Elsie Lange
The state government, residents and council are clashing over the construction delay of a southern exit route and rail crossing from the Jacksons Hill estate, in a decades-old issue reignited by road and rail works in Sunbury’s centre.
For more than 10 years, Star Weekly has reported the call to build a road connecting the estate to Vineyard Road from its southern end to give residents another way to cross the rail line.
In 2012, Star Weekly reported that Hume council and estate developer Places Victoria – now Development Victoria – had “signed an agreement for a third [rail] crossing once 750 homes were built at the estate”.
There are now more than 1000 properties built on the estate – and still no road.
Twenty-five years after the development of Jacksons Hill began in 1997, residents still leave the estate via Bellville Drive, which becomes Evans Street or The Avenue, which becomes Barkly Street.
However, where Evans Street crosses town over Gap Road and Station Street to allow residents to get over the rail line, the road will be closed from May 30 for up to four months while the Sunbury Line Upgrade takes place.
Sunbury Residents Association president Graham Williams described the issue as a “long running” project by state and local government to develop a third rail crossing based on a new exit road from the estate.
“It had been planned to be finished before the [level] crossing removal project fired up and will cut the town in two, but for a variety of reasons it has been delayed and of course the crossing removal was brought forward,” Mr Williams said.
He said on top of roadworks on Sunbury-Bulla Road, and increased traffic carrying spoil from the West Gate Tunnel Project to the Hi-Quality processing facility in Bulla, “Sunbury is facing a long and slow road in every direction”.
In 2018, Sunbury MP Josh Bull announced the government would provide $3.5 million to council to connect Yirrangen Road down to Buckland Way, and Hume’s own 2020-21 budget included $1 million to complete the project.
Mr Bull said he was “incredibly frustrated” at the delay and had raised the matter with Hume council “countless times over many years”.
“Hume council have identified a number of issues in relation to planning of this road and indicated that these issues are actively being resolved,” Mr Bull said.
“These issues relate to land acquisition and cultural and heritage management regulations and processes that must be undertaken as per the planning process.
“Hume council advise me that the road will be complete in 2023, but given the delays we have seen in recent years I see it my duty to ensure that I continually remind the council of their obligation to this timeline and most importantly to our community,” he said.
Council sustainable infrastructure and services director Peter Waite said council was “continuing to progress the required legislative approvals for the construction of the road”.
“Hume City Council understands the desire of the community for this connection,” Mr Waite said.
“Council officers will provide an update on the project, with a report to be presented to council in late June.”
Mr Williams said the SRA would have liked to have seen better collaboration between agencies on the timing of current works.
“But it seems that no one was taking the high level view – just focussed on their own project,” he said.
