Issue summary
Moonee Valley City Council is seeking support from the Victorian Government and Level
Crossing Removal Authority to prioritise the implementation of the Essendon Junction (Buckley
Street) Grade Separation Project and ensure that the project adopts Council’s preferred design
option of rail under road.
In 2015, the Victorian Government announced a program to remove 50 of the worst level
crossings in Melbourne over eight years, with the aim of improving safety, reducing congestion
and enabling more frequent train services. An initial $2.4 billion has been allocated to remove at
least 20 level crossings over the next four years.
Buckley Street in Essendon was identified as one of the 50 level crossings to be removed under
the program. This project will have significant implications for the future design and function of the
Essendon Junction precinct, which is set for considerable future population and business growth
as a designated neighbourhood activity centre and urban renewal area under the State
Government’s Plan Melbourne.
Moonee Valley City Council has identified the removal of the Buckley Street level crossing as a
key priority project through its Essendon Junction Activity Centre Structure Plan.
Having undertaken extensive feasibility studies and engaged the local community on options,
Council has formally resolved its position in relation to its strong preference for a rail under road
design, which it believes will deliver the best planning, urban design and land use outcomes over
the long term.
This issue has been identified by Moonee Valley City Council as one of its top 10 priority
advocacy issues for the 2015-2016 period.
Outcome sought
Moonee Valley City Council is seeking support from the Victorian Government and Level
Crossing Removal Authority to:
1. Prioritise implementation of the Essendon Junction (Buckley Street) Grade Separation
Project.
2. Ensure the project adopts Council’s and the community’s preferred design option of rail
under road.
Background and justification
The need for grade separation at Essendon Junction
Essendon Junction accommodates the Craigieburn Railway Line, is a terminus for four bus
services and a public transport interchange for an additional eight bus services and the number
59 tram.
The Buckley Street level rail crossing is already highly congested with approximately 10,000 cars
and trucks using it every day, along with frequent train and pedestrian use.
Recent data also shows that the boom gates at this crossing are down for as much as 64 minutes
in the morning peak (7.30am-9.30am). This causes significant congestion on Buckley Street, Mt
Alexander Road and surrounding local roads, as motorists seek to avoid the crossing.
Activity centre
The Victorian Government has designated Essendon Junction as an activity centre and urban
renewal area under its planning strategy, Plan Melbourne. This plan specifies that a majority of
housing and employment growth should occur in areas that are well-serviced by existing
infrastructure, such as activity centres and urban renewal areas.
Essendon Junction will continue to grow and develop over time including accommodating more
people, jobs and services. Increased population will increase pressure on the level crossing and
increase the need for a well-designed and functioning urban activity centre. Council has
developed a Essendon Junction Structure Plan to effectively plan for and manage this growth
which was adopted in November 2015.
Benefits of rail under option
Council has identified that removing the existing level crossing at Buckley Street, Essendon,
through a rail under road design would provide significant community benefits and offers the
greatest potential to deliver the best planning, urban design and land use outcomes over the long
term. Key benefits of this design option include:





Improving traffic flow on Buckley Street and Mount Alexander Road and reducing traffic
impact from rat running on surrounding local streets.
Improving pedestrian connectivity and community safety, including around local schools.
Maintaining pedestrian access to Buckley Street and Rose Street.
Maintaining shop fronts to Buckley Street, making it easier for businesses to attract
customers.
Preserving heritage buildings on Buckley Street and the character of the area.
MOONEE VALLEY CITY COUNCIL
ADVOCACY PRIORITIES 2015-2016
CONTACT: NAME NAME
NUMBER


Reinstating the Boulevard along Mt Alexander Road, improving pedestrian connectivity.
Better integrating public transport modes creating a more cohesive interchange and
reducing tram delays on Mt Alexander Road.
The rail under road design option is supported by the Office of the Victorian Architect (Victorian
Design Review Panel), which acknowledges that ‘the rail-under-road solution proposes a good
outcome for Essendon and enables opportunities to reconnect and revitalise the Essendon
centre”. It notes the need to undertake further investigation to provide a more comprehensive
understanding of the benefits associated with this solution in order to demonstrate clearly the
value that such an investment can provide. Council is undertaking this work currently.
Issues with other cheaper options
Council has identified a range of significant concerns with alternative options, including road
under rail and rail over road designs for the grade separation at Buckley Street. Council is
particularly concerned that these cheaper options would effectively split the area in two, reducing
access for local traders and commuters as well as creating safety risks. Both road under rail and
rail over road options would result in significant fragmentation and impede urban design
outcomes across the entire precinct.
Ideal design
Taking a broader perspective of the grade separation challenge across the Essendon Junction
Activity Centre, Moonee Valley City Council has identified a preferred design consistent with the
objectives of the Transport Integration Act 2010, including:




Rail under Buckley Street and Mount Alexander Road.
Reinstatement of Mount Alexander Road’s historic boulevard with the road ‘lifted’ to
grade.
New below-grade station located between the existing heritage station and Mount
Alexander Road.
Opportunity to create a new public space within the activity centre and an improved public
transport interchange for people travelling to and from Essendon.
Community support for rail under road option
Moonee Valley City Council recently undertook extensive community consultation in relation to
the Essendon Junction (Buckley Street) Grade Separation Project. The feedback was
overwhelmingly in support of the rail under road option
Rail under road adopted at other projects
Lowering the rail line to run under existing road levels is clearly the preferred design option for
grade separation projects announced to-date.
Of the eight current projects for which designs have been finalised, all eight involve a design of
lowering the rail line below the road, optimising the car parking to ensure there is no net loss of
spaces, and building walking and cycling paths with improved pedestrian access to the station.
Projects include:




Burke Road, Glen Iris
Centre Road, Bentleigh
McKinnon Road, McKinnon
North Road, Ormond




Furlong Road, St Albans
Main Road, St Albans
Blackburn Road, Blackburn
Heatherdale Road, Mitcham
Designs have not yet been finalised for the current project to remove nine level crossings
between Caulfield and Dandenong.
MOONEE VALLEY CITY COUNCIL
ADVOCACY PRIORITIES 2015-2016
CONTACT: NAME NAME
NUMBER