A COMMUNITY group with the best interests of the Chelsea and Bonbeach commuters at heart has come up with a visual way to submit its concerns about sky rail along the Frankston line to the state government.
The Chelsea and Bonbeach Train Station Group, whose volunteers regularly clean up both train stations’ surrounds, has produced a 5-minute video arguing rail should go under road at a new Bonbeach train station based on architectural themes at nearby buildings.
The video clip suggests “an open coastal theme that is not overshadowed by infrastructure heavily inspired by local architecture including Carrum Bowling Club and Seaford Life Saving Club” should be the basis for a newly constructed Bonbeach station as part of the Labor state government’s plan to remove level crossings along the Frankston line.
Group president Adrian McInnes said it is important the community lets the government’s Level Crossing Removal Authority (LXRA) know road under rail is preferred to elevated rail along the Frankston line.
“A lot of people are concerned about sky rail and we thought it’d be good to present a positive message to let the LXRA know why,” he said.
“We met directly with the LXRA in their office a few weeks ago for about an hour and 15 minutes to talk them through our concept.”
Kingston mayor Cr Tamsin Bearsley said council had shown the video, available to watch on YouTube, to Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan when she visited council to discuss level crossing removal options late last month (‘Sky rail high on council’s mind’, The News 27/4/16).
“We presented a short video from the Chelsea and Bonbeach Train Station Group to show positive approaches and ideas being generated by our community that are alternatives to a sky rail,” Cr Bearsley said.
Mr McInnes said it took the group about two months to make the video.
“We just hope that the powers that be are listening beyond just the ‘execution’ of eight level crossings. There’s so much more that can be done for our community.”
See the Chelsea and Bonbeach Train Station Group blog for further information.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 4 May 2016
1 Comment
Good on you Adrian, a true community spokesperson. The level crossings will be removed regardless of the method selected, so lets give the community what they are asking for!! Now lets see the cut and cover concepts!