2016-06-23
Ms PENNICUIK (Southern Metropolitan) — My constituency question is for the Minister for Public Transport, and it concerns the level crossing removal at Koornang and Murrumbeena roads and the proposed rebuilding of Carnegie and Murrumbeena stations. Both stations were opened in 1879 — 137 years ago — Carnegie originally as Rosstown station. I am very familiar with both stations from using the Cranbourne-Pakenham lines and from cycling alongside them for many years. Following discussions with the Level Crossing Removal Authority, I am concerned that it plans to demolish the stations. This is most alarming, as Victoria continues to lose too many of its historic buildings. The government is saying that there will be more people cycling and walking in the area and I personally believe that both stations should be incorporated into the design, preferably in situ as happens in other projects of this type, for ongoing public uses and to retain important local and state history. My question for the minister is: will she work with the local community to retain these historic railway stations?
ANSWER on 18 August 2016:
As part of the Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Project, the stations at Carnegie, Murrumbeena, Hughesdale, Clayton and Noble Park will be transformed into new, safe and accessible stations. The new stations will include intermodal transport hubs with connections to buses and taxis, increased car parking, improved connections to the surrounding shopping precincts, a continuous shared bicycle and pedestrian path along the rail corridor and new open space for the local community.
The urban design for the project, including the five new stations, has been developed by a team of urban designers, engineers and technical specialists. The project team has worked with the Office of the Victorian Government Architect and local councils to develop urban design principles for the project, including identity, urban integration, amenity, vibrancy, safety and accessibility.
The Government is aware that the Carnegie and Murrumbeena station houses have significance to the local community and I can assure you that the design's impacts on heritage places have been considered in the design process. The feedback received during the community consultation phase has helped shape the station designs and will be used to further enhance the design and guide project decision making. The project team are currently working closely with council to explore options to acknowledge the local heritage value of the existing stations. This includes the possibility of relocating existing station buildings for community use, or incorporating elements of the station buildings into the new designs.