- Published:
- Saturday 9 April 2016
The Andrews Labor Government will appoint an Expert Panel to oversee plans for Melbourne’s newest park –created by elevating the Cranbourne Pakenham Line – and establish a trust to fund its long-term maintenance.
Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan, joined the newly appointed Chair of the Expert Panel and Chief Executive of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Professor Tim Entwisle, today to announce the new body.
Mr Entwisle will be supported by an Expert Panel drawn from the local community and councils, as well as organisations such as Victoria Police, Bicycle Victoria and the Office of the Victorian Government Architect.
Expressions of interest will also be sought for four community members of the Panel.
The Expert Panel will advise the Government on the 22.5 hectares of new public open space the project will create, and on the plan for its long-term maintenance, which has been guaranteed with a maintenance trust fund to ensure the new space is always safe, green and cared for.
They will also ensure community feedback is addressed in the final designs for this new landmark parkland.
The Labor Government will provide an initial payment of $15 million, funded through the Level Crossing Removal Project, exclusively for maintenance.
The Expert Panel and maintenance trust fund are the result of consultation, which showed a strong desire for the new parks, paths and community infrastructure created by the project are properly looked after.
The Government is listening to this input as it gets on with delivering the $1.6 billion project, which will remove every level crossing between Dandenong and the city, rebuild five stations and enable more trains.
The Caulfield to Dandenong package will create more than 2,000 jobs and is part of the Labor Government’s plan to remove 50 of Victoria’s worst level crossings. For more information visit levelcrossings.vic.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform an ugly rail corridor into one of the biggest new parks Melbourne has ever seen – and we’re going to do it right.
“The Expert Panel will include open space experts, advocates and locals, and the establishment of a trust will ensure the kilometres of open space this project creates is safe, green and well looked after.”
“This project will make these communities even better places to live, with less traffic, more trains and new parks, bike paths and community facilities.”
“The Andrews Labor Government is listening to locals, caring for these communities and getting on with it.”