Trees and vegetation

We’re removing the level crossings at McDonald Street in Mordialloc and Station Street in Aspendale by building new rail bridges.

We’re also removing and closing the Bear Street level crossing in Mordialloc and building a new Mordialloc Station, creating a vibrant new station precinct with safe access for pedestrians and cyclists in 2026.

As we prepare to build the new rail bridges, new Mordialloc Station and provide other project upgrades, we need to remove some trees and vegetation.

Throughout planning and construction, we work with independent arborists and environmental experts to minimise and manage impacts on trees and vegetation in the project area.

As part of our commitment to the environment, we protect trees we can retain, carefully monitor and rehome wildlife and will landscape over 23,000 square metres, across the project area.

As part of the project, we're creating new open space with new trees and greenery for the community to enjoy.

Throughout Mordialloc and Aspendale, we'll plant:

• More than 1,000 trees
• More than 85,000 plants, shrubs and grasses

Landscaping and planting

Your feedback has helped shape the designs of the new Mordialloc Station and station precinct. We heard that you wanted to see native and indigenous plants used throughout the precinct's landscaping. We'll select plant species that are suited to the local area and conditions to ensure their long-term viability and fit with the local flora and fauna.

Managing tree removal

We carefully plan our works to reduce impacts on local trees and vegetation before beginning construction.

Vegetation removal is required for:

• construction of the new station and rail bridges
• rail and drainage infrastructure
• underground services
• other construction works where tree root zones are impacted.

Tree and vegetation removal will start in February 2025 and we'll keep you informed about how we're reusing the timber.

How we minimise impacts

We know the environment is important to the Mordialloc and Aspendale communities. Building rail bridges allows us to retain more trees and vegetation compared to other level crossing removal methods.

As part of our planning process, independent arborists and environmental experts assessed all trees and vegetation in the project area. Their advice allows us to retain as many trees and shrubs as possible. Any trees and shrubs that can be safely retained will be clearly marked and protected during construction.

Did you know?

We've cared for and returned more than 50 palms along the Frankston Line while we removed level crossings at Glen Huntly, Ormond, McKinnon, Bentleigh, Cheltenham, Parkdale and Carrum.

Preserving Mordialloc’s Canary Island date palms

We need to remove several Canary Island date palms near our works and will relocate these where possible.

One palm in the station forecourt will be temporarily moved to a nursery during construction and will be reinstated as a feature of the new forecourt.

To make way for the new rail bridge at McDonald Street, 5 palms next to the rail line will be relocated. We’ll work with Kingston City Council to replant these nearby in Hazel Pierce Reserve.

One palm near the corner of Main Street Service Road and Nepean Highway was assessed by arborists as not suitable for relocation due to its condition and will be removed to make room for a new left slip lane.

Looking out for wildlife

We work with qualified wildlife handlers who inspect trees and vegetation and safely rehome any wildlife before tree removal. These specialists are on site during works to safely rehome wildlife we may encounter unexpectedly. We will also install nearly 30 nest boxes to provide comfortable nesting opportunities for native birds and wildlife in locations selected by wildlife experts, away from construction activities.