Liam McNally
Melton council has offered to support Diggers Rest residents’ preferred option for the new bridge that will replace the level crossing on the Old Calder Highway.
At a Diggers Rest community meeting on July 12, about 80 Diggers Rest residents voted on their own preferred placement of the bridge, and selected a path south of the train station that included a bypass road connecting the Old Calder Highway to Plumpton Road.
The suggested bypass was sent to the Level Crossing Removal Project team through Engage Vic, which was taking community submissions until July 18.
The plan drafted by community members is similar to a bypass Melton council committed to advocating for the state government to fund in 2014 following a Diggers Rest local area traffic management review.
Diggers Rest resident David O’Connor raised the suggestion at a council meeting on July 31 .
“A recent community meeting held at Diggers Rest has demonstrated overwhelming support for the delivery of the bypass road as identified in the 2014 Diggers Rest local area traffic management study…Will council pursue state funding and possibly some developer funding as a part of the Calder Highway level crossing removal at Diggers Rest?” he said.
Melton council city futures director Sam Romaszko said council will continue to pursue all available state funding and any applicable developer funding to support infrastructure improvements in the Diggers Rest area.
“In particular, council will continue to advocate to the state government for the best possible outcome for our Diggers Rest community as a part of the Calder Highway Level Crossing Removal Project,” she said.
The creation of a preferred route by Diggers Rest residents was prompted by concerns the state government will select a path for the bridge that may require certain properties be targeted for compulsory acquisition.
The state government confirmed in July designs are yet to be finalised, but some land outside the rail corridor may be required.
The project team received more than 100 separate submissions from locals through Engage Vic surveys during community consultation before the cut-off of July 18.
A state government spokesperson said the team will continue to consult the community as the project progresses.
