The Victorian Government is removing 22 dangerous level crossings, including the 1 at Brunt Road, Beaconsfield as part of a $15 billion investment to upgrade the Pakenham Line that will improve safety, reduce congestion and allow more trains to run more often.

The Brunt Road level crossing will be removed by building a new road bridge over the Pakenham Line, improving safety and easing congestion for the 8400 drivers passing through each day.

The road bridge design means we can remove the Brunt Road level crossing sooner with less disruption for drivers and train passengers during construction.

The boom gates will be gone for good in 2025, when the Pakenham Line will become level crossing-free.

Major construction will start in 2023.

• 8,400 vehicles travel through the boom gates each day
• Boom gates down for 20 per cent of the morning peak
• 24 trains travel through the crossing in the morning peak
• Pakenham Line level crossing-free by 2025

Introduction

We sought feedback on what you value about the local area, how you move around and your design preferences.

The consultation period was open from Friday 20 May to Monday 29 June 2022 and was held on the Engage Victoria online portal. Hard copies were available on request to members of the public that preferred to provide a written submission.

Opportunities for the community to provide feedback were promoted in a community update, which was distributed to 6500 homes and businesses in Beaconsfield and Officer. Consultation was also advertised on Facebook to residents living in the area.

Two email updates were sent to 3009 subscribers, and the Level Crossing Removal Project’s website and social media channels were used to direct people to the survey on the Engage Victoria hub.

The responses received will help us shape the design and understand what’s important to the community about the local area.

We will share how community input has shaped the project, and present final designs to residents and stakeholders in coming months.

Your feedback

There was a high level of community interest in the project, with a total of 259 survey responses received on Engage Victoria.

• 259 survey responses received
• Survey open for one month
• 7970 page views of our Engage Victoria platform, with 2560 unique visitors
• 3009 email update subscribers
• About 6500 community updates dropped in letterboxes
• 2 pop up stalls at Arena Shopping Centre

What we heard

We asked you to share your preferences, insights and feedback on the project.

We heard that connections, accessibility, urban design and safety are all important principles to you.

Your preferences surrounding design and landscaping in the project area.

• Trees and plants along a shared walking and cycling path
• Vegetated embankments
• Natural look and feel on new infrastructure

Key themes from your feedback

Landscaping

You told us you would like a combination of native trees, shrubs, flowering plants and grasses that extend the character of the local area.

Pedestrian and cycling connections

While most locals told us they travel through the Brunt Road level crossing by car, there was strong support for improved cycling and pedestrian connections, as there are no existing pedestrian links across the level crossing. You also wanted to see planting along shared use paths and pedestrian paths.

Safety

Improved lighting to enhance safety for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists was highly valued in the feedback.

Overall design

You told us you prioritised a natural look and feel to the area, with improved cycling and pedestrian connections also important.

Road access changes

We heard concerns that Kenilworth Avenue will no longer connect to Brunt Road. Cardinia Shire Council’s Officer Precinct Structure Plan has a future connector street – Iceberg Road – linking Kenilworth Avenue to Rix Road.

What’s important to you

We asked you to select images that reflected your preference for the look and feel of the new road bridge. The images below were the most popular, with people wanting native landscaping and perforated, patterned screening allowing some visibility from the road bridge.

Next Steps

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback about the Brunt Road Level Crossing Removal Project.

Your feedback has been invaluable and will be used to progress the designs for the project.

In the coming months, we’ll share final project designs and more details about our works.

Connect with us

The best way to stay up to date on the project is by signing up to email updates.

Connect with us on social media for the latest project news.

Text Brunt Road to 0429 728 488 for future SMS alerts about construction impacts and traffic changes in your area.

Project timeline

Mid 2022

• Early site investigations
• Community consultation

Late 2022

• Contract award
• Designs updated based on community consultation
• Site establishment

2023

• Major construction commences

2025

• Level crossing removed

*Timeline above subject to change