LXRA’s stuck station building at Mont Albert

June 6th, 2023 3 Comments

This is the story of how the Level Crossing Removal Authority contractors tried and failed to deliver a prefabricated station building to the new Union station, part of the Surrey Hills and Mont Albert level crossing removal project.

Road surface all dug up at the Union Road level crossing

Working within a constrained railway corridor, there as no space to build a new station clear of the existing tracks.

Looking down the line from Union Road towards the new station, a single bridge span carries services over the future rail cutting

So instead the entire railway line was shut down for three months, so the old track and stations could be demolished, and a new rail cutting and station built in it’s place.

Looking up the line from Trafalgar Street towards the former Mont Albert station

To speed up the process, much of the station complex was prefabricated – divided up into truck sized modules, which were delivered as required from an offsite storage yard at Elgar Park in Mont Albert North.

Four prefabricated lift shafts alongside station roof modules awaiting delivery at Elgar Park, Mont Albert North

But on the morning of 3 April 2023, things didn’t go to plan.

LXRP Update: Mont Albert Road is currently closed to traffic between Elgar Road and View Street. A detour is temporarily in place while a 6.4 metre wide new station building continues to be delivered to site and is needing to temporarily stay parked on Mont Albert Road. Access to driveways will be maintained during this period.

They tried to deliver a prefabricated section, but it couldn’t fit under some low trees – so they abandoned it on Mont Albert Road for the day.


Photo by Extranious A on Twitter


Photo by Extranious A on Twitter


Photo by Extranious A on Twitter

Getting some coverage on the Channel 7 TV news.

As well as on 3AW Melbourne radio.

Level Crossing Removal Authority contractors wanted to hack their way through the trees of Mont Albert Road.

Maxi taxi for the route 766 shuttle bus back to to Box Hill heads along Mont Albert Road, Mont Albert

Believing they were allowed to do whatever they liked.

Current advice (3 April 2pm) Is, that despite their best efforts to negotiate an alternative solution (perhaps even just a different route) City of Whitehorse arborists have been advised by the LXRP they are able to do whatever it wants to in order to progress the project.

This will likely mean more than 40 trees on Mont Albert Road between Elgar and Hamilton Street will be ‘trimmed’ to accommodate the 5.3 metre high toilet block down a road which vehicles over 4.6m are not permitted.

But the City of Whitehorse told them to bugger off.

An update on the building stuck on a truck in Mont Albert Road. Council Officers have advised me tonight that Council does NOT support the trees in Mont Albert Road being pruned. The LXRA have been advised the truck must be backed out along Mont Albert Road and the building returned to Elgar Park. They must then find an alternative method of diverting the building to site.

The result – LXRA backing away with their tail between their legs.

LXRP update: Between 9pm Mon 3 April and 5am Tues 4 April, the station building currently located on Mont Albert Rd will be transported back along Mont Albert Road, Elgar Road and to Surrey Park. Traffic management will be in place to assist while the building is moved.

The modular toilet block being parked in the LXRA’s compound at Surrey Park.

Oversized modular toilet block for Union Station parked at the Surrey Park compound

Still sitting on the truck, awaiting their next move.

Oversized modular toilet block for Union Station parked at the Surrey Park compound

That time came 10 days later.

An oversized delivery comprising 1 of the new Union Station buildings will be delivered to site overnight between Thursday 13 April and Friday 14 April via Union Road, Windsor Crescent and Leopold Crescent.

This route ensures no permanent loss of trees.

To enable the building to be delivered, on street car parking will be temporarily removed on Leopold Crescent – and continue to be unavailable on Windsor Crescent – from 9am, Thursday 13 April to 9am, Friday 14 April.

Up to 20 trees along Windsor and Leopold Crescents will be pruned to protect these trees from damage. The pruning will be overseen by qualified arborists.

One tree in the roundabout – at the intersection of Windsor and Leopold Crescents – will be temporarily removed and then reinstated once the building has been delivered.

No driveways will be blocked, however residents may have to wait for a small amount of time while the heavy vehicle passes during its overnight journey.

Access to your property and driveway will be maintained, with assistance from traffic control staff.

On-street parking will be closed on both sides of Leopold Crescent and Windsor Crescent. Vehicles will need to be parked overnight within your property or in an adjoining street. Any vehicle parked on these 2 streets after 9am, Thursday 13 April may be towed out of the way.

Alternative off-street parking will be available in the project’s Hamilton Street car park.

And getting in the news again – in The Australian of all newspapers!

State agency musters cops against locals

Rachel Baxendale
Victorian political reporter

Victoria’s Level Crossing Removal Authority has resorted to calling police to deal with residents who were found to have committed no crime, in the latest escalation in a series of disputes with locals affected by a large project in Melbourne’s east.

The incident on Thursday evening came as the Andrews government agency continues to refuse to reveal whether the communications manager for the Mont Albert and Surrey Hills level crossing removal still has a job, two months after footage was aired of him heavying local business owners over their ­concerns about the impact of the construction.

Mont Albert resident Greg Langford said Thursday evening’s clash – relating to the lopping of tree branches to allow for the transport of a large, prefabricated building through narrow residential streets – was the latest example of the Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP) failing to genuinely consult locals and attempting to bully them into submission.

“The LXRP did one of their scant written communications, which really told us nothing,” Mr Langford said.

“A number of residents tried to contact the LXRP and were rebuffed, so we got in touch with (Whitehorse) Council, who sent one of their arborists down.”

Mr Langford said the council arborist had walked through the planned route with him and local progress association president Greg Buchanan on Thursday morning, detailing “every single tree branch” that was to be removed, ahead of the planned lopping of the trees and trans­portation of the building on Thursday night.

“Council were terrific in sharing the information, and the LXRP just stonewalled us,” Mr Langford said.

When it became clear to residents that numerous trees and branches in the heritage-listed oak, elm and plane tree-lined street were to be removed unnecessarily, more than 20 locals gathered on the nature strip on Windsor Crescent, refusing to move unless the LXRP consulted them on which branches to remove.

Mr Langford said residents were told by project communications manager David Fitzgerald – who appears to have replaced former Labor staffer Lance Wilson in the role after the footage of Wilson made headlines – “If you don’t move, I am calling the police and having you arrested.”

“Rather than engaging constructively with us, they called the police, but we knew exactly where the LXRP exclusion zone began and finished and we knew they had no jurisdiction over the nature strip … and ultimately the police decided that we were committing no offences,” Mr Langford said.

“Ultimately what happened was they were forced to trim the trees one by one in front of the big load, otherwise we were going to delay them and it would disrupt their works further.
“Our intent was to minimise the damage and we succeeded in saving 80 to 90 per cent of the branches they had originally proposed to lop.

“The moral of the story is that we support the level crossing removal, but we’re tired of being bullied by the LXRP and their lack of engagement. It just goes to show that when you force them to the table and they’ve got a deadline to meet, you can actually achieve some constructive, positive outcomes.”

An LXRP spokeswoman said: “Our project team transported one of the buildings for the new Union Station to the eastern concourse overnight. Doing this safely while minimising impacts to vegetation was our main priority.

“We expect all our interactions with community members to be respectful, with our staff treating others, and being treated, with respect.”

A Victoria Police spokeswoman confirmed police had attended a dispute in Mont Albert on Thursday.

“Officers were called to reports of a dispute between residents on Windsor Crescent and workers on a railway upgrade project about 9pm,” the spokeswoman said. “Police had presence in the area to allow the work to take place safely and no crime was committed.”

But eventually, the prefabricated module was delivered to the Mont Albert end of the new Union station.

Lorne Parade runs alongside the Mont Albert concourse at Union station

Facing Lorne Parade.

Lorne Parade runs alongside the Mont Albert concourse at Union station

And still bearing the battle scars from it’s failed journey along the tree lined Mont Albert Road.

Damaged fascia on the Mont Albert concourse at Union station

Footnote: what’s up with The Australian?

For some reason the level crossing removal project at Mont Albert has been a cause célèbre for Victorian political reporter Rachel Baxendale at The Australian, with no less than 10 pieces published between February and May 2023.

13 Feb 2023: More secrecy claims over Andrews’ crossing project

Members of a second Melbourne community have accused the Level Crossing Removal Authority of secrecy, ‘sham’ consultation and a lack of due process.

15 Feb 2023: Manager caught in threats to business

A senior Victorian Level Crossing Removal Project executive and former Labor staffer has been caught on camera threatening the livelihood of small business owners.

16 Feb 2023: Secrecy on threatening rail boss

Victoria’s Level Crossing Removal Authority has refused to say whether one of its executives will be disciplined after being caught on camera bullying small-business owners.

16 Feb 2023: Project staffer caught ‘bullying’ investigated

The Victorian government says it is investigating after a senior Victorian Level Crossing Removal Project executive was caught bullying small business owners in Melbourne’s east.

21 Feb 2023: Barricaded from home by works

Residents in Melbourne’s east are unable to access properties for the next three months, despite receiving written assurances to the contrary from the Level Crossing Removal Authority.

22 Feb 2023: Level crossing secrecy slammed

A 90-year-old woman has accused the Andrews government’s Level Crossing Removal Authority of extreme secrecy and intimidatory behaviour.

28 Feb 2023: ‘No place for violence’: Andrews on alleged headbutt

Emergency services were called to the scene after a level crossing removal contractor allegedly headbutted the man in Melbourne.

28 Feb 2023: Prangs dent faith in level crossing work

Residents near an Andrews government level crossing removal project have ­accused authorities of ducking ­responsibility after their cars were damaged by construction trucks.

14 Apr 2023: State agency calls cops on the locals

Residents say their peaceful protest succeeded in saving 80 to 90 per cent of the tree branches the Andrews government’s level crossing removal agency had planned to lop.

22 May 2023: Level crossing ‘bully’ still has job

After months of refusing to comment on its investigation into the stakeholder relations manager’s conduct, Jacinta Allan has confirmed the former Labor staffer has kept his job.

You’ve gotta love Rupert’s Murdoch’s ‘flagship’ newspaper sending their Victorian political reporter out to cover local neighbourhood disputes in an feeble attempt to dig up a bad news story about Dan Andrews.

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Photos from ten years ago: May 2013

May 30th, 2023 6 Comments

Another instalment in my photos from ten years ago series – this time it is May 2013.

N462 departs North Melbourne on the down

Regional Rail Link

Work on Regional Rail Link was well underway, with the new flyover outside Fotscray taking shape to carry the new tracks over the Werribee line.

Piers and crossheads in place for the double track Werribee line flyover

And the cutting closer to Footscray was being widened for the extra tracks.

Up and down trains pass RRL construction works in the cutting east of Footscray station

The new suburban platforms were also taking shape at Footscray station.

New station building beside Irving Street, for the future up suburban platform

And the existing footbridge was being extended north over the future tracks.

Extending the north end of the footbridge over the future suburban track pair

The bridge over the low level goods lines was also being widened.

Work on a new four track bridge over the goods lines

With the rail alignment outside Sunshine also ready for the extra tracks.

Cleared alignment for the RRL tracks south of Sunshine station

While at the stalled Caroline Springs station site, work had restarted – but it was only a road deviation due to RRL related road closures.

Road over rail bridge for the Christies Road extension over the Ballarat line

The final stage of Regional Rail Link opened in June 2016, but Caroline Springs station had to wait – it finally opened to passengers in January 2017.

And off to Ballarat

I went on a trip to Ballarat onboard a 80 year old diesel railcar.

Looking down on RM58 at Southern Cross

Along the way we had to give way to some far more modern trains.

VL15 on the down runs through our train at Parwan Loop

Before our arrival into Ballarat.

Idling away beneath the train shed at Ballarat

But there is one thing that hasn’t changed in 80 years – the diesel exhaust belching into the air at Southern Cross Station.

Diesel fumes fill the air above Southern Cross platform 2

Protective Services Officers

Melbourne’s first group of Protective Services Officers were deployed in February 2012 to Flinders Street and Southern Cross stations, with the roll out ramping up soon after.

Protective Services Officers search two scruffy looking youths at Hoppers Crossing station

The limiting factor on their deployment – providing a prison cell at every railway station.

'Baillieu Box' on the island platform at Werribee station

Ding ding!

A decade ago there were no accessible tram stops or low floor trams running along Elizabeth Street in the Melbourne CBD.

Passengers waiting for northbound trams on Elizabeth Street at Bourke

But there was some progress being made – the tram tracks along Elizabeth Street were being relaid.

Breaking up the concrete tracks at Elizabeth and Lonsdale Streets

And Yarra Trams was using their new ‘kletterweichen’ (‘climbing turnout’) to allow trams to terminate short of the works, rather than forcing passengers to walk from the nearest permanent crossover.

Temporary crossover ('kletterweichen' or 'climbing turnout') in place on Elizabeth Street, north of La Trobe

However the new crossover still had some teething issues, as the first tram to pass over it derailed!

First tram recovery crew arrives on the scene

Yarra Trams having to send their heavy recovery vehicle to the site, to pull the tram back onto the rails.

Recovery vehicle R10 ready to pull tram Z3.229 back onto the rails

Meanwhile over on Swanston Street, dimwitted motorists were getting confused by the new platform stops – driving through the bike lanes.

Car drives through the bike only part of the Swanston Street tram stop

While out at Ascot Vale motorists were inflicting more damage, this driver having impaled their ute on five metres of safety zone fence.

Police in attendance, looking over the ute impaled on five metres of tram safety zone fence

So what was the solution that Yarra Trams has been applying across the network?

Removed tram stop 3 on route 55, corner of Flinders Lane and William Street

Closing tram stops.

“A recent review by Yarra Trams and Public Transport Victoria of the environment and layout at these stops has identified an increased safety risk to passengers and pedestrians. A number of improvement strategies have been trialled with minimal success”

And on the tram stops that remain – hiding network maps behind advertising slogans.

Yarra Trams network map hiding behind the advertising slogans

Buses

A decade ago City Sightseeing Melbourne was running a hop-on hop-off bus services around Melbourne using a fleet of open top double deck buses.

City Sightseeing Melbourne double decker outside Flinders Street Station, rego 9353AO

The service was a victim of the Covid-19 pandemic, and is yet to restart operations

Another competing tourist service was the Melbourne Free Visitor Shuttle.

Melbourne Free Visitor Shuttle waiting for passengers outside Federation Square, with bus #42 rego 1042AO

It was discontinued in 2017 after years of declining patronage.

Meanwhile out in Footscray, I found a colourful arrangement of Westrans, Sita and Melbourne Bus Link buses running route services.

Footscray's three bus operators: Westrans, Sita and Melbourne Bus Link

Today they’re operated by CDC Melbourne, Transit Systems Victoria and Kinetic Melbourne, and the orange PTV livery has replaced that of the private operators.

Myki

Myki had taken over as the only ticketing system in Melbourne, with Metcard ticket machines pulled out of trams, and replaced by an extra seat.

Another Z3 class tram with the Metcard machine removed

But the reliability of the new system was somewhat lacking – I found this stack trace for ‘log4net‘ displayed on this Myki reader.

Stack trace from 'log4net' displayed on a Myki FPD

And the rest

Remember Melbourne Bike Share?

Trio of Melbourne Bike Share users ready to set off on their adventure

It ceased operations in November 2019.

Meanwhile over at 447 Collins Street, work was underway to reinforce the failing facade.

The marble facade panels being removed from the lower floors to avoid any further pieces falling to earth.

Turning into Flinders Lane from William Street, Z3.146 on route 55

But it was only a temporary fix – the entire tower was demolished in 2015, with the ‘pantscraper’ known as ‘Collins Arch‘ completed on the site in 2020.

Footnote

Here you can find the rest of my ‘photos from ten years ago‘ series.

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Railway station seats – are they really that difficult?

May 23rd, 2023 20 Comments

You’d think providing seating for waiting passengers at a railway station wouldn’t be difficult to arrange. But over at the Level Crossing Removal Authority they seem to have a lot of trouble achieving it, as this trio of projects goes to show.

Who designs this crap - the seats at the new North Williamstown station are sky high

North Williamstown Station – too high

A new low-level railway station at North Williamstown formed part of the Ferguson Street level crossing removal project, but on opening in December 2021 seating at the new station was anything but stupidly high.

Who designs this crap - the seats at the new North Williamstown station are sky high

Passengers left dangling their feet up in the air.

Who designs this crap – the seats at the new North Williamstown station are sky high
Who designs this crap - the seats at the new North Williamstown station are sky high

Every seat at the new station being stupidly high above the ground.

Every seat at the new station is stupidly high

At least their was a lot of them!

Every seat at the new station is stupidly high

Perhaps this bloke was the architect, wanting to extract revenge on a world that forced him to pull his legs up everywhere?

Luckily Australian Standards 1428.2-1992 “Design for access and mobility, Part 2: Enhanced and additional requirements – Buildings and facilities” details how high a seat should be off the ground.

The seats at North Williamstown look quite non-compliant, and luckily the Level Crossing Removal Authority agreed.

But two months after opening, fixing the seats was still on their todo list.

The seats finally being replaced with normal height ones by March 2022.

The seats at the new North Williamstown station have been replaced with normal height ones

Deer Park Station – the Bunnings special

In April 2023 a new elevated station at Deer Park opened as part of the Mt Derrimut Road level crossing removal project, but it wasn’t quite quite done – Myki ticketing equipment and accessible access skipped in the rush to get the station open.

VLocity VL90 and classmate arrive into the new elevated Deer Park station on the up

Ordering seating for waiting passengers also got missed in the process, so the Level Crossing Removal Authority had to race down to Bunnings and pick up a pile of “Black Steel Park Benches” by Marquee to place along the platforms.

Marquee brand 'Steel Park Benches' from Bunnings on the platform

As a rest area along the DDA-compliant ramp.

Marquee brand ‘Steel Park Benches’ from Bunnings installed on the ramp to platform 1
Marquee brand 'Steel Park Benches' from Bunnings installed on the ramp to platform 1

And along the rabbit warren of paths through the construction site for platform access.

Marquee brand 'Steel Park Benches' from Bunnings beside the walkway through the construction site to platform 1

They also had a half-dozen left over seats by the time they were finished.

Boxes of Marquee brand 'Steel Park Benches' from Bunnings waiting to be installed around the station

Which would explain why I can no longer find this specific ‘Steel Park Bench’ on the Bunnings Website.

Union Station- the leafy eastern doesn’t miss out!

In May 2023 the new low-level Union Station opened in Melbourne’s east, replacing Surrey Hills and Mont Albert station as part of the removal of the Union Road and Mont Albert Road level crossings, after an intensive three month shutdown of the railway.

Looking down the line from Union Road towards the new station, a single bridge span carries services over the future rail cutting

But that still wasn’t enough time to order some proper bench seats for the new station environs.

They made a quick trip down to Bunnings, and picked up some “Marquee 1.2m Black Steel And Cast Iron Mimosa Ornate Benches” for $135 each.

I suppose they look a bit fancier than the ones Deer Park was given.

Footnote – Australian Standards

You can’t actually read Australian Standards without paying through the nose for them, despite a whole swag of legislation requiring compliance with them – so have fun trying to get access to Australian Standards 1428.2-1992 “Design for access and mobility, Part 2: Enhanced and additional requirements – Buildings and facilities”. Instead, here’s a quick summary on what it says on street furniture.

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The saga of concession myki sales at ticket machines

May 16th, 2023 9 Comments

Things move slow in the land of Myki, so I was surprised the other week to discover that that Myki machines can finally sell General Concession, Senior and Child myki cards. Previously they only sold full fare ones.

'Buy myki' help text displayed on a Myki machine

So why was it a problem?

When Myki was first rolled out, the cards were bright green, with different designs for Full Fare, Concession, Child and Student fares.

Full fare, concession and seniors Myki cards for sale at a 7-Eleven store

As you might expect, having to keep four different types of card in stock was a logistical pain, so in May 2013 it was decided to move to a single card design, as part of a larger rebrand of Myki.

Over the coming weeks you will notice some changes as the myki website progressively moves to the Public Transport Victoria website.

We’ve already updated myki management forms to include the PTV website and call centre number.

And we’ve just replaced all references to the myki call centre number with the PTV call centre number (1800 800 007) on the myki website, but because cards last for four years, your myki card will continue to carry the 13 6954 number for a while. There’s no need to worry. If you call the myki call centre number you will continue to be diverted to the PTV call centre.

We are also in the process of moving to a single myki card design which will allow us to add PTV information to all new cards produced in the future. These cards are expected to be available later this year.

“Later this year” was wishful thinking, with the new look cards not rolled out until November 2014.

Victoria will see new-look myki cards from early November, the next step in Public Transport Victoria’s (PTV) plan to simplify the system and provide more options at myki ticket machines next year.

The new-look myki is dark grey and will be available for all passenger types. It features PTV’s network branding design, PTV’s updated contact information, and a blank strip for customers to write their name for identification.

Alan Fedda, PTV’s Director of Customer Services, said the new-look myki has many benefits for card sellers, operators, and distributors.

“The new-look myki will make distribution and stock holding simpler for retailers and station window staff as they no longer need to carry four different types of cards,” said Mr Fedda.

“Distributing four separate card types across the network increases delivery costs for PTV.

“The single card design streamlines the process of ordering and handling cards for operator and retail outlets, and reduces the overall amount of stock they need to hold on site.”

In 2015, new-look cards will enable seniors, child and concession customers to purchase myki cards at myki vending machines for the first time.

Mr Fedda said myki machines will be reprogrammed to sell all four types of myki cards.

“Myki machines will only carry the new-look myki. The passenger type and any concession entitlements will be coded to the myki at the vending machine.

“This means seniors, children and concession customers will be able to purchase myki cards at unstaffed stations, in addition to the staffed stations and other locations they already use.”

Mr Fedda said there was no need for customers to change to a new card if their green myki has not expired, in line with PTV’s commitment to minimise wastage.

And their 2015 timeline for selling all kinds of card in machines was even more optimistic – the subsequent Myki machine ‘upgrade’ was just some new stickers!

And the rollout of card sales of all types to ticket machines – it took until August 2021!

Victorians can now buy more types of myki cards from myki machines. Until now, you could only purchase a Full Fare myki from a myki machine but this is changing.

Beginning Friday 20 August 2021, General Concession, Senior and Child myki cards will be available for purchase from a myki machine. This applies to all myki machines throughout Victoria and is expected to be completed by Tuesday 31 August 2021.

A Full Fare myki costs $6.00 and a General Concession, Senior and Child myki each cost $3.00. You will still be able to top up with myki Money or a myki Pass at every myki machine. The minimum top up amount is $1, but we recommend topping up with at least a 2-hour fare so you have a valid ticket for your next trip.

If you’re travelling with a General Concession, Senior or Child myki, please ensure you have the correct proof of eligibility with you.

That’s 7 years since the idea was first floated publicly.

'Fare type' menu displayed on a Myki machine when buying a new card

Footnote: the other long running Myki saga

Myki machines were also know for covering Melbourne in unwanted receipts – that problem was eventually fixed in 2019.

Footnote: expiry dates and retail ticket sales

Turns out the expiry date of Myki cards sold at retail outlets is set during the card distribution stage, a problem discovered in 2013 when people buying “new” cards discovered they were almost ready expire.

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Multi-deck car parks at Melbourne railway stations

May 9th, 2023 7 Comments

Melbourne is a city that has grown to depend on private motor vehicles, with a woeful bus network that fails to connect to the railway lines that do exist. So it isn’t a real surprise to see that ‘park and ride’ car parks have been seen as the solution to the problem.

Full car park at Sunshine station for the first time in years

The early years

The first multi-deck car park at a Melbourne railway station opened in 1984 as part of the rebuild of Box Hill into a transport interchange and shopping centre. On the lowest level of the shopping centre car park, there is an area dedicated to all day parking by public transport users.

But it took two decades for the next one to be built – in inner suburban Elsternwick on the Sandringham line. There a 156-space, five-level car park was built in 2003 beside the railway station, as part of a $10 million residential and commercial development on 4000 sq metres of publicly owned land.

Five story railway station car park at Elsternwick

And it took another decade for the third multi-deck car park to be built – a $10.8 million four storey structure at Syndal on the Glen Waverley line, which added 250 car spaces to bring the total at the station to 590.

Street side of the multi-storey car park at Syndal station

And it’s on

With the launch of the Level Crossing Removal Project in 2015, there has been one iron clad commitment followed in every single project they have completed across Melbourne – “no net loss of car parking”.

Government signage promoting the Burke Road Level Crossing Removal Project

Initially this requirement was met by expanding at grade car parks at nearby railway stations or on land freed up by the relocation of railway tracks, but as the project moved into more densely populated areas, this was not possible.

And so Cheltenham station gained a four storey 220-space car park in 2020.

Multi storey car park towers over the station at Cheltenham

And Mooroolbark station gained a four storey 900-space behemoth in 2022.

Multi storey car park taking shape on the north side of the station

And doubling down

In the lead up to the 2019 federal election the Morrison Government launched their ‘Urban Congestion Fund’ – intended to fund car parks at railway stations, it was widely criticised as a way to buy votes in marginal seats.


Australian National Audit Office diagram

But the Andrew’s Government in Victoria had already been playing that game, following the launch of the $150 million ‘Car Parks for Commuters Fund’ in 2018. Multi-deck car parks being built as part of this program include –

Frankston: 500-space multi-deck car park, jointly funded by the Victorian Government and the Australian Government, and delivered by the Level Crossing Removal Project.

Greensborough: 100-space car park and bus interchange, jointly funded by the Victorian Government and the Australian Government, and delivered by the Level Crossing Removal Project.

Sunbury: 300-space car park, funded by the Victorian Government, Australian Government Urban Congestion Fund, and the Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution (GAIC) Fund.

Watsonia: 60-space car park as part of the North East Link project.

Belgrave: 640-space car park funded by the Victorian Government and delivered by VicTrack.

Footnote: meanwhile in Sydney

Up in Sydney they’ve building multi-deck car parks at railway stations for decades – one example is the $29 million expansion of the Revesby station car park, which added three storeys to the existing car park, providing 385 additional car spaces.

Work underway on a $29 million expansion of the Revesby station car park

Further reading

It’s surprisingly hard to find how many car parks actually exist at Melbourne railway stations, but back in 2016 Public Transport Victoria published a dataset, which Philip Mallis has plotted in map form here.

The Office of the Victorian Government Architect also has a Design principles: Multi-deck commuter car parks document, to describes how they can “can support and contribute to a well-connected, enjoyable, safe and vibrant public realm”.

Daniel Bowen has also written about Melbourne’s station parking problem, and the poor state of alternatives to driving to the station.

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