The Victorian Government is removing 6 dangerous and congested level crossings on the Sunbury Line and delivering the Sunbury Line Upgrade as part of an investment to improve safety, reduce congestion and run more trains, more often.

We’re removing the level crossing at Calder Park Drive in Calder Park by building a new road bridge over the rail line, improving safety and easing congestion for 10,000 drivers each day.This design means we can remove the level crossing sooner and it will be less disruptive for drivers and train passengers.

Traffic improvements in the area mean we can close the dangerous level crossing at Holden Road, making local roads safer and journeys on the Sunbury line more reliable.

Major construction will start in 2023 and the project will be complete by 2025.

Introduction

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

The consultation period was open from Tuesday 28 June to Friday 5 August 2022.

Opportunities for the community to provide feedback were promoted in a community update, which was sent to 8100 homes and businesses in Calder Park, Hillside, Sydenham and Taylors Lakes. Consultation was also advertised on Facebook to locals.

3 email updates were sent to 208 subscribers, and our website and social media channels were used to direct people to the survey on the Engage Victoria hub. Hard copies were available to members of the public that preferred to provide a written submission.

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

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

Your feedback

• 147 survey responses
• Survey open for 5 weeks
• 3420 page views on Engage Victoria with 1360 unique visitors
• 208 email update subscribers
• 8100 community updates dropped in letterboxes
• 2 community pop ups at Watergardens Shopping Centre and FoodWorks, Hillside

What we heard

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

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

Your preferences surrounding design and landscaping in the project area.

• Natural look and feel on the new infrastructure, reflecting the local area
• Vegetated embankment
• A mix of native plants, flowering shrubs and grasses to enhance the character of the local area

Key themes from your feedback

Overall design

You asked for the new road bridge to include more lanes in the future. The road bridge and shared use path design has been future-proofed to allow for future upgrades on the west of Calder Park Drive.

You told us you prioritised a natural look and feel on the new road bridge, instead of colourful treatments.

Pedestrian and bike riding connections

While most locals told us they travel through the Calder Park Drive level crossing by car, there was strong support for improved bike riding and pedestrian connections, as there are no existing pedestrian links across the level crossing.

Safety

Improved lighting to enhance safety was highly valued in the feedback.

Landscaping

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

Road access changes

We heard concerns about changes to how you will move through the area. We’re closing the Holden Road level crossing to make local roads safer and journeys on the Sunbury line more reliable.

Next steps

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback about the Calder Park Drive Level Crossing Removal Project.

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

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

Stay up to date

The best way to stay informed about the project is by signing up to email updates.

If you have any questions or would like more information, call 1800 105 105 or email contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Text Calder to 0436 483 603 for SMS alerts about construction impacts and traffic changes in the area.