information is used to evaluate the best solution for each site. We will provide further information and will seek feedback from the community later this year as we progress through the design process.” The LXRA will next month announce options for level crossing removals along the Frankston line.
rail for Frankston. It’s really important to our residents and we’re supposed to listen to our residents.” Cr Darrel Taylor said he supported the level crossing removals program but did not back sky rail since it was not an option discussed before the 2014 state election. “I feel really sorry for people in Seaford and along the Frankston line … they are devastated. They’re putting their hard earned into property, they’re renovating and there’s going to be a 20-metre high concrete monstrosity
running straight past their back door.” He said a lot of young people and families had moved into the Seaford area recently. Cr Michael O’Reilly, who lives in Seaford, said many people would prefer to leave level crossings in place rather than have elevated rail loom over nearby homes. “This is infrastructure that is going to be around for a hundred years and doing it on the cheap is not the way to go in the long term.” When given his opportunity to speak
Cr Colin Hampton moved an amendment to Cr Spelman’s notice of motion to defer “At this point in time I have no opinion one way or the other about what happens with sky rail or underground or road over or road under. We’ve had two meetings with the crossing authority and at these meetings we’ve had no detail,” Cr Hampton said. “They’ve said they’ll be coming back to us with more detail including schematic drawings and I’m obliged as a councillor to take all of this onboard to make a decision.” He said it would make council’s case “stronger” if sky rail is opposed after all options are outlined by the LXRA. Crs Sandra Mayer, Hampton, Dooley, Aitken and Cunial voted to defer a decision until council’s 18 July meeting. Crs Taylor, Tayler, O’Reilly and Spelman opposed the deferral. Decisions on whether elevated rail or road under rail is more appropriate are still to be made for crossings at Balcombe Rd (Mentone), Charman Rd (Cheltenham), Edithvale Rd (Edithvale), Eel Race Rd (Carrum), Seaford Rd (Seaford), Skye/Overton Rd (Frankston), Station St (Bonbeach), Station St (Carrum). Road under rail works are underway at three level crossings at North Rd (Ormond), Centre Rd (Bentleigh) and McKinnon Rd (McKinnon). Kingston Council decided to oppose any plans for sky rail along the Frankston line at a public council meeting last month.
Airport shuttle run back THE state government may be facing anti-sky rail protests but it is happy to welcome a SkyBus to Frankston. SkyBus has taken over the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula to Tullamarine Airport shuttle route. It offers free travel to children, online ticketing and smartphone ticket access. The cost is $38 one way. The service takes in Frankston, Mt Eliza, Mornington, Dromana, and Rosebud. SkyBus director Adam Begg, who says he was “born and raised in Frankston”, said the operator was delighted to be expanding on its existing routes. “I understand the importance of easy, convenient and value-for-money services from the outer suburb to Melbourne Airport,” he said.
“We are excited to be bringing our service to Frankston and offering residents an outstanding experience.” Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke said: “The Frankston community welcomes the arrival of SkyBus to our area. “Improved and cost effective transport services, particularly to the airport, are important to residents of Frankston and outer south-eastern suburbs.” The Frankston pick-up point: 444 Nepean Highway, bus stop outside Pragmatic Training; Mt Eliza: 84 Mt Eliza Way, bus stop opposite Safeways; Mornington: Corner Main and Queen streets, bus stop outside old library; Dromana: Bus stop No. 88 opposite Harvey World Travel, and Rosebud: Bus terminal outside Safeway near primary school, 967 Pt Nepean Rd.
Express service: Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke, left, SkyBus director Adam Begg and Frankston mayor James Dooley look forward to bus runs to Tullamarine Airport from Frankston.
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BLAIRGOWRIE • DROMANA • MORNINGTON • ROSEBUD • SEAFORD • TOORAK Frankston Times 13 June 2016
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