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Subject: Tues.2.2.21 daily digest

Roderick

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Tues.2.2.21 Metro Twitter
Buses replace trains Mordialloc - Frankston/Stony Point until the last train of Sun 7 Feb (level-crossing works).  See https://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/disruptions/frankston-and-stony-point-lines-buses-replace-trains-jan-feb-21
Trains will resume Newport - Werribee from first train this morning after urgent overhead works took place. First trains: 4.46 ex Werribee, via Altona; 5.06 ex Flinders St, via Altona.
5.20 Murrumbeena: No lift access until further notice (a power outage). Passengers travelling there alight at Carnegie and speak to staff for alternatives. Passengers at Murrumbeena speak to staff for alternatives.
- 5.52 Lift access has been restored.
- 8.15 This is new infrastructure. Billions of dollars - track, stations & lifts. Premier Andrews  won’t tell us how much, although taxpayers paid for it all.
- Every time it rains there is a power outage because rain runs right through the station and shorts everything. Elevated should never have been built. Failed infrastructure project.
8.23 Lilydale/Belgrave/Alamein lines: Citybound delays (police near Richmond. Trains may run direct to Flinders St.  [Glen Waverley unaffected?]
- 8.40 Any update? I'm stuck on a train just outside Richmond not going anywhere. Can't understand any of the updates.
- 8.46 clearing.
- 8.49 Police were attending to a situation on a train ahead of your service which transpired at short notice. This resulted in your train being caught behind.
- 8.51 It's the not being able to understand the announcements that is the most annoying, not the delay.
18.56 Werribee line: Major delays (an equipment fault between Newport and Laverton).
- 19.06 I'm standing on Westona platform, no announcements. Going to be late for my appointment.
- There was was one a minute ago, but well after it was needed.
- We'll follow up why no announcements were made there.
- 20.11 delays and clearing that fault and ab earlier police action near Footscray.
19.04 Glen Waverley line: Major citybound delays (an 'operational incident' at Burnley). 
- 19.09 Another drug-affected psychopath?
Buses replace trains North Melbourne - Upfield from 20.35 until the last train (maintenance works).
Glen Waverley line: Buses replace trains Parliament - Darling from 20.40 until the last train (maintenance works).
Lilydale/Belgrave lines: Buses replace trains Parliament - Burnley from 20.50 until the last train (maintenance works).
Sunbury/Craigieburn/Upfield lines: All trains run direct to/from Flinders St from 21.00 until the last train (maintenance works).  From loop stations, take a Flinders St train from pfm 1.
Pakenham/Cranbourne lines: All trains direct to/from Flinders St from 21.00 until the last train (maintenance works).  From loop stations, take a Flinders St train from pfm 1.

Melburnians flee the city as COVID hits students and workers. Shane Wright and Jennifer Duke February 2, 2021
Melbourne experienced a 30 per cent collapse in the number of people relocating to the city from other parts of the country during the pandemic, while students and people of prime working age fled for regional Victoria.
New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show a net 7445 people left the Greater Melbourne area through the September quarter, more than three in five of them moving to a regional bolthole.
Melbourne CBD was empty during lockdown, contributing to people moving away to find work.CREDIT:WAYNE TAYLOR
Sydney lost a net 7782 residents, which along with Melbourne’s figures resulted in capital cities nationally losing 11,200 people to regional areas, the biggest quarterly movement out of metropolitan Australian on record.
Migration out of the nation’s largest two cities has almost doubled since the September quarter last year before the advent of the pandemic. The pandemic has also slowed the natural movement of Australians around the country, with total internal migration down almost 8 per cent over the past year.
ANU demographer and social researcher Liz Allen said households have realised more can be done remotely beyond the limits of the nation’s capitals, including working from home.
“But with a greater push for workers to return to physical offices, the opportunities for living in regional areas will be constrained,” she said.
Another reason for the move to the bush is workers who have lost income through a reduction in hours, or loss of a job are struggling to get work in the city during lockdowns. “Moving to new opportunities and or away from restrictions is certainly reflected in the data,” Dr Allen said.
The ABS data shows Melbourne’s population age profile is changing due to the pandemic.
In the September quarter of 2019, the city had a net gain of 778 people aged between 15 and 24 from other parts of Australia. Last September, it lost 424.
The number of people aged between 25 and 64 leaving the city for other parts of Australia has increased by more than 900 per cent.
By contrast, Perth attracted a net 320 people aged between 25 and 44 in the September quarter. The year before, it lost 266.
But in a sign of the potential long term economic hit Melbourne will take due to its pandemic lockdown through the second half of last year, new arrivals into the city are down 30 per cent since the September quarter of 2019. By contrast, arrivals to Sydney have dropped by 12 per cent.
Of the 7445 net residents to leave Melbourne through the quarter, 4701 shifted to another part of Victoria. The next most likely destination was Queensland with 678 people moving to Brisbane and 1116 to another part of the sunshine state.
There has been an improvement in the jobless rate since the height of the outbreaks but there has not yet been a full recovery. Official payroll jobs data shows since March 2020 accommodation and food services roles are down 14.7 per cent and education and training jobs are 13.8 per cent lower.
Jobs worked by 20 to 29-year-olds fell 6.5 per cent since the weekend ending March 14.
“The trend we’re seeing at present is the result of others not moving into the areas where people have left, which would ordinarily happen. I expect this trend of net excess movements away from capital cities will be short-lived,” Dr Allen said.
The major limitation on the regions is “woefully inadequate” infrastructure, she said, with employment, housing and education unable to meet the need of a flood of new residents in the short-term.
“In the absence of any real investments in regional areas, the moment ... infections settle we’ll likely have a resumption of pre-COVID internal migration patterns.”
University of NSW City Futures Research Centre director Bill Randolph said the number of people leaving Melbourne and Sydney is not significant for cities with populations of about 5 million people, and there are limitations on regional areas’ ability to cater to huge inflows of new residents.
“One is the capacity of the regional areas to soak these people up. There’s only so much housing,” Professor Randolph said, adding many jobs do not allow work-from-home arrangements permanently and amenities can be limited in remote areas.
“COVID has seen people bring forward their plans so it depends how much of this is brought-forward demand from people who were already going to move,” he said. “I suspect it will die down, but there will be a longer-term restructuring process in the cities.”
CommSec senior economist Ryan Felsman said in a research note there had been a “stampede” from the major cities to the regions, pushing house prices in these areas by 7.9 per cent over 2020 in the biggest lift in 16 years. At the same time CoreLogic recorded a 7.8 per cent drop in rents in the prime inner-Melbourne market and a 5.6 per cent decline in Sydney.
“The recovery in inner-city rentals remains highly dependent on employer return-to-work directives, continued virus suppression and the job market recovery,” Mr Felsman said.
RELATED ARTICLE Regional areas of NSW have become more popular due to the pandemic. COVID-19 city exodus puts strain on local broadband, power and traffic networks
<www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/melburnians-flee-the-city-as-covid-hits-students-and-workers-20210202-p56yr6.html>

Sydneysiders flee for the bush, led by students and workers. Shane Wright and Jennifer Duke. February 2, 2021.  20 comments
Sydneysiders have been fleeing for regional parts of NSW, Queensland and even Canberra, using the coronavirus pandemic to look for work and affordable housing outside the nation’s most expensive city.
During the September quarter a net 7782 people left the Greater Sydney region, three in five of them moving to a regional part of NSW, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows.
Sydney CBD was relatively empty during lockdowns.CREDIT:JAMES BRICKWOOD
Melbourne lost a net 7445 residents, which along with Sydney’s figures resulted in capital cities nationally losing 11,200 people to regional areas, the biggest quarterly movement out of metropolitan Australia on record.
Migration out of the nation’s two largest cities has almost doubled since the September quarter in 2019, before the advent of the pandemic. The pandemic has also slowed the natural movement of Australians around the country, with total internal migration down almost 8 per cent over the past year.
ANU demographer and social researcher Liz Allen said households had realised more could be done remotely beyond the limits of the nation’s capitals, including working from home.
“But with a greater push for workers to return to physical offices, the opportunities for living in regional areas will be constrained,” she said.
Another reason for the move to the bush is workers who have lost income through a reduction in hours, or loss of a job.
“Moving to new opportunities and/or away from restrictions is certainly reflected in the data,” Dr Allen said.
The ABS data shows Sydney’s population age profile is changing due to the pandemic.
The number of 15 to 24 year-olds leaving the city climbed almost tenfold since the September quarter in 2019, while there has been a 21 per cent increase in the departures of people aged between 25 and 64.
By contrast, Perth attracted a net 320 people aged between 25 and 44 in the September quarter. The year before, it lost 266.
There has been an improvement in the jobless rate since the height of the coronavirus outbreaks but the recovery is ongoing. Official payroll jobs data shows since March 2020, accommodation and food services roles are down 14.7 per cent and education and training jobs are 13.8 per cent lower.
Jobs worked by 20 to 29-year-olds fell 6.5 per cent since the weekend ending March 14.
“The trend we’re seeing at present is the result of others not moving into the areas where people have left, which would ordinarily happen. I expect this trend of net excess movements away from capital cities will be short-lived,” Dr Allen said.
The major limitation on the regions is “woefully inadequate” infrastructure, she said, with employment, housing and education unable to meet the need of a flood of new residents in the short term.
“In the absence of any real investments in regional areas, the moment ... infections settle we’ll likely have a resumption of pre-COVID internal migration patterns.”
In a sign of the potential long-term economic hit Melbourne will take due to its pandemic lockdown through the second half of last year, new arrivals into the city are down 30 per cent since the September quarter of 2019. By contrast, arrivals to Sydney have dropped by 12 per cent.
University of NSW City Futures Research Centre director Bill Randolph said the number of people leaving Sydney and Melbourne was not significant for cities with populations of about 5 million people, and there were limitations on regional areas’ ability to cater to huge inflows of new residents.
“One is the capacity of the regional areas to soak these people up. There’s only so much housing,” Professor Randolph said, adding many jobs do not allow work-from-home arrangements permanently and amenities can be limited in remote areas.
“COVID has seen people bring forward their plans so it depends how much of this is brought-forward demand from people who were already going to move,” Professor Randolph said. “I suspect it will die down, but there will be a longer-term restructuring process in the cities.”
These changes could include a move to the outer suburbs of cities, or just over the boundary, to allow commuting into the CBD where needed, he said.
CommSec senior economist Ryan Felsman said in a research note there had been a “stampede” from the major cities to the regions, pushing house prices in these areas up by 7.9 per cent over 2020 in the biggest lift in 16 years. By contrast, CoreLogic recorded a 5.6 per cent drop in rents in the prime inner-Sydney market and a 7.8 per cent decline in Melbourne.
“The recovery in inner-city rentals remains highly dependent on employer return-to-work directives, continued virus suppression and the job market recovery,” Mr Felsman said.
RELATED ARTICLE A worker at Royal Perth Hospital’s COVID clinic. Coronavirus as it happened: Victorian household gatherings limited, masks made mandatory indoors after Melbourne hotel quarantine worker tests positive for COVID-19; WA lockdown continues
RELATED ARTICLE Regional areas of NSW have become more popular due to the pandemic. COVID-19 city exodus puts strain on local broadband, power and traffic networks
<www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/sydneysiders-flee-for-the-bush-led-by-students-and-workers-20210202-p56yr4.html>

As it happened: 56 homes lost, hundreds evacuated in Wooroloo bushfires. Heather McNeill, Marta Pascual Juanola and Daile Cross February 2, 2021
<www.smh.com.au/national/western-australia/wooroloo-bushfire-live-multiple-homes-lost-as-firefighters-tackle-blaze-in-perth-s-hills-20210202-p56yp5.html>

Why e-bikes can succeed where earlier bike-share schemes failed. Madison Bland, Abraham Leung and Benjamin Kaufman. February 2, 2021
<www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/why-e-bikes-can-succeed-where-earlier-bike-share-schemes-failed-20210202-p56yqf.html>

FEBRUARY 2 2021 Woden light rail: Federal government gives crucial light rail approval. Daniella White
Crucial approval has been granted for the next stage of the Canberra light rail. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong
The federal government has signed off on the first stage of light rail to Woden.
<www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7110271/federal-government-gives-crucial-light-rail-approval>
* Before anything else happens, serious consideration needs to be give to Jack Kershaw's much more sensible proposed alternative route, which would take in Acton and the ANU and avoid damaging alterations to Commonwealth Avenue bridge (as detailed in this week's City News).
* I agree with you Karina but it's not going to happen. The route has been decided based on land sales and ongoing income from rates. It has nothing to do with efficient public transport, the tram is just a red herring.
* Great analysis and 100% correct. An efficient public transport system has always been a lower priority than rate revenue.
* So is this the reason why Barr suddenly went cold on pursuing the Orroral Valley Fire despite initially talking tough about it?
* rates going up next quarter
* For the next 4 years. 3.75%pa.
* can ride a push bike faster then catching this train set
* Wait till Stage 2 opens. On batteries from Commonwealth Park to Kent St.
* As it is said in times of success and celebration: "Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner"
* $16,600 per centimetre. 5 centimetres of tram pays a nurses salary for a year.
* Why waste money on more nurses? They are totally ineffective in the failing ACT Health system; adding more nurses hasn't improved the system in the past so what makes you think there is going to be any change? At least light rail has a measurable positive outcome.
* Are you serious? Wow! The team is rubbish compared to express buses, which are cheaper, easier to maintain, are more flexible, have a multi use function and is cheaper and easier to train drivers. Oh and buses are quicker too. Are we in a movie length version of Utopia??
* Demonstrates just how far the Feds will go to make Canberra suffer - the Mistake by the Lake.
* The "feds" have been trying to stop the tram from day one for no other reason than the ACT government is Labor. "with conditions imposed to protect the critically-endangered golden sun moth."...this would literally have to be the first time the Federal govt has cared about an endangered species. Your mate Zed doesn't care about Canberra, if he did he wouldn't have nobbled with the ACT Liberals with reactionary ratbags and there would be a credible opposition.
* Actually Seano they are trying to stop it because it is a costly, less efficient option to what is already available. The tram is indefensible, doubly so with the state of the health system.
* think they approve belconnen as well do them both at the same time so it can cost 100 billion and be 20 years in the works
* Awesome. Hop on a tram, hop on a scooter, hop on a bike...when the kids finish playing sport I'll never have to drive again.
* Why not just catch a bus?
* Because there's a tram that goes where I need to go that's quite and comfortable.
* Unless you need to check on an elderly relative on the way to work. Need to do a large grocery shop, go to Bunnings, take the dog to a dog park, purchase anything bigger than an esky, need to get to medical care quickly, go to Belconnen, Tuggeranong, Qbyn, Weston or making three connections when one used to be required. Yeah. Great value for Canberra. Oh and congrats Canberra on now having the worst performing A&E in the country. Shame the tram won't go past the hospital, despite that being what the public requested. Barr is a law unto himself. Total fool.
* What a load of garbage. For a start most of that you don't need a car for...and I'm not telling you to get rid of yours anyway.
* I'm not sure which 'most examples' I mentioned you don't need a car for. Happy to be enlightened. If it works for you, great. The majority of people couldn't do what they have to each day without a car. I'm glad that you are one of the 6% of Canberrans that utilise public transport for your requirements, and indeed delighted that you are of the 2% of Canberrans that can utilise the tram. Really happy for you... I commute to my work by train. A real train. 40ks in 49 minutes and it's less than $5 a journey. Enjoy Andy and Shane's over priced and poorly planned version.
* Canberra belongs to all Australians irrespective where they live. I care about the city I lived in for 57 years and judging by your last statement, your argument has run out of steam. The tram us an expensive joke.
* I have at no stay advocated people who need them (or anyone if you can read) getting rid of THEIR cars.
* I've always maintained that public transport, in any format, is not for all people in Canberra. We need a mix but spending over $3billoon on 25ks of tram is just ridiculous.
* $2 billion. $2 billion! At least I'm not contributing to this over priced, under delivering joke any more. Enjoy Canberra!
* How does the price compare to other recent Australian light rail projects?
* Can you explain the under-delivered part, in what way?
* A tram does nothing that a bus cant do. A tram costs a lot more. Yes, the bus network and timetable is rubbish - but it can be improved, but if I'm allowed to speculate, that was part of the plan to make light rail look good.
* Easily done my friend. The Inland Rail Line. 1700km from Melbourne to Brisbane, building a large freight hub in central NSW, crossing numerous roads, rivers and the Great Dividing Range, estimated cost $14.5 billion. 7 times the cost and 140 times the distance. Current commute time Woden Civic by bus 13 minutes. The tram will have an extra stop at Deakin (possibly more) and run on batteries from Commonwealth Park to Kent St. Speed about 40kph. So roughly double the commute time from the current express bus. All for $166k per metre, or two nurses' salary for a year Anything else you need to learn?
* Yes, you have to avoid the question, and put forward unrelated costs, to try to make your point. The Inland Rail Line is not light rail. Rather disingenuous. Again, How does the price compare to other recent Australian light rail projects?
* Again heavy rail is infinitely more expensive than light rail or even more so than the tram we have. This project also did not attract federal government support unlike the Gold Coast light rail as it fidget meet the Dept of Infrastructure requirements for making sense. Main reason is volume of passengers. The Gold Coast has a standing population just shy of 700,000 (2020 estimate) and in a non covid environment visitors of just over 10million per annum. Those numbers make their light rail viable. It is worth noting that the first stage of the Gold Coast tram is about the same length as the Canberra tram and was slightly more expensive. That did include building 16 stations, something Canberra tram did not have to do.
- Extension of light rail in Adelaide - canned.
- Construction of light rail in Perth - canned.
Both canned for same reason the Canberra tram should've been. Buses were a better alternative.

Both public and private sector workplaces can increase capacity to 75 per cent. 
Clare Armstrong and Kieran Rooney February 2, 2021. 439 comments
Melbourne CBD’s return to its bustling former glory has been given a new push — with thousands of workers set to return in the next week.
video: Andrews - Back to work numbers relaxed. Victoria’s staged return to work will be accelerated this month with new health advice allowing office-based workers to return to 75% capacity.
This coronavirus article is unlocked and free to read in the interest of community health and safety.Click here for full digital access to trusted news from the Herald Sun and Leader for just $1 for the first 28 days.
Melbourne’s CBD is set to see thousands of workers return next week, with the government lifting the limit on office capacity to 75 per cent.
The new rules, which apply to both the private and public sector, will take place from February 8.
Employers will need to continue keeping records of all workers and visitors who are on site for more than 15 minutes.
It comes after the state recorded 27 days without any cases of community transmission.
There was one case acquired overseas and 22 active cases statewide — all in hotel quarantine.
A total of 8,480 tests were taken on Monday.
The state government plans to extend its state of emergency powers and will table a bill in state parliament on Tuesday.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the decision to bring more people back to work would be welcomed by Melbourne’s struggling CBD businesses, including cafes, bars and restaurants.
Mr Andrews assured office workers public transport was still a reliable and safe way to get into the city.
Thousands of workers are set to return to the office next week. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ David Crosling
“If public transport wasn’t the safest option, the chief health officer wouldn’t be running it,” he said.
“If that is how you used to get to work, then please try and use that mode of transport again.”
The Victorian Chamber of Commerce CEO Paul Guerra said the announcement was “great news”.
“Across the state today, great announcements for all businesses and all workers,” he said.
“In the CBD it’s fundamental, we know the footfall through the day has been lacking, we know to get (workers) back in meaningful numbers will not only help small retail, large retail, but also hospitality.
“We know the hospitality sector has been going okay in the after hours, but to get that daytime traffic back up will create a buzz the city has been lacking.”
Mr Guerra said the announcement was not a surprise given the virus “not being here” for more than three weeks.
But he flagged there would be a long-term focus on the future of working from home.
“It’s about the best of both worlds with some staff working from home some days and some staff working in the office”,” he said.
Struggling CBD businesses are expected to welcome the influx of office workers to the city from next week. Picture: David Crosling
SCO MO REJECTS CALLS FOR RAPID COVID TEST
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has rejected calls to introduce rapid coronavirus testing that could reduce time in quarantine from 14 days to five.
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce previously labelled the testing as a “gamechanger” that could help herald a return for international travel.
But Mr Morrison said there were still safety concerns, and the government would not roll it out yet.
“We put those questions forward, until we can get a clear medical view that is safe, it would be irresponsible to do it,” Mr Morrison said.
Read more here.
WA SLOW TO ALERT COVID-19 OUTBREAK
West Australian health officials left other states in the dark about a highly infectious case of COVID-19 until several hours after a scheduled meeting to discuss the virus. 
Despite the male hotel quarantine worker returning a positive test soon after midnight WA time on Sunday, WA officials did not raise the matter in an Australian Health Principal Protection Committee (AHPPC) meeting about seven hours later. 
The AHPPC, which includes representatives from every state and territory health department, as well as infectious disease experts and Commonwealth officials, had met at 10am (AEDT) on Sunday.
The case, believed to be of the highly contagious British strain, shut the state into an emergency five-day lockdown from 6pm on Sunday.
Victoria closed the border to most WA residents, and a traffic light system means anyone from a “red zone” who tries to enter would face a $5000 fine.
Perth is currently in hard lockdown.
On Sunday night about 1700 text messages were sent to people who arrived in Victoria from a WA red zone in the past week, urging them to be tested and isolate.
A spokesman for WA Premier Mark McGowan confirmed he had not been aware of the positive case at the time the AHPPC meeting started, which was at 7am WA time. 
The committee held the special meeting to discuss the situation in New Zealand, but sources said it would have been an appropriate time to raise the possibility of a case of local transmission in WA. 
Instead the federal government and health officials were only made aware of the positive COVID-19 case just before it was announced publicly on Sunday afternoon. 
The expert group held a meeting at 7pm on Sunday to discuss the case despite Mr McGowan saying it would be advised at “the first meeting”.
Meanwhile, WA scrambled to increase its number of COVID clinics from just seven to 25 after the positive case.
The WA government was also seeking to address whether security guards working in quarantine hotels could hold a second job — an issue flagged during Victoria’s hotel quarantine debacle.
A worker tests a member of the public at a Perth drive through testing site.
Thousands answered the call to get tested.
Perth, southwest WA and the Peel area were declared red zones and anyone who visited them since January 25 is not allowed into Victoria.
It was publicly declared through government messaging on Sunday night, after it had already come into effect.
More Coverage
CSL vaccine ahead of scheduleMinisters spent millions in COVID inquiry legal defence
Victorian Child Protection Minister Luke Donnellan defended the short time between the red zones being declared and travellers being barred from entering the state.
“To be blunt, time is of essence in relation to COVID-19 spread,” he said.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/coronavirus/wa-slow-to-alert-nation-to-positive-uk-case/news-story/16daba5c21a642e9680d065319c9ba61>

Level Crossings: Stonnington Council undecided on Kooyong, Malvern project designs. Kiel Egging January 15, 2021
A council has been labelled “weak” for splashing cash to ask residents how level crossings should be removed before not choosing an option.
The Glenferrie Rd, Kooyong level crossing is set to be removed in the near future. Picture: Ellen Smith.
An inner-city council has been labelled “weak” for spending tens of thousands of dollars of ratepayers money and not taking a position on the design of two planned level crossing removals.
Stonnington Council spent $40,000 late last year to get residents’ thoughts on planned level crossing removals at Glenferrie Rd, Kooyong and Tooronga Rd, Malvern.
The council claimed it undertook the consultation due to a lack of engagement by the Level Crossing Removal Authority, engaging JWS Research to survey 500 residents by phone, half of which lived near the planned works.
Residents preferred the level crossings to be built under the road, with 41 per cent choosing the option for Glenferrie Rd and 37 per cent for Tooronga Rd.
The remainder of voters preferred skyrail or didn’t have a preference.
But despite the results, mayor Kate Hely said the council didn’t have a preference on the design.
“Each has pros and cons in the design, implementation and outcomes which our residents are interested in,” Cr Hely said.
“Therefore, council is not pushing for one outcome over another as much as we are simply trying to make sure the local voice is strongly represented in the decision.”
Cr Hely said the results were passed onto the authority to show the community’s opinions and to request a “collaborative approach be adopted for the design development.”
The Federal Government committed $260 million for the removal of the Glenferrie Rd level crossing in April 2019 to put it under the road, and for the preparation of business cases for both crossings.
Ratepayers Stonnington president Dean Hurlston condemned the council for not taking a definitive stance on the designs.
“Sitting on the fence for $40,000 is a complete waste of time and money,” he said.
“They have conducted research, and come up with a fence-sitting position, enabling the State Government to roll over the top of them.
“The majority has spoken, the majority wants under ground, and it is council’s responsibility to take that the State Government and push the majority’s view.”
The two crossings are not on the list of 75 crossings which the State Government plans to remove by 2025.
But Level Crossing Removal Authority chief executive Kevin Devlin said it would prepare business cases and feasibility studies for both crossing removals with the Federal Government’s funding.
“That work will be provided to the Commonwealth this year, and any next steps will be a matter for them,” he said.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/inner-east/level-crossings-stonnington-council-undecided-on-kooyong-malvern-project-designs/news-story/2ff14b92d89c455c8082a9459f2d4e9f>
* Everybody including councils are scared to go up against Dan Andrews and his government. Challenge the Victorian Labor government and there is payback and repercussions both professionally and personally. They have long memories.
* How do they come to the conclusion that the “majority” want it under the road when 41% answered as such? By my calculations that means 59% feel otherwise.
* This another reason to abolish all councils.
* How does making 500 phone calls and recording the responses cost $40,000 anyway? And all for an answer they knew would be that most would want it underground instead of skyrail. The suburbs that got skyrail were never consulted by council or state government because they knew they wouldn't want it. In fact most were led to believe they were going under the road right up until they stated construction then the government said they didn't actually say they wouldn't be skyrail. In these more effluent suburbs it was always more likely to go under the road.
* Why bother surveying locals, as the decision has already been made by the authority, as has happened here in Lilydale. We are getting an ugly concrete overpass instead of under the road. Trees have been removed and views will be destroyed.
* No surprises in this story, usual Council waste, regardless of what conclusion they or the poor rate payers may have come up with the state govt. department ie Level Crossing Removal Authority under instructions from Dan Andrews would do exactly what they wanted.
* Smoke and mirrors by the council.  Trying to show rate payers they are getting something for their money other than bin collection knowing full well the state govt had already drawn up and planned the removal and doesn't need councils interfering. Get rid of councils,  we don't need them.  Local State Government Office is all we need. They can deal with planning permits etc that are in accordance with state law not ridiculous by-laws.
* Residents should consider themselves lucky that the council didn't have another survey or two.  Where I worked we had many surveys on one subject until finally they got the answer they wanted.
* WHAT? 500 residents surveyed and at a COST OF $40,000. That is $80 per resident surveyed....  Must have engaged a State Gov Dept as they appear to be the best at money waste
[LXRA is notorious for jackbooting over any opposition to what it wants to do. It's total mantra is 'management convenience is our highest priority; the cheaper and nastier we can do it, the more we meet our political masters expectations'.  Consultation is always a sham, and comes after the decision has been made].