We’re removing 4 dangerous and congested level crossings at Coburns, Exford and Ferris roads in Melton, and Hopkins Road in Truganina to make Melton boom gate free in 2026. We’re also building a new modern and accessible Melton Station.

The Hopkins Road level crossing will be gone for good when the new road bridge opens in 2026. Community feedback has helped shaped the designs, including planting and landscaping for the project.

We'll plant over 200 new native trees in the project area, including 39 native Lemon Scented Gum trees alongside the new walking and cycling path.

The Hopkins Road bridge will also feature landscaped batters, which are the sloped parts of the road bridge.

Additionally, we will plant over 80,000 native grasses, shrubs and tussocks as well as seed over 35,000 square metres of the project area as part of final landscaping works.

Using native plants celebrates local biodiversity and will ensure new plants are best placed to thrive in the surrounding climate and soil conditions.

Throughout Truganina, we’ll plant:

• More than 200 trees
• Over 80,000 native grasses, shrubs and tussocks
• More than 50 different plant species

Trees

We're planting over 200 native trees as part of our works. Along the new shared use path, we're planting 39 native Lemon Scented Gum trees and in other areas near the road bridge, we'll plant species such as River Red Gum, Lightwood and Brittle Gum.

Shrubs, low-cover plants, groundcovers, tufting plants and grasses

We’ll plant about 40 species of shrubs, low-cover plants, groundcovers, tufting plants and grasses as part of the project.

You’ll see a range of shrubs around the road bridge, and on the batters, which are the sloped parts of the road bridge.

The batters will feature over 15 different types of shrubs, grasses and tufting plants such as Berry Saltbush, Prostrate Acacia, Creeping Boobialla, Dusky Bells Correa, Common Tussock-Grass and Weeping Rice-Grass.

Groundcover refers to low-growing plants, shrubs and grasses that spread horizontally, creating a carpet-like effect. These types of plants help to prevent soil erosion and weeds and enhance local biodiversity.

Trees, shrubs, grasses and tussocks will be planted at a variety of ages and will take time to mature and grow into spaces.