Level Crossing Removal Project: Parkdale to Mentone Urban Design Framework

Kingston Council conducted a Stage 2 community consultation to ensure the community's voice is clearly heard before key construction decisions are made. This follows the first phase of Council led consultation completed in 2021.

In June 2022, the Victorian Government confirmed that it will be removing the Level Crossings at Warrigal Road, Mentone and Parkers Road, Parkdale by building a rail bridge over the roads and constructing a new Parkdale Station.

The State Government have also presented plans they have prepared on the Engage Victoria consultation page, accessible here.

During Council's Stage One consultation, we heard strongly that the community did not support the use of elevated rail at Parkdale/Mentone. 

Kingston Council and many organised community groups have voiced their strong opposition to elevated rail for some time, but it now appears the Level Crossing Removal Project is pushing forward with this approach. Although Council is not responsible for the project it is important that we make sure local knowledge, expertise and community needs shape how the space under and around the elevated rail is used. 

For that reason, Council has prepared its own draft Urban Design Framework for consultation, to make sure the project delivers spaces that are useful, inviting and accessible for all ages and abilities. 

Our Draft Urban Design Framework provides a detailed plan allowing the community an opportunity to properly comment on what it wants the rail corridor to look like. Detailed community feedback about a project’s design at this stage plays a key role in influencing the outcome, before the LXRP finalise a construction plan. 

The time for effective community influence is now. We hope that working together with the community, we can substantially influence the types of outcomes the project will deliver.

What do the draft plans include: 
 The full draft Urban Design Framework is available to view in the Document section of this page. It includes: 

• A range of more detailed zones along the railway corridor including: 
  • A village square at the new Parkdale Station to connect into the existing shopping areas
  • Green zones with planting to compliment the natural landscape 
  • Active spaces for play and sports
  • Conversation zones for connecting the community. 
• Support for retaining heritage buildings in close proximity to their existing location
• A pedestrian/shared user pathway along the corridor

What is Council’s role?
 Following the State Governments recent announcement and information release, Council will continue to act as a voice on behalf of our community, to make sure we get the best outcomes possible. We need your input to make sure the interests of the community with respect to design are placed front and centre in the projects planning. We are seeking community feedback on matters including:

• The concepts outlined in the draft Urban Design Framework which are more detailed than the material currently made available by the LXRP
• The different activity zones Council has identified
• The types of traffic management methods to balance the needs of cars, buses, pedestrians and cyclists
• The level of parking that should be included to strengthen the ‘village character’ of Parkdale
• Would you like to see an additional vehicle crossing point added (between Parkers and Warrigal Rd) to link Como Parade East and West? 

We will continue to constructively speak up for the community and highlight the feedback we have received to date. 

 
Community feedback 
Council conducted consultation on its draft Urban Design Framework during June/July 2022.
Your feedback resulted in refinement of Council's Urban Design Framework with a number of changes made.  The Final Urban Design Framework (available in the Document Library) will be used to advocate to the Level Crossing Remvoval Project for changes. 
Amendments made in response to community feedback include: 

• Inclusion of additional active play facilities including multiuse half court, skate and children’s playground 
• Provision of smaller conversation zones including a new space closer to the station / village precinct
• Added details on safety elements including lighting design and errant vehicle management 
• Preferred location for public toilet in the station precinct 
• Extra facilities including drinking fountains, bike maintenance and waste facilities
• Greater emphasis on value of vegetation and need to protect Bradshaw Park (in response to feedback from the Friends of Bradshaw Bushland Reserve)
• Specify use of graffiti resistant materials 
• Provision of a potential additional parking area to the south of Parkers’ Road. 

If you have further questions about the project visit the Level Crossing Removal website or provide further feedback directly to the Level Crossing Removal Project team, contact them via the helpline on 1800 105 105.