By NATALIE GALLENTI
ALBION residents have warned that the proposed closure of King Edward Ave would leave the area isolated and even more susceptible to crime.
The warning comes after an invitation-only meeting earlier this month revealed plans for the Anderson Rd grade separation have been revised by the Regional Rail Link Authority.
Angry Albion resident Rod Mitchell said the amended plans were simply aimed at appeasing residents who are concerned their small suburb would become even more neglected once construction of the grade separation begins.
“No one has a problem with the crossing being removed,” Mr Mitchell said.
“But they are going to destroy our suburb.”
Mr Mitchell, who has lived in Albion for 20 years, believes residents were not consulted in the decision-making process and are only now realising the ramifications of the closure.
The father of five said small streets will become bottlenecks and King Edward Ave will develop into a “ghetto”, with crime likely to get even worse.
“I’m at the stage of considering moving out.
“King Edward Ave will become a ghetto. Crime is already high in the area. With the high level of flats and rental properties, it will only get worse.
He said emergency services like police and ambulance will have only two ways in and out of the tiny suburb, leaving residents’ safety at risk.
“A cul-de-sac is nice in Williamstown, but here we will be landlocked. Just to get to the shopping centre we will have to sit in traffic.”
Mr Mitchell questioned Brimbank Council’s traffic survey, claiming organisations can make statistics say what they want.
“It’s like a divide and conquer strategy. No one is being transparent.”
He said the area has finally received funding for improved parkland and homes were being restored, but with the closure of King Edward Ave everyone’s hard work would be destroyed.
Brimbank Council’s general manager of infrastructure and environment Paul Younis said the council is concerned about traffic impacts as a result of the closure, and had requested a thorough local area traffic assessment.
He said the assessment was undertaken by the RRL Alliance with results expected to be shared with community and the council soon.
Mr Younis said works within Albion to improve both long and short term traffic impacts would be undertaken.
as part of the Regional Rail Link project, in consultation
