A BRIMBANK trader has criticised the State Government for upgrading three level crossings in the eastern suburbs, ahead of the notorious St Albans level crossing at Main Rd East and West.
According to VicRoads, $350 million was announced in last year’s state budget to commence pre-construction at level crossings in Springvale and Mitcham in Melbourne’s east.
Construction is expected to start on the projects by the middle of this year.
However, a business case for the St Albans project is “currently being prepared which will be submitted to government in early 2013 for funding consideration”.
Last week, Asip Demiri from the St Albans Traders Association said it would be ridiculous to plan another business case for St Albans – because the Department of Transport completed one in 2010.
Mr Demiri also said fixing three crossings in the East left him “speechless”, when St Albans desperately needed an upgraded crossing.
“Put all together, the crossings in the East haven’t had half the casualties of the 18 deaths in St Albans,” Mr Demiri said.
“Maybe the government and the minister think the people of St Albans should be grateful for having running water and electricity.”
Mr Demiri supplied Star with documents concerning the St Albans Grade Separation Project, obtained under Freedom of Information laws.
These included 2011 memos from the VicRoads chief operating officer George Mavroyeni to Roads Minister Terry Mulder.
The documents said the Coalition Government gave an election commitment to plan and to begin to remove the St Albans level crossing in its first term of government.
Mr Mavroyeni advised Mr Mulder that because no updated business case for the St Albans crossing was requested in the 2011 budget process, the government would not be able to meet its election commitment to Brimbank residents.
Mr Mavroyeni wrote that if $250,000 of initial funding was provided in 2011/2012 budget, VicRoads could commence implementing the Public Acquisition Overlay process for properties which would be impacted by the St Albans crossing upgrade.
Star contacted a spokesperson for the Roads Minister but did not receive a response.
