Level crossing removal community update

We’re removing 110 dangerous and congested level crossings across Melbourne by 2030, with 74 already gone for good. Mt Derrimut Road was number 68, with the level crossing removed in April 2023.

We’ve removed the level crossing by elevating the rail line over Mt Derrimut Road and built a new modern station with a multi-bay bus interchange and an additional 150 new and upgraded car spaces, creating a safer, better-connected community.

The Ballarat and Geelong train lines are now level crossing free between Deer Park and the city. With the station and car parks now fully operational, the new bus interchange will open in the coming weeks, making the connection between trains and buses even easier.

Since major works began in August 2022, crews have completed over 1.2 million hours on site, transforming and revitalising the Deer Park Station precinct.

While finishing works are underway, we’d like to thank the community for their patience throughout construction.

Project benefits

• Improved safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists
• Increased accessibility to public transport services
• Better connections on both sides of the rail line
• A more reliable road network and better travel times
• Paving the way for future transport upgrades

Deer Park Station makes history

Deer Park’s new station is the first in Victoria with a rooftop garden.

The project team has planted more than 5500 native grasses and wildflowers on top of the station buildings, which are visible from the stairs and platform on the Melbourne-bound side.

With a focus on flowering native plants such as the rock correa, rounded noon flower, blueberry lily and eutaxia, the rooftop garden will add to the biodiversity of Deer Park, complementing the local flora of Melbourne’s western suburbs.

The rooftop garden will also help to reduce the ‘heat island effect’ of surrounding suburban buildings and public infrastructure, reduce storm water runoff, and improve water quality.

More than 50,000 trees, shrubs and grasses will have been planted in the station precinct when works are completed.

Recycling construction waste makes a difference

To build the new rail bridge and station, crews demolished the previous station and excavated the site to lay foundations and locate underground services. More than 80% of the construction waste and excavated material, mostly asphalt, concrete and steel, was sent to an industrial recycler where it has been processed for reuse on other construction projects.

While strengthening our waste system by looking for opportunities to reduce landfill, greenhouse gases and pollution, we have also used recycled materials during construction, including:

• Up to 30% reclaimed asphalt in the upgraded intersection of Mt Derrimut, Station and Tilburn roads and the new Deer Park Station car parks.
• 70,946 tonnes of recycled construction materials including crushed concrete and bricks, and over 17 million recycled glass bottles, saving on extracting natural resources from the ground.
• 5,000 tonnes of rail ballast (crushed rock) from the original tracks reused in the new station drainage system.

By using materials recycled on site, the project has saved an estimated 113 truck trips for deliveries. We have also donated 4.5km of guard rails and 1000 sleepers to be reused on the Heritage Railway at Tarrawarra in the Yarra Valley.

Reducing, reusing and recycling are not just for home, construction projects can also make a difference.

Q&A with Deer Park Station V/Line staff

What does a typical day at work involve?

Sara: There is no such thing as a typical day at Deer Park Station. Every day is a new adventure and a new challenge!

What is your favourite thing about the new Deer Park Station?

Paul: The new facilities for customers, especially the waiting room and toilets, which is a major improvement from the old station. And the new V/Line ticket office is a welcome change. It’s great seeing new customers enjoy our new station and I’m grateful that our long-term customers have the new train station that they deserve.

What have you learnt from working in the Deer Park community?

Paul: The community has been very understanding of the challenges that come with a new build of this size, they have stayed focused on the end result.

Sara: I say this all the time but the customers we have at Deer Park are amazing. Everyone is friendly, understanding and always greet each of us with a smile. We are really lucky to have the opportunity to work in a pretty wonderful and friendly community.

Project Timeline

Mid 2020

• Project announced

Early 2021

• Concept designs released
• Community engagement

Mid 2021

• Site investigations

Early 2022

• Final designs released
• Early works and site establishment

Mid 2022

• Major construction started

April 2023

• Level crossing removed
• New Deer Park Station opened

Late 2023

• Station precinct and car park complete
• Bus interchange complete

2024

• Project complete

*Timeline subject to change.