5 March 2022

About the Stakeholder Liaison Group

The Stakeholder Liaison Group (SLG) has been established as a key avenue for community involvement during the Edithvale Chelsea and Bonbeach level crossing removal projects.

SLG members will act as a conduit between the community and the project team by providing local perspectives on the project, particularly in relation to minimising construction impacts on the community. SLG members were asked to use their networks to share information with the community.

The new members of the SLG were selected to represent a broad range of community views.

SLG Community Representatives:

  • Jessica Cox, community member – Edithvale
  • Olga Donnelly, community member – Chelsea, representing Making Chelsea Shine
  • Tanya Hopmans, community member – Bonbeach
  • Heidi Irvine, community member – Chelsea
  • Jonathan Leschinski, community member – Edithvale
  • Gavan O'Donnell, representing St Joseph’s Primary School, Chelsea
  • Peter Parker, community member – Chelsea, representing Chelsea Bonbeach Train Station Group
  • Vicki Jans, community member – Edithvale, representing Kingston Residents Association
  • Joanne Steele, community member – Bonbeach
  • Lloyd Thomas, representing Bonbeach Life Saving Club
  • Peter Tripp, community member – Edithvale, representing Edithvale CFA
  • Frank Williams, community member – Bonbeach

Executive summaries

Meeting Eleven – 2 March 2022

The eleventh and final meeting of the SLG was held online.

The group was provided with a summary of the completed works and the final major project disruption which occurred in early February.

The group were also given an overview of the public artwork and indigenous references which will take pride of place in the new stations

  • At Edithvale, the ‘Waa’ artwork - with indigenous and cultural significance - will provide a contemporary aesthetic and a sense of place.
  • At Chelsea, the ‘Beach grass’ artwork is inspired by the local beach grasses and surrounding coastal landscape. It also compliments the coastal dune theme of architecture
  • At Bonbeach, the ‘Bonbird’ has a fun, playful, creative vision. It will act as a welcoming beacon to commuters and has numerous historical, cultural and environmental references.

At each station, there will be urban markers facing the Dandenong Ranges, Port Phillip Bay, and the Carrum Carrum Swamp. These works will leave a significant legacy where the Traditional Owners can forever tell their stories and share their culture with the wider community.

The group also provided their feedback on the project and the meetings.

SLG members are encouraged to share information from the meeting with their community networks.

To request contact details of your local representative, please contact the project team on 1800 105 105 or submit a request via email at contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au

Meeting Ten – 7 December 2021

The tenth meeting of the SLG was held online.

The group was provided with a summary of the completed major works, station openings and 50th level crossing removal event.

The group were also given an overview of the works which will occur in 2022 including:

  • Building a shared use path between Edithvale to Bonbeach, creating more than 11km of continuous shared use path to Frankston
  • Plant more than 820 trees and 85,000 shrubs, groundcovers and grasses along the rail corridor and the new station precincts.
  • Open new pedestrian overpasses in Edithvale and Chelsea

The group also gave input on the following topics:

  • Group feedback on meetings in 2022
  • What the community is hearing?

The next meeting will be held face-to-face at the Edithvale CFA, subject to directions from Department of Health and Human Service (DHHS) and COVID-19 restrictions.

SLG members are encouraged to share information from the meeting with their community networks.

To request contact details of your local representative, please contact the project team on 1800 105 105 or submit a request via email at contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au

Meeting Nine – 7 September 2021

The ninth meeting of the SLG was held online due to directions from Department of Health (DHS) and COVID-19 restrictions.

The group was provided with an update on the teams previous and upcoming communications and engagement activities, including community information in July.

The group were also given an overview of the planting and landscaping designs for Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach:

  • At Edithvale, more than 230 trees and 25,000 shrubs, groundcovers and grasses will be planted along the rail corridor and across the new station precinct.
  • At Chelsea, more than 360 trees and 38,000 shrubs, groundcovers and grasses will be planted along the rail corridor and across the new station precinct.
  • At Bonbeach, more than 230 trees and 22,000 shrubs, groundcovers and grasses will be planted along the rail corridor and across the new station precinct.

The group was also provided with additional information on the following key topics:

  • Project Update
  • Travel Changes in the Area
  • What the community is hearing?

The next meeting will be held face-to-face at the Edithvale CFA, subject to directions from Department of Health and Human Service (DHHS) and COVID-19 restrictions.

SLG members are encouraged to share information from the meeting with their community networks.

To request contact details of your local representative, please contact the project team on 1800 105 105 or submit a request via email at contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au

Meeting Eight – 16 June 2021

The eight meeting of the SLG was held online due to directions from Department of Health (DHS) and COVID-19 restrictions.

The group was provided with an update on the teams previous and upcoming communications and engagement activities, including pop-ups at Bonbeach and Edithvale markets in May and community information sessions planned for July.

The group were also given an overview of works that will take place from 25 July to August 2, when buses will replace trains between Mordialloc, Frankston and Stony Point

During our works, crews will work around the clock, to:

  • safely demolish the existing Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach stations
  • prepare the rail corridor for the rail trenches and new stations
  • Commission new substation at Chelsea and Edithvale

The group was also provided with additional information on the following key topics:

  • Project Update
  • Travel Changes in the Area
  • What the community is hearing?

The next meeting will be held face-to-face at the Edithvale CFA, subject to directions from Department of Health and Human Service (DHHS) and COVID-19 restrictions.

SLG members are encouraged to share information from the meeting with their community networks.

To request contact details of your local representative, please contact the project team on 1800 105 105 or submit a request via email at contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au

Meeting Seven – 21 April 2021

The seventh of the SLG was held face-to-face at the Edithvale CFA Building.

The group was provided with an update on the current construction activities, including piling and drainage works and road upgrade works. The group were also given an opportunity to see the latest precinct maps and ask questions or raise concerns with subject matter experts. These maps are included in the April 2021 community updates which have been delivered to local residents.

The group was also provided with additional information on the following key topics:

  • Local MP Update from Sonya Kilkenny MP, Member for Carrum
  • Communications and Engagement Update
  • Project Update
  • Travel Changes in the Area
  • What the community is hearing?

The next meeting will be held face-to-face at the same location, subject to directions from Department of Health and Human Service (DHHS) and COVID-19 restrictions.

SLG members are encouraged to share information from the meeting with their community networks.

To request contact details of your local representative, please contact the project team on 1800 105 105 or submit a request via email at contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au

Meeting Six – 10 February 2021

Due to the current health advice, the sixth meeting of the SLG was held online via Microsoft Teams.

The group was provided an update on the current construction activities, including piling works utility relocation and drainage works. The group was also given an overview of the designs for the new Bonbeach, Chelsea and Edithvale stations and the 15 pedestrian connections once the project is complete.

The group was provided additional information on the following key topics:

  • Local MP Update from Tim Richardson, Member for Mordialloc
  • Communications and Engagement update
  • Project update
  • Pedestrian connections
  • Sub-station designs
  • Station designs

The meeting concluded with the group agreeing to provide feedback on their preference for future meeting format (face-to face or online) via email. Plans for face-to-face meeting will be dependent on directions from Department of Health and Human Service (DHHS) and COVID-19 restrictions.

SLG members are encouraged to share information from the meeting with their community networks.

To request contact details of your local representative, please contact the project team on 1800 105 105 or submit a request via email at contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au

Meeting Five – 24 November 2020

Due to the current health advice, the fifth meeting of the SLG was held online via Microsoft Teams.

The group was provided an update on the current construction activities, including service relocations and piling works. The group was also given an overview of upcoming disruptions into 2021.

The group was provided additional information on the following key topics:

  • Communications and Engagement update
  • Traffic management process
  • Future meeting topics
  • Works update:
  • Barrier installation on Station Street and Nepean Hwy
  • Utilities relocations
  • Piling works

The group expressed interest in the traffic management procedures and potential graffiti mitigation methods.

The meeting concluded with the group discussing continuing the virtual meetings next year or moving to face to face meetings if COVID-19 restrictions permitted.

SLG members are encouraged to share information from the meeting with their community networks.

To request contact details of your local representative, please contact the project team on 1800 105 105 or submit a request via email at contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au

Meeting Four – 8 September 2020

Due to the current health advice, the fourth meeting of the SLG was held online via Zoom.

The group was provided an update on the current construction activities, including details of the works undertaken in the rail occupations in August and September, and upcoming disruptions including piling which is set to begin later in the year and continue until mid-2021.

The group was provided additional information on the following key topics:

  • COVID-19 health and safety measures on LXRP project sites during Stage 4 Restrictions
  • Limitations communicating disruptions with the community during Stage 4 Restrictions
  • Works update:
    • Utilities relocations
    • Upcoming piling works
  • Communication and engagement update including historical

The group expressed interest in the temporary closures and future locations of pedestrian crossings and bus stops.

The meeting concluded with the group providing additional ideas for communicating the temporary closures of pedestrian crossings to the community.

SLG members are encouraged to share information from the meeting with their community networks.

To request contact details of your local representative, please contact the project team on 1800 105 105 or submit a request via email at contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au

Meeting Three – 14 July 2020

Due to current health advice, the third SLG meeting was held online via Zoom.

The group was provided an update on current construction activities, including the ongoing relocation of underground power and signalling equipment, utilities works, new project sites being established, and local upcoming disruptions.

The group was also provided an update on the historical items, groundwater management plans, the Aboriginal cultural heritage considerations and the recent communications and community engagement activities.

Key topics of interest for meetings included graffiti management, traffic management and parking during construction, landscaping, pedestrian crossings.

SLG members are encouraged share information from the meeting with their community networks.

For further information on the SLG meeting, please contact your local SLG representative. To request contact details of your local representative, please contact the project team on 1800 105 105 or submit a request via email at contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au

Meeting Two – 26 May 2020

Due to current health advice, the second SLG meeting was held online via Zoom.The group was provided an overview of the project to date including, vegetation removal, combined service route (CSR) works, utilities relocation and site establishment.The group was provided additional information on the following key topics:

  • COVID-19 social distancing measures on LXRP construction sites
  • Historical items under investigation
  • How LXRP works with state Government and collaborates with other major infrastructure projects
  • Communication and engagement update.

The group concluded the meeting by expressing further interest in the future landscaping plans, a design update, pedestrian crossings and the Aboriginal cultural heritage considerations.These topics have been noted and will be discussed with the group in future meetings.For future detail regarding the SLG meetings, please make contact with your local SLG representatives or the project team by calling 1800 105 105 or emailing us at contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au

Meeting One – 11 February 2020

Following introductions and meeting formalities, the group was given an overview of the project area, from Aspendale Station to Bonbeach, and the project scope – removing five level crossings, closing Lochiel Avenue, building a new road connection at Thames Promenade, three new stations, and rail systems upgrades.A construction update followed, including the latest on early works:

  • Groundwater monitoring technology is being installed along Station Street and Nepean Highway.
  • Service proving will start soon. This means finding all the different service utilities underground (water, gas, electricity, telecoms, etc.) which we will then relocate.

The group was given an overview of community engagement and project communications, including:

  • Edithvale and Bonbeach Environment Effects Statement community consultation
  • Chelsea Planning Scheme Amendment community consultation
  • How all the station designs are Disability Discrimination Act (1992) compliant
  • What the project has been hearing from the local community.

Key topics of interest for group members included pedestrian crossings, bussing and possible route changes during construction, how the project works with other major infrastructure projects such as the new Mordialloc Freeway project, and opportunities for Chelsea Station to be relocated.