The Victorian Government is removing 50 dangerous and congested level crossings across Melbourne, including the level crossings at Bell Street in Coburg and Moreland Road in Brunswick.

Each day over 55,000 vehicles drive through these 2 level crossings, where the boom gates are down for up to half an hour during the 7:00 to 9:00 am morning peak.

The Bell Street and Moreland Road level crossings will be removed together as one project to help minimise disruption to the community. The project is being overseen by the Level Crossing Removal Authority (LXRA) and the level crossings are expected to be gone in 2020.

Project update

In July, we asked you to join the conversation by telling us what is important to the community as we plan for the removal of these level crossings. We held information sessions in the local area and opened our online engagement hub between Thursday 19 July and Thursday 9 August

Community feedback

Thank you to everyone who came to our community information sessions and took the time to submit feedback. We had 260 people attend the information sessions in July and over 2900 visits to our online engagement hub. We had a great response, with almost 700 submissions helping us understand what you value about the local area.

What we heard

You told us safety is a priority.

You agreed that removing these level crossings will significantly enhance safety in the area. You also provided other ideas to improve safety and discourage antisocial behaviour. You also asked us to consider how pedestrians and cyclists cross the road, especially without boom gates to create a break in traffic flow. There were concerns about potential unsafe behaviour from people wanting to cross Bell Street and Moreland Road, and you asked us to consider solutions to address this.

Future needs

You asked us to look ahead.

We heard that there is strong support for the removal of the Bell Street and Moreland Road level crossings to improve safety and help ease congestion in the area. You told us it is important to also consider the removal of other crossings on the Upfield line, such as nearby Munro and Reynard streets, to ensure the project allows for this in the future.

You told us it’s also important to consider other potential future projects in the area and to ensure this project doesn’t prevent other revitalisation plans such as development opportunities and public transport upgrades.

Urban amenity

You asked us to consider the look and feel of the area.

We heard that it’s important for the design to have a good look and feel and to fit in with the local character. The community values the heritage of the area, particularly the heritage listed Coburg and Moreland station buildings, and it’s important that these are preserved.

We also heard that you would welcome more greenery and open space in the area. You asked us to consider the creation of new open spaces that could be used by the community. You also told us that it’s important to ensure these spaces are activated, safe and properly maintained.

Movement and connectivity

You told us you want a more connected community.

We heard that access to transport options in the area could be improved, especially when using Coburg and Moreland stations. You also told us that you value better east-west connectivity to improve how pedestrians and cyclists move around the area.

Feedback also highlighted the importance of the Upfield Bike Path to the community. This shared-use path is a major route for many people in Coburg, Brunswick and surrounding suburbs. We heard that opportunities to improve the Upfield Bike Path should be an important consideration for the project.

Planning scheme

Amendment process

In August we invited community submissions in relation to the proposed planning scheme amendment required for the project. Submissions have now closed. Thank you to everyone who completed a submission.

The planning scheme amendment is a request to the Minister for Planning to change the relevant Planning Scheme – for this project the Moreland Planning Scheme – to conduct works in the area.

A summary of your feedback will be provided to the Minister for Planning as part of a formal request for approval of the proposed planning scheme amendment.

Design update

A lot has been happening as we move closer to finding the best design for removing the Bell Street and Moreland Road level crossings.

Extensive site and technical investigations have been carried out and have identified 2 possible designs for removing these level crossings.

• Rail over road: raising the rail line over Bell Street and Moreland Road onto an elevated rail line.
• Rail under road: lowering the rail line below Bell Street and Moreland Road into an open trench.

Road-based designs have been ruled out as they require compulsory property acquisition of up to 60 homes and businesses, impact access to the tram depot on Moreland Road and would result in permanent changes to access for businesses on Bell Street and Moreland Road.

Both the rail over road and rail under road designs avoid compulsory property acquisition, preserve the heritage-listed Coburg and Moreland stations and allow for additional level crossings to be removed in the future.

Due to the natural incline of the land at Bell Street and the proximity of adjacent level crossings, our early planning has indicated that an elevated rail bridge over Bell Street would also need to travel over Munro Street, or a rail trench would also travel under O'Hea Street.

What’s next?

Your feedback will be used to help inform the next stage of the project as we continue to develop the designs and undertake further technical investigations.

We'll keep you up to date as the project progresses, and there will be more opportunities for you to provide feedback.

Project timeline

2017

• Site investigations

2018

• Community consultation
• Design development
• Finalise design

2019

• Works commence

2020

• Boom gates removed
• Project completion

Keep up to date

You can get in touch with us anytime by calling 1800 105 105 or by emailing contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au