Blackburn level crossing “consultation” – Labor needs to listen

The Andrews government is continuing to treat eastern suburbs residents as second class citizens over the Blackburn level crossing removal, just as with East West Link.

First, the Labor government delayed this Liberal-funded project that Labor previously opposed.

Now it is showing all the signs that its “community consultation” will be a sham.

The government claimed in the Whitehorse Leader this week that it will set up a stakeholder group “soon” so locals can “have their say” on the removal.

Yet at the same time, the government has letterboxed local residents and businesses with a glossy leaflet saying all that is planned is a community “information” session at which it will “present” project designs. 

It beggars belief that it’s taken Labor eight months even to begin to communicate with the community, given that bidders for the project were shortlisted prior to last year’s state election.

Even now, locals are still being kept in the dark about important issues such as the design for the underpass, the bike path route, and the traffic light arrangements at Blackburn Road.

It’s not good enough just to tell the community what has already been decided – the government needs listen to what locals have to say before it finalises the design.

Getting these details right will make all the difference between a great outcome and an outcome that leaves the community with nagging problems for years to come.

We can’t afford to have this project bungled the way the previous Labor government bungled the pedestrian and bike path arrangements for the Middleborough Road grade separation.