By Kate Bonsack
THE Laverton rail upgrade has been fast-tracked after Hobsons Bay councillors last week agreed to amend the council’s planning scheme for the $92 million project.
The councillors agreed to allow the State Minister for Planning to vary the Hosbons Bay planning scheme to remove planning permit approval for work associated with the rail upgrade.
The upgrade, which was announced in the State Government’s 2008-09 budget, will include building a third platform at Laverton station, laying an extra kilometre of track between the station and the Altona Loop, and constructing a rail bridge over Merton St in Laverton.
These works are expected to address train delays on the Werribee line as trains won’t have to wait at Laverton station for the Altona Loop to clear.
While the councillors have agreed to the amendment to speed up the process, they confirmed that the council should have opportunity to influence the design of the infrastructure.
Councillor Mary Anne Lindsay said it was a minor change to ensure the project occurred in an expedient manner.
“This (rail upgrade) is a major win for the municipality,” she said. “There has been a lot of correspondence at the council officer level about the planning amendment. But we need to ensure that the council has sufficient input in what happens.
“Pardon the pun, but we need to be kept in the loop.”
Cr Marisch said there was initial concern about what level of input the council would have, but the infrastructure was needed and everyone intended to get it as soon as possible.
“We will still need to limit the impacts on our residents and the area,” he said.
Last week’s council meeting agenda stated that “most of the proposed works (for the upgrade) do not require planning approval under the existing planning scheme provisions”.
The amendment will also see current planning approval items lost, including the heritage overlay on the rail and bridge work over Laverton Creek, an inundation overlay that applies to land surrounding Laverton Creek, and removal of native vegetation.
The agenda stated that the government would undertake consultation with key stakeholders of the project, which include the Hobsons Bay Council.
The public will also be informed of decisions, with the government to host public information sessions.
The first session will be held tomorrow night at the Laverton College library from 4.30pm to 7.30pm.
