Cade Lucas
Opponents of the controversial Champion Road Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP) are calling on Williamstown MP Melissa Horne to resign as they launch a last ditch attempt to stop the project with early works now underway.
On April 9, The Keep Champion Road Open campaign group launched a petition demanding the project be stopped, arguing the state government was going ahead without transparency, community consultation or releasing the full designs.
The Change.org petition directed at Ms Horne, Transport Infrastructure Minister Gabrielle Williams and Premier Jacinta Allan, argues there is no evidence to justify the closure of Champion Road, which they believe will cause traffic congestion, risk public safety and damage the local environment and economy.
In addition, Keep Champion Road Open spokesperson and Newport resident Damian Costin said the campaign group wanted local member and Roads Minister Melissa Horne to resign, saying residents needed better representation on the issue.
“She has failed on her only role to serve her constituents,” said Mr Costin in correspondence with Star Weekly.
“She’s got to go. She’s got to resign. She has lost the faith of the entire community.”
In response, Ms Horne said she would not be resigning and that she had represented her constituents on the Champion Road issue.
“I know there are a large number of people in the community who are opposed to this project,” Ms Horne said.
“And over the past two years, I have had countless conversations with the premier, treasurer and transport infrastructure minister to give voice to these concerns.
“However with the project now underway, I am focusing on working with the community to minimise construction disruption, support traders, and get the best possible outcomes for our community.”
A state government spokesperson said with the Metro Tunnel about to open, the Newport LXRP was especially important.
“With even more trains set to run on the Werribee Line in the future, not removing these crossings and building a new link road will result in more boom gate downtime,” the spokesperson said.
On April 8, the day before the petition was launched, the LXRP authority announced that early works on the removal of the Champion and Maddox Road level crossings had begun and warned motorists to expect road and lane closures on Maddox Road for up to four weeks from April 28.
