Jennifer Pittorino
Hobsons Bay council will launch an information campaign outlining alternative options to the Level Crossing Removal Project’s (LXRP) plan to completely close the Champions Road crossing to traffic.
LXRP announced its plan to completely close the crossing in October, 2022, sparking concern from council and residents.
At a council meeting on May 14, councillors voted to “immediately begin” an information campaign about the Champion Road and Maddox Road level crossing removal program.
The campaign would include a newsletter sent to every household in Newport, Williamstown and Altona North, outlining council’s discussions with pipeline operators, its findings on Maddox Road traffic congestion and alternative options to LXRP’s proposal, a report to council said. It would also feature regular website and social media postings.
“All the information that has gone out is very one-sided and [the community] think council is supportive of the current proposal,” Cr Peter Hemphill said. “So here’s a real opportunity to get some real information out there.”
Cr Hemphill, who raised the idea of the campaign, urged council to also oppose the removal of its planning controls in the area surround the project, as well as the takeover of Quarry Reserve as a staging point for works and the loss of parking on Ross Road, which is currently used as an overflow car park for Newport Mosque. Cr Hemphill said he and Cr Pamela Sutton-Legaud identified several problems, including an “unusually large planning project boundary”, after recently attending a meeting with the LXRP.
“It takes up all the streets and some of the council land in West Newport, Williamstown, industrial parts of Williamstown, Altona North and Altona. “I am told that it is very unusual to set a project boundary like this and goes hand in hand with the planning controls.”
Cr Hemphill said this means the government will gain control over council streets and council would need permission from the state government to do works on those streets.
A LXRP spokesperson said the project team has had frequent meetings with council since 2023. “Getting rid of two dangerous and congested 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.”
