Ms THEOPHANOUS (Northcote): Well, it has finally happened, something my community have been anticipating for years: the boom gates at Bell Street are gone, along with three more at Cramer Street, Murray Road and Oakover Road. These noisy, dangerous, congested level crossings are gone for good. That is 82 000 vehicles each day plus pedestrians and cyclists who no longer have to contend with one of Melbourne’s busiest roads. Communities are now flying high, enjoying the view from our new rail bridge as train services have returned on a single line while the rest of the rail is built. This is an incredible achievement and an exciting time for Preston. I feel it every time I speak to locals, every time we see another pylon go up, with every panel added to our new stations.
And we are making sure we deliver even more for locals, with new open space that will have everything from playgrounds to barbecues to a yarning circle to an amphitheatre. It is going to be stunning. Of course this is just one of 85 level crossings we will kick to the curb by 2025, and Bell Street means we are now at 64. We are in the midst of a transport transformation. The Metro Tunnel is powering ahead to take pressure off the city loop. One hundred new Victorian-made trams will roll out across our city soon. We have upgrades in the works for Thornbury and Merri stations. The North East Link will reduce congestion on our local roads. The Suburban Rail Loop will create new connections to jobs and unis. There is too much to talk about, but we are well and truly rolling into the future of transport. Northcote has many level crossings along the Hurstbridge and Mernda lines too.
