Another article on the LXRP Beaconsfield did not seem possible, and was not on my radar. What more could I possibly write about that had not already been discussed, complained about and hashed over? It had worn us down and I guess we all just wanted to move on and get it over and done with. Local residents now shrug their shoulders and say how tired they are of it. We tried our best to stop it but should be happy we saved the Railway House. It is our way of coping, we just get on with things, it will be over one day.
While the construction continues to decimate the landscape, dig up swathes of green and divert traffic there is still news to report to the wider community and those who pass through regularly.
So, what has been happening over the last nine months since the site offices moved in with the workers, machines and plans and a structure the size of a growing multistorey building looms over the Beaconsfield landscape?
Mostly it is busy, except every second Monday which is always an RDO for the sector, although work has been going on 24/7 at the moment with bright lights and machinery with deliveries and varying shifts of workers. The station carpark size is dramatically reduced.
There is traffic management most days, Kenilworth Avenue is often closed to traffic, or reduced to one lane. The south side of Beaconsfield Ave has been closed to pedestrians and the road has been narrowed due to the ‘gawk’ screening, fencing and buffers on the road. Coupled with commuter parking on the north side week days it makes for congestion at peak times together with the two school crossings. It is hard for two vehicles to pass safely with the need to give way if you include buses and trucks which frequent the road at all times. It is also difficult, and dangerous, for residents to reverse out of their driveways at this time so patience is required.
A kangaroo was hit on Beaconsfield Ave early one morning in March and needed to be euthanised. This was distressing for all concerned and could be seen as a result of the intrusion on its habitat and also being unable to seek safety as the road gives it no means of escape.
A request was made to Cardinia Council to ban parking in Beaconsfield Ave for the duration of the Project due to safety concerns and wildlife impact but this was refused.
Easter Tuesday brought heavy rain just before drainage works were due to start and Beaconsfield Ave was to be closed for the school holidays. The water from the easement between Souter St and Goff St did not cope and flooded three properties that back onto it. The residents on the corner could not get out of their house, not only was their garden fully submerged but under the house a raging torrent and water halfway across the road. Two other properties adjoining the easement had flooded gardens and sheds.
Workers from LXRP were sent to assess and put in place pumps to both ensure the water was drained away and to make sure no more water was able to back up. They returned a couple of days later to sweep and clean the driveway of debris. Work started as planned on the drainage works later in the week, however, to date, the residents are being forced to get their own insurance to repair the damage as LXRP now blames the Council for the easement but Council assessment is that this was not the case.
See below for the Council correspondence 11/4/24
“Council is aware of residents that were impacted by flooding along Beaconsfield Avenue near the Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP) works. Council Operations and surveillance teams have been working constantly since the incident to check all Council’s drainage network and communicating with residents directly and to date have found nothing within the network that could have caused the flooding impact to these properties. Council executives have discussed the matter with the LXRP executives, and we have been assured that LXRP are discussing and assisting the residents directly. We currently have no formal statement from LXRP but as investigations continue, we will provide an update to Councillors. Council Officers are also working closely with the LXRP team to understand if any of their project works may have caused this flooding, Council Officers will continue to communicate directly with the affected residents but encourage the residents to continue the open discussions with LXRP.”
So, life goes on for those of us at Ground Zero and we hope that it will be finished ahead of time and they will move on and we can adjust to the changed view. The station itself however will not get any attention as it is not part of the project and will continue to offer no protection to commuters in hot, cold or wet weather with no facilities. Pakenham and Narre Warren in this respect were luckier.
It is positive to note that while it was thought that the newer rear of the Railway House would need to be removed, to date this has not happened. The construction is very close to it but it looks safe at the moment and hopefully the Railway House will remain intact and will be able to serve the community going forward.
I am also happy to report that two small bunya bunya tree seedlings that I potted before the owners moved out are growing and thriving.
Those of us who are neighbours to this Project are just surviving day to day and try to support each other. Those of you who grumble about the traffic snarls and road closures spare a thought for us. We look forward to the day this expensive LXRP moves on and hopefully the advantages the Government spruiked to us when justifying the money spent will materialise.
By Fran Healey
