We’ve removed the dangerous and congested level crossings at Neerim Road and Glen Huntly Road, by lowering the rail line into a trench. We’ve also built a new Glen Huntly Station.

Finishing works to complete the project are continuing. This includes landscaping in the station precinct, the new pocket park on Neerim Road and on local streets.

With the Queens Avenue cycling path alignment confirmed in late May, landscaping on Derby Crescent will begin from early July, and works are expected to be complete by early August.

We’ll plant native and indigenous plants, shrubs and groundcovers. We’ll also plant trees along the rail verge, where rail safety requirements allow.

For safety reasons, and to ensure Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM) can access underground services, we aren’t able to plant near or on top of rail assets, cabinets, and combined services route pits.

We’ll also keep a perimeter of crushed rocks around rail infrastructure, to meet MTM rail requirements.

Community input

As a result of community feedback in late 2020 and early 2021, we’ll plant a mixture of indigenous and native plants along Derby Crescent.

Derby Crescent residents have asked us to incorporate existing community planting along the rail verge, and because of this feedback these areas will remain untouched.

See community feedback from late 2020 and early 2021 here.

Landscaping plan

The landscaping plan for Derby Crescent takes into consideration the existing street character, plants that are suitable in an urban environment, standards for vegetation maintenance, and requirements for safety and access in the rail corridor.

We’ve worked closely with a team of experts including landscape architects, qualified arborists, sustainability and environmental specialists alongside Glen Eira City Council officers to finalise the landscaping plan and to ensure it reflects the look and feel of Derby Crescent.

Our plans include retaining as much of the existing landscaping as possible. We have a standard two-year maintenance agreement following the planting of any vegetation. This ensures plants are regularly watered and maintained and any that don’t survive are replaced.

Trees

We have carefully chosen two tree species, lemon scented gum and snow-in-summer, that will enhance Derby Crescent’s surroundings.

The lemon scented gum has been chosen for its lemon fragrance, striking aesthetic appeal, and adaptability to various climates.

The snow-in-summer tree has been chosen for its dense foliage, which provides valuable shade and helps reduce heat in city landscapes.

Its fast-growing nature and ability to serve as an effective screening tree make it ideal for creating a separation between the Derby Crescent streetscape and the rail corridor.

Plants, understories and groundcovers

We've carefully selected more than 35 different species of plants, shrubs and grasses to be planted across the area which will make up the majority of the landscaping design.

This includes indigenous and native varieties that can endure the local conditions while enhancing the area’s ecological value.

The selected vegetation will also help to create a resilient, sustainable landscape as they are drought- tolerant varieties requiring low water usage, as well as fast growing.

Some of these species will include:

• Purple Coral-Pea
• Mat-Rush Tanika
• Native Fuchsia
• Hop Goodenia
• Pig Face
• Coast Flax Lily
• Rounded Noon-Flower

Landscaping and vegetation

Our landscaping plan for Derby Crescent allows for ground cover, understorey and small plants. We’ll also plant trees along the rail verge, where rail safety requirements allow. We are working with Glen Eira City Council to explore increasing vegetation and screening on the rail side of the road.

2 for 1 tree planting

We have committed to replanting two trees for every one that was removed during construction for the Glen Huntly Level Crossing Removal Project.

As there is not enough space along the rail line to plant all these trees, we will plant over 500 trees within 1.5km of the Glen Huntly Station precinct.

• Community planting along the rail verge preserved
• All planting is native
• Planting along the rail side of Derby Crescent
• 6 plants per square metre

Derby Crescent landscaping area

Below is a map showing where we’ll landscape, highlighting existing areas that will be incorporated into new landscaping.

Indicative only, not to scale and subject to change.