Bell to Moreland community update – August 2019

Project designs released for Coburg and Brunswick

We are getting rid of the dangerous and congested level crossings at Bell Street, Reynard Street and Munro Street in Coburg and Moreland Road in Brunswick.

Early designs for the new rail corridor have now been released. Elevating the rail line between Coburg and Moreland stations will unlock the open space underneath the rail bridge, creating vibrant community places and stronger local connections.

While retaining the historic station buildings, we will build brand-new Coburg and Moreland stations and new station precincts surrounded by gardens, sheltered waiting areas and direct connections to walking, cycling, public transport and parking options.

The Upfield Bike Path will be transformed underneath the elevated rail, with open space, gardens and recreation areas.

We received some valuable feedback earlier this year on how the open space and areas around the new stations should be used and we are pleased to show how your ideas have shaped the early designs.

Now that the details of the rail bridge have been confirmed, we’re seeking input to finalise the details of the open spaces. See the back page to find out how you can get involved.

Construction will begin later this year and the level crossings will be gone in 2020. The project will be fully complete in 2021.

An elevated design

We’re elevating the rail line which will increase local pathways and parklands, as well as making it easier for everyone to get where they need to go safely.

Using the innovative U-trough design, the elevated rail line is the best way to separate trains from drivers, pedestrians and cyclists in the area. This will result in a safer journey for commuters while it maintains the urban lifestyle for locals.

We are installing custom screening along the elevated structure as part of our urban design recommendations, but also for privacy considerations for those who live close to the rail line.

Structure details

By elevating the rail line, we’re making sure there’s plenty of room to enjoy the new parks and open spaces, while maintaining a safe clearance between the community and the railway line.

The height of the rail bridge will vary along the corridor, however there will always be a minimum clearance of five-and-a-half to seven metres from ground level to the bottom of the rail bridge.

The rail bridge will be 12.5 metres wide, providing plenty of space for new greenery, community spaces and play areas.

Working in an area rich in history

We recognise the rich heritage in Coburg and Brunswick and we are committed to preserving items of cultural significance for the local community.

We will retain and repurpose the old station buildings at Coburg and Moreland, integrating the old with the new in the station precinct designs.

Our team is investigating further opportunities to reflect the history of the area, which could include the restoration of train equipment or installing community landmarks celebrating the community’s past.

We will continue to work with Heritage Victoria to make sure the necessary steps are taken to appropriately preserve historically significant local features.

Landscaped gardens

We understand that green spaces are important to you so we’re going to plant three times as many trees along the corridor.

Well-maintained areas are also important to you, and we will deliver new landscaped areas with extensive native plant species that are robust and self-sustaining, providing parkland for generations to come.

Several mature trees around the station will remain while we build the elevated rail line and new Moreland Station.

We are working with qualified arborists, environmental and sustainability specialists to help manage and minimise impacts on trees and vegetation.

We’d also love to hear from you at our next consultation session about the types of plants you’d like to see in the open space.

Reviving the Upfield Bike Path

We’ve heard that you love to ride and walk around the area, so we are building separate walking and cycling paths for a safer, smoother journey for everyone.

We’re installing more lighting, as well as making the paths wider and straighter.

There will be a new cycling repair station to keep you on your journey, plus we’re putting in several drinking fountains to make sure you’re hydrated while you enjoy the new space.

We’re also introducing separated crossings so cyclists and pedestrians can safely cross the roads..

And if you’re on a multi-leg journey, extra bike parking at the stations will make it even easier to ride and catch the train too.

What we heard

Earlier this year, we received hundreds of ideas and comments from the community about how the open space underneath the elevated rail line could be used.



"I think the bike path should be widened and located on one side not in the middle, given that the rail corridor is so narrow. This will allow for more usable landscaped spaces alongside it for walking and sitting. I would prefer the bike path to be well lit at night for safety"

“Playgrounds for my kids and other children in the area. Green spaces to sit and relax.”

“It would be great if you could include basketball, table tennis or other sports infrastructure for all to enjoy.”

All the feedback we received has been collated into a detailed report. You can view the report on our website.

Community consultation milestones

July/August 2018

We asked you how you move around the area, things you’d like to see retained in the area and things you’d like to see improved.

We hosted community information sessions, and collected feedback online and in person.

May/June 2019

We held community information sessions to gather ideas on what you want to see in the open space underneath the new elevated rail line along the corridor.

We collected feedback online and in person.

August/September 2019

We have released our project designs and will be hosting a community information session, as well as collecting more feedback online and in person.

Come to our information session in September to see the initial designs for the project, and help us refine elements of the open space such as potential uses, materials, and look and feel.

Next steps

We are seeking your feedback on specific aspects of the new open space designs in the coming weeks. The feedback will relate to how you might use the areas, types of materials we could use, as well as your preferred look and feel of the open space.

Following this stage of community consultation, we will share the final designs of the overall project and begin works in late 2019.

A Voluntary Purchase Scheme will be in place for this project. We will be in touch soon with eligible residential property owners about the next steps.

Stay involved

Information session

When:

10am to 12:30pm Saturday 14 September 2019

Where:

Batman Royale events space, Colonel Room 14 Gaffney Street, Coburg North.

Info Hub opening soon

Following the information session, our Coburg Info Hub will have extended opening hours so you can pop in for a chat and find out more about the project. Keep an eye out for opening hours at your.levelcrossings.vic.gov.au.

Online

Head to our Online Hub to give feedback. The online hub is open from 14 September to 28 September 2019.

Visit our website for:

Artist impressions of the stations, open spaces, shared use path and nature-based play areas

Landscaping plan for the entire project corridor

Technical roll plot, showing the height of the elevated rail line

Fact sheets on the following topics: Walking and cycling Trees and vegetation Station precincts Open spaces Screening Construction



Project timeline

DATE PROGRESS 2017 Site investigations 2018 Community consultation

Design refinement and further geotechnical considerations

Government commitment to remove additional crossings on the Upfield line by elevating the rail line 2019 Confirm design solution

Further community consultation

Finalise design

Works begin 2020 Boom gates gone

* Please note that the timeline above is subject to change.

View the PDF version of this community update PDF, 1.6 MB