Jennifer Pittorino
Hobsons Bay council is asking the Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP) to assess the alternative options council has created, to avoid closing Champion Road.
In October 2022, the state government announced Champion Road would be completely closed to traffic to support the implementation of a rail bridge.
In its meeting on Tuesday, June 11, council reiterated its view that Champion Road should not be closed.
Council said it has worked with members of the Level Crossing Community Interest Group, local community groups, as well as major project stakeholders, including Mobil and Viva Energy, to develop two potential alternative options to closing Champion Road.
These two options include a Champion Road bridge over rail, similar to Aviation Road, Laverton LXR project, and the extension of the Maddox Road rail bridge over Champion Road, similar to Kororoit Creek Road, Altona LXR project.
Hobsons Bay council chief executive Aaron van Egmond said these options have been explored by council officers and councillors.
“It is important to note the options that are put forward have been put forward in an attempt to fully implement councils resolution in opposing the closure of Champion Road,” he said.
“So the community can be informed as to what lengths have been gone to to fully explore options to make sure a really important road in the Hobsons Bay network is not closed off as a result of this project.”
Council officers have also completed a closure of Champion Road traffic impact assessment, which found that the closure will result in increased traffic in the area.
“The closure of Champion Road will result in a considerable redistribution of traffic movements, with drivers diverting their trips via Maddox Road to cross the railway line,” said a council report.
The report also found that a vehicle connection on Champion Road across the railway should be retained based on future population projections.
A state government spokesperson said, “The designs from Hobsons Bay City Council are completely unfeasible and do not stack up.
“They would require significant compulsory acquisition of homes and businesses in Newport and would interfere with critical pipelines that provide fuel to Melbourne Airport.
“Getting rid of two level crossings at Maddox and Champion roads will improve safety and allow more trains to run in the future without increasing boom gate down time.”
