By NATALIE GALLENTI
A GROUP of concerned Albion residents have banded together and formed an action group to take on government and transport agencies and are calling on more residents to join their cause.
The Albion Residents’ Action Group will take the State Government and Regional Rail Link Authority head on after it was revealed King Edward Ave will be permanently closed off as works begin on the grade separation of the railway line between Sunshine and Albion stations.
Albion resident Frank Reinthaler launched the group earlier this month after discovering residents were not consulted about the closure, to take place in June.
“No one knew it was going to happen,” Mr Reinthaler said.
“Albion will be completely cut off from Sunshine.
“I can’t understand how they can chop off a suburb from the rest of Sunshine.”
The frustrated resident said the RRLA needed to take a step back and consult with residents before coming up with a new and more acceptable proposal.
He said the current plan meant Albion would be isolated from the rest of Sunshine and the only way out would be via Ballarat Rd and Forrest St, which were both congested at peak times.
He questioned what effect this would have on house prices in the area.
“I’m concerned house prices will decrease. We have a creek on one side, a railway line and a major road, what will this mean for house prices?”
He said since delivering flyers last week, concerned Albion residents have contacted the group via a Facebook page and Twitter, voicing their concerns.
Mr Reinthaler, who was crucial in launching a petition against rat-running along Adelaide St, said what was most disappointing was that a meeting between the RRLA and residents planned for last Thursday was cancelled only the day before.
A spokesperson for the RRLA said the meeting was abandoned because it was advertised as a public meeting, however it was planned as a forum between stakeholders rather than a public debate.
“The Footscray – Deer Park project team is committed to engaging with stakeholders. The team is currently meeting one-on-one with various interest groups such as the Friends of H.V. McKay Memorial Gardens, SunRAA and Sunshine Historical Society to work through specific issues.
“The team had agreed months in advance to meet with the Albion Ardeer Community Group. This has now had to be rescheduled as the forum was not designed as a public debate and we are disappointed it was reported this way,” the spokesperson said.
