Moreland Council upped it’s advocacy position to the Level Crossing Removal project at the monthly council meeting on Wednesday 14 August, including on improving accessibility of the elevated stations.
A motion proposed by Cr Sue Bolton was passed unanimously by Council with no speakers against the motion.
Council is now calling for the Level Crossing Removal Project to ensure
- Escalators installed at both Moreland and Coburg Stations
- Two lifts installed on each platform at both Moreland and Coburg Stations with uninterrupted power supply.
- Public toilets be installed in both stations
- Public consultation on the station designs in addition to the open space
- Priority for pedestrians and cyclists over cars at Reynard St, Munro St and Bell St crossings
- Rail crossover to be reinstated north of Bell Street
- Pedestrian gates at the rail crossing at O’Hea St/Main St be widened to allow a continuation of the O’Hea St shared path to link up with the Upfield shared path
- public meeting with representatives of the LXRP and members of the community to discuss the proposals in the Visions for the Upfield Corridor document
Council will also seek information from the Level Crossing Removal Project on the issue of likely risks from brake particulate pollution from the elevated train line and what steps the Level Crossing Removal Project is taking to mitigate this risk.
On preserving important heritage of the Upfield line, Council will also make a submission seeking the inclusion of the Munro Street Signal Box building and substation, the gardens surrounding Moreland train station, the Tinning Street Signal box and gates, the Colebrook Street Sub-station and rails, the Coburg station pedestrian underpass and significant native trees in the Coburg Railway Reserve on the Victorian Heritage Register.
Moreland Council still has plans for development of Coburg Square, including opening up Victoria street to traffic. Council decided to revisit the decision to reopen Victoria St Coburg to traffic, given these plans were made well before level crossing removal project.
The motion noted that Level Crossing Removal Authority have already applied for a permit to demolish the Munro Street Signal Box and the Coburg Brick Signal Box with submissions due by Wednesday 28 August 2019. Council will receive a report on this matter for its consideration before the close of submissions. The Council submission will be voted on in a special council meeting on Thursday 22 August, 6pm at Coburg Council Chambers.
Members of Australian Pensioners Voice came to the council meeting and were in the public gallery to call for escalators to be installed at the stations. They represented a coalition of migrant pensioner groups.
NOM41/19 LEVEL CROSSING ADVOCACY (D19/299456)
That Council:
1. Advocates to the Level Crossing Removal Project for:
a) Escalators to be installed at the elevated stations (Moreland and Coburg stations) on the Upfield Line;
b) Two lifts be installed on both sides of Moreland and Coburg stations with an uninterrupted power supply;
c) Public toilets be installed in both stations, including at the currently unstaffed Moreland station;
d) Public consultation on the station designs in addition to the open space;
e) Reynard St, Munro St and Bell St crossings at the site of the level crossing removals receive traffic treatment which prioritises pedestrians and cyclists over cars. And should Victoria St be opened for vehicle traffic, that it also receives traffic treatment which prioritises pedestrians and cyclists over cars
f) A rail crossover to be reinstated north of Bell Street;
f) the pedestrian gates at the rail crossing at O’Hea St/Main St be widened to allow a continuation of the O’Hea St shared path to link up with the Upfield shared path.
g) A public meeting with representatives of the LXRP and members of the community to discuss the proposals in the Visions for the Upfield Corridor document.
2. Seeks information from the Level Crossing Removal Project on the issue of likely risks from brake particulate pollution from the elevated train line and what steps the Level Crossing Removal Project is taking to mitigate this risk.
3. When Heritage Victoria begins public consultation on the Upfield Railway Precinct later this year, Council makes a submission seeking the inclusion of the Munro Street Signal Box building and substation, the gardens surrounding Moreland train station, the Tinning Street Signal box and gates, the Colebrook Street Sub-station and rails, the Coburg station pedestrian underpass and significant native trees in the Coburg Railway Reserve on the Victorian Heritage Register.
4. Revisits the decision to reopen Victoria St Coburg to traffic as this decision was taken many years ago before there was any proposal to for level crossing removal, and many in the community are unaware of this plan.
5. Notes that in response to Heritage Victoria’s Interim Protection Order along the Upfield Railway Line Precinct, Heritage Victoria have today advertised receipt of an application from the Level Crossing Removal Authority (P31530 for a permit to demolish the Munro Street Signal Box) and the Coburg Brick Signal Box with submissions due by Wednesday 28 August 2019.
6. Council receives a report on the matter for its consideration before the close of submissions.
==================
There were no speakers against the motion.
Motion was passed unanimously by Moreland Council
Upfield Corridor Coalition 
My question I asked at Council concerned prioritisation of pedestrian and cyclists over cars at the minor road crossings:
Question 1. regarding NOM41/19 LEVEL CROSSING ADVOCACY (D19/299456)
My question is in regard to increasing infrastructure and prioritisation for walking and cycling as part of level crossing removal as part of minor road crossings: Reynard Street, Munro Street, Victoria Street (if this is opened up as part of Coburg Square development) and O’Hea street. These are all local road crossings on the arterial cycling route of the Upfield share use path, all covered in the level crossing removal planning scheme amendment.
What mechanisms for separation of and prioritisation of cycling and walking are being considered at these crossings?
I would like to highlight in particular O’Hea street path crossing of the railway line, in which cyclists proceeding east on the O’Hea street path are asked to cross from the path onto the on-road bike lane to cross the railway line, then need to cross the road again to proceed further east, or south along the Upfield bike path. This creates complications especially for the growing number of people cycling accompanying children or using cargo bikes or kiddie trailers. It would seem prudent the O’Hea street intersection with Main Street, the railway line and Upfield Bike Path could be much improved during the level crossing removal work.
I note Council has a commitment under the Moreland Integrated Transport Strategy for increasing priority and enhance mode shift to cycling and walking.
Response:
Joseph Tabacco, Director Engagement and Partnerships: We understand through our discussions with the LXRP that there are design plans to create separated cycling path and a pedestrian path. So that certainly is one of the principles that is being applied. It would be for the duration of the project length in it’s entirety. In terms of how the treatments are to be proposed at those crossing points at Munro and Reynard, we are unclear at this particular point in time, but there is an agenda item later in the meeting tonight that will address that very topic.
Watch: 20:45- 24:05 https://www.facebook.com/morelandcitycouncil/videos/412600379601120/
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