6 May 2022

The Stakeholder Liaison Group (SLG) has been established as a key avenue for community involvement during works in Greensborough, Montmorency and Diamond Creek as part of the Hurstbridge Line Duplication Project.

SLG members will meet regularly with the project team to provide local perspectives on the project, particularly in relation to minimising construction impacts on the community. SLG members will use their networks to share information with the community.

We received overwhelming interest from the Greensborough, Montmorency and Diamond Creek community to join our SLG. The new members of the SLG were selected to represent a broad range of community views and will use their community networks to help share information during works.

If you want to get in contact with your SLG representatives, please contact the project team on 1800 105 105 or email contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au

SLG representatives

  • Tim Hamilton, representing Greensborough
  • Gene Kitchen, representing Greensborough
  • Michael Natoli, representing Greensborough
  • Noella Jacobs, representing Greensborough Traders Association
  • Katherine Barling, representing Montmorency
  • Gary Williams, representing Montmorency
  • Mary Stephens, representing Montmorency
  • Yvette Standfield, representing Montmorency Traders Association
  • Anna Henderson, representing Diamond Creek Traders Association

Executive meeting summaries

Meeting Nine - Thursday 21 July

The ninth Stakeholder Liaison Group meeting was held online and welcomed two new members representing local trader associations.

The group was provided with a construction and communications and engagement update which included:

  • The new concourse works at Greensborough Station
  • Piling works in preparation of the installation of the Plenty River Rail Bridge
  • Installation of project signage across work sites
  • The Spend and Win competition running from July to August to support trader engagement
  • The school artwork project which will see student artwork used across project sites

The group also discussed the planning approval process of the recently announced shared walking and cycling path and spoke to the key features of the path.

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


Meeting Eight – Wednesday 20 April

The eighth Stakeholder Liaison Group meeting began with reviewing open actions from the previous meeting. This was followed by a construction and communications update by the project team.

The project construction update was provided for works taking place in Greensborough, Montmorency, Diamond Creek and Wattle Glen, including works currently underway and ongoing and upcoming overnight works in Diamond Creek.

The group was provided with a summary of piling works to prepare to install the Plenty River Rail Bridge in Greensborough, and retaining wall works at Diamond Creek.

A member of the Car Parks for Commuters project team presented an overview of the new Greensborough carpark, including indicative timeline and recent community consultation. The SLG members asked questions of the team and provided feedback.

The communications update summarised the community engagement and communications activities since the last SLG meeting, including supporting the Montmorency Traders Association local Easter egg hunt in Were Street, an upcoming school artwork project, and the project team coming to the Eltham Farmers Market on Sunday 15 May. This section was finished with a brief overview of upcoming activities planned for 2022.

We look forward to the next meeting.


Meeting Seven – Tuesday 15 March

The seventh Stakeholder Liaison Group meeting began with reviewing open actions from the previous meeting. This was followed by a construction and communications update by the project team.

The project construction update was provided for works taking place in Greensborough, Montmorency, Diamond Creek and Wattle Glen, including:

  • works completed in 2021 to prepare for the major construction
  • works currently underway
  • what’s coming up in 2022/2023
  • update to project timeline
  • new Greensborough Station car park planning approvals consultation.

That was followed with a summary of works undertaken during our rail shutdowns in January 2022 in the inner areas, and March 2022 in the outer areas.

A member of our Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM) team presented on MTM’s role on the project, including rail communications, key objectives and passenger engagement post COVID.

The communications update outlined community engagement and communications activities since the last SLG meeting, including a butterfly colouring-in competition with participating schools and the Montmorency public art consultation report. This section was finished with a brief overview of activities planned for 2022.

We look forward to the next meeting.


Meeting Six – Wednesday 20 October

The fifth SLG meeting was not held due to the 2-week industry-wide shutdown to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The sixth SLG meeting started with welcoming three new SLG members and giving our thanks to Julie French and Jane Oldfield for their contributions over the past year. The three new members are Gary Williams who will represent Montmorency traders, and Cathy Cuckier and Mary Stephens representing the Montmorency community.

SLG members talked about what they have been hearing within their communities, with project design and construction key topics raised.

The project’s construction manager presented an update on how works are progressing on site, including the continuation of combined service route works (CSR) and geotechnical investigation works across Greensborough, Montmorency and Diamond Creek to Wattle Glen. That was followed with a summary of works undertaken during our major rail shutdown in August and September.

The communications update outlined upcoming engagement activities including the Montmorency ‘Meet the artists’ session on Thursday 21 October, and other community engagement and communications activities since the last SLG meeting. This included information on the mulch and log donations to local schools, council and community groups, finishing with an overview of activities planned for 2022.

We look forward to the next SLG meeting on 8 December 2021.


Meeting Four – Wednesday 28 July

The fourth Stakeholder Liaison Group meeting comprised of a construction update and Q&A session with the project team.

The meeting began with SLG members sharing what they have been hearing in the community. Common themes included tree and vegetation removal and replanting, project design, and project outcomes.

The sessions project construction update covered information on works planned or underway at:

  • Flinders Street Station Platform 14
  • Jolimont Station
  • Victoria Park Station
  • Clifton Hill junction
  • Keon Park substation
  • Greensborough
  • Montmorency
  • Diamond Creek to Wattle Glen

The meeting wrapped up with a Q&A to the project team about items presented.


Meeting Three – Wednesday 16 June

The meeting began with reviewing open actions from the previous two meetings. This was followed by the presentation of an example of landscaping and replanting on the Level Crossing Removal Project in Seaford.

A project construction update was provided for works taking place in Greensborough, Montmorency and Diamond Creek, including:

  • Tree and vegetation removal
  • Installation of fencing
  • Placement of barriers on roads
  • Excavation and installation of underground power and signalling equipment
  • Piling for overhead rail signals and power
  • Geotechnical investigations
  • Investigation works on underground services
  • Underground service upgrades and relocations
  • Construction of access tracks within the rail corridor

The group was then briefed on traffic management and given an insight into how our traffic management team works with the relevant stakeholders ahead of road disruptions.

A member from our Land, Planning, and Environment team presented on project approvals, and explained the different processes and plans in place in order for the project to be compliant.

Lastly, members were presented with an outline of community engagement activities that took place throughout May and June, including:

  • Project works updates and email updates
  • An update on the Landscape workshop group
  • An update on trader engagement
  • An update on school engagement

Key topics of interest from group members included:

  • Project design and final outcome
  • Vegetation removal and replanting

Meeting Two – Monday 3 May

The group addressed outstanding actions from meeting one and confirmed the meeting schedule for 2021, with a mix of online and in person meetings in Greensborough and Montmorency.

An update was provided on construction activities across the project including:

  • Establishment of site compounds
  • Vegetation removal in Greensborough and Diamond Creek
  • Installation of temporary fencing along the rail corridor
  • Utility relocation works
  • Members were also presented with photographs from the March rail disruption

Members were presented with an outline of community engagement activities that took place throughout March and April, including:

  • Project fact sheets and works updates and email updates
  • An update on the Landscape workshop group
  • A report from the recent community information sessions across Greensborough, Montmorency and Diamond Creek
  • An update on upcoming school engagement activities in planning and a list of the schools we have engaged with to date.

The group was provided with an overview of the Major Transport Infrastructure Authority and how these organisations work together to deliver the governments major infrastructure projects across the state. An overview was also provided on how the Level Crossing Removal Project works between government, who plan and fund projects and our alliances, who build and deliver them.

Key topics of interest from group members included:

  • Vegetation removal and replanting
  • Project benefits and final outcomes

Meeting One – Monday 15 March

Following introductions and formalities, the group was given an overview of the project area and scope which includes:

  • Building a new station at Greensborough
  • Building a new station at Montmorency
  • Duplication of approximately three kilometres of track between Greensborough and Montmorency
  • Upgrades to Diamond Creek Station platform.

A construction update was presented to members, outlining the types of early works taking place across Greensborough, Montmorency and Diamond Creek, including:

  • Site establishment works across our three sites
  • Surveying, investigating ground conditions and locating existing underground services
  • Tree and vegetation removal in Greensborough and Diamond Creek
  • Installation of temporary fencing along the rail corridor

The group was presented with an overview of vegetation removal and replanting across the project area, involving:

  • General maps included in the works notifications outlining proposed vegetation removal areas required by the team for construction works, the new stations at Greensborough and Montmorency, as well as power and signalling upgrades
  • Points highlighting the planting design, seeking to include a greater variety of vegetation to increase biodiversity and create wildlife habitats

The group was given an overview of how we have engaged with the community since May 2019, and the different types of engagement activities we’ve used, including:

  • Works notifications, door knocks, virtual meetings and information sessions, email updates, face-to-face pop ups and information sessions, social media, and community update newsletters.

Key topics of interest from group members included:

  • Vegetation removal and replanting
  • Protecting local wildlife