Council ‘No’ to sky rail

THE groundswell of public support against sky rail on the Frankston line received a boost on Monday evening when Kingston Council voted to oppose elevated rail.

Council will write to Labor Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allen saying that “an extraordinary level of public disquiet and concern – together with an untimely and unsatisfactory response to earlier council requests for action and information – means it will not support an elevated rail line as an option to be considered in the removal of level crossings along the Frankston line”.

The council said it would “continue to work cooperatively with the Level Crossing Removal Authority in determining which of the remaining options should be selected in order to fulfil the Andrews government’s election commitments in relation to level crossing removal.”

Cr Geoff Gledhill moved the motion which was supported by Crs Ron Brownlees, John Ronke and the mayor Cr Tamsin Bearsley.

Cr Steve Staikos was opposed while Cr Paul Peulich left the room prior to the vote. Councillors absent were Cr Rosemary West, who is in hospital, Cr Tamara Barth who is overseas, and Cr David Eden, who was ill.

“There’s strong community concern about the whole sky rail process,” Cr Gledhill told The News.

“Many people have contacted me about it. I have personally spoken to 500 people and what has struck me is that even people living a kilometre away from the line have concerns for those living along the line, and that’s remarkable.

“I represent the community and, although it is not directly our decision, it is my role to advocate on their behalf.

“The government will ultimately do what they want but it’s up to us to put the residents’ views forward.”

Cr Gledhill said the rail crossing authority had “at least two other options available” as alternatives.

“The people have been very direct that they don’t want sky rail,” he said.

“We want to look at different ways of achieving the same ends.”

Cr Bearsley said: “It’s taken a few weeks to consider but we have done enough research and had enough contact with residents through extensive doorknocking to know their opinions about sky rail. 

“We met with the minister and we feel we have sufficient grounds to say that it is inappropriate for the City of Kingston.

“We feel there is a consistent view among residents opposed to it.

“We are still waiting on options to be presented and we hope they concentrate on producing alternative feasible options.”

‎Anti-sky rail campaigner Simon Johnson‎ was ecstatic: “We did it,” he said on Facebook.

“This is unprecedented. This is why our Facebook group constructively engages with councils, politicians and community groups.

“We owe a big thank you to Geoff Gledhill for putting up this motion.

“This sends a clear message to the state government.”

The noskyrail.com.au group will meet Sunday 29 May, 2pm at the Mentone Bowls Club, 2 Swanston St Mentone. See website for details.

The Level Crossing Removal Project aims to remove 11 level crossings on the Frankston line. Works are already under way at North, McKinnon and Centre roads.

The state government had announced the start of planning for eight level crossings to be removed between Cheltenham and Frankston.

Works are at the planning stages for removing the crossings at Charman Rd, Cheltenham, Balcombe Rd, Mentone, Edithvale Rd, Edithvale, Station St/Bondi Rd, Bonbeach, Station St, Carrum, Eel Race Rd, Seaford, Seaford Rd, Seaford and Skye/Overton Rd, Frankston.

First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 25 May 2016