The Mt Derrimut Road level crossing removal has been completed, and the community came together on the weekend to mark the milestone.
The crossing within the Deer Park Station precinct has long been labelled as dangerous by locals, and on Saturday, March 2, the wait for a safe solution was finally over.
A celebration with food, drinks, and face painting took place at the precinct to mark the end of works.
Brimbank Mayor Cr Ranka Rasic attended the celebration, and spoke to the importance of the removal and its benefit to the community.
“This is a massive project and a huge improvement to the Deer Park Station and the bus interchange, both for public transport users and local residents,” she said.
“The removal of the level crossing, completed in 2023, has increased safety and reduced traffic congestion, and is already delivering benefits to local road users.”
She said the removal supports the growing number of people using the station, as well as improving the visual aesthetics of the precinct, and she is excited about the prospect of further upgrades.
“Transformative infrastructure like this can have a big and positive impact. We’re looking forward to working with the state government on the upgrades to Albion and Sunshine stations and the benefits these projects will also bring to Brimbank,” she said.
The recent upgrades to Deer Park station also sees it become Victoria’s first rail station with a rooftop garden, and falling in line with the garden, thel level crossing removal project team has recently planted more than 5000 native grasses and wildflowers on top of the station buildings, and a further 50,000 trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses are being planted in the broader station precinct.
Gerald Lynch
