Council will write to the State Government, raising concerns with the proposed closure of the level crossing on Cave Hill Road, Lilydale.
On 29 July, Council was informed of the closure of the Cave Hill Road, Lilydale, railway crossing through a public announcement by the State Government.
Council has been working with the Level Crossing Removal Authority on design for the removal of the level crossings at Maroondah Highway in Lilydale and Manchester Road in Mooroolbark. Through this work, Council staff highlighted the need for a solution at the Cave Hill Road level crossing that separated road traffic and the railway line.
The crossing is used daily by community members accessing the industrial estate on Melba Avenue, by school, community and industry traffic accessing Lilydale High School, the former Lilydale Quarry site and Box Hill Institute.
Community feedback gathered in 2019 indicated that community members wanted to continue using Cave Hill Road for access, raising concerns of traffic congestion and difficulties with access if the level crossing became closed to traffic.
It is Council's view that closing the Cave Hill Road railway crossing will create significant access and congestion issues in Hutchinson Street and Melba Avenue, and the State Government's decision to close this crossing without consulting community members does not show proper regard to the needs of the community.
Councillors voted in favour of writing to the State Government expressing these concerns and requesting the development of a comprehensive traffic study for the area that reconsiders the announced closure.