Gellibrand MP Tim Watts has voiced his opposition to the closure of Champion Road as part of the removal of level crossings in Newport, in the biggest blow to the project to date.
Mr Watts, whose electorate takes in Champion Road, announced in a social media post on Wednesday that he opposed the Newport Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP) in its current form and urged the state government to pause work on it.
While not a federal project, Mr Watts is the most senior Labor figure to come out against the Newport LXRP which has been met with fierce opposition from the local community and Hobsons Bay council.
Mr Watts said he’d come to his decision after listening to community concerns about the impact the closure of Champion Road would have on safety, the environment and amenity in the area, as well as conversations with colleagues in the state government, including Williamstown MP Melissa Horne.
“As a result of these conversations, I’ve reached the view that the Champion Road Level Crossing Removal should not proceed in its current form,” he wrote on Facebook, adding that he’d already written to Premier Jacinta Allen and Transport Infrastructure Minister Danny Pearson asking them to pause the project.
“As construction work on the project seems set to commence, I’m now making my position public.”
Mr Watt’s decision was welcomed by Keep Champion Road Open campaign spokesperson Gill Gannon, who said the state government was now isolated on the issue.
“It’s interesting that the local community, Hobsons Bay council, state member and federal member all oppose this closure, yet the Allan Government is not taking any of it into account,” said Ms Gannon.
“Absolutely mind boggling.”
While not calling for the project to be paused, Ms Horne last week told state parliament that her constituents didn’t want the project and that she’d been working with Transport Infrastructure Minister Danny Pearson about ways to address their concerns.
Mr Pearson was contacted for comment.
Hobsons Bay mayor Daria Kellander said she was pleased to see Mr Watts call for the project to be paused.
“While it is very late in the day, the community appreciates this support,” Cr Kellander said.
An LXRP spokesperson said level crossings were dangerous and getting rid of them would make Newport safer.
“There have been six near misses at these level crossings,” the spokesperson said.
