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Subject: Sun.18.4.21 daily digest

Roderick

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clickbait folio: http://popcornews.com/the-most-epic-photos-in-history

Sun.18.4.21 Metro Twitter
Pakenham/Cranbourne lines: Buses replace trains Caulfield - Westall until the last train of Sun 18 Apr (works).
Buses replace trains Heidelberg - Hurstbridge until the last train of Sun 18 Apr (maintenance works).
Sunbury/Craigieburn/Upfield lines: All trains run direct to/from Flinders St all day (maintenance works).  From loop stations, take a train from pfm 2 to Southern Cross.
17.32 Sandringham line: Major delays (police near Elsternwick earlier, and now Brighton Beach).
- 17.44 clearing.
Buses replace trains Epping - Mernda from 20.50 until the last train (works).
21.32 Major delays clearing quickly after a police action near Cranbourne.
0.17 Upfield line: Major delays (vandals in the Flemington Bridge area.
- 0.48 clearing.

COVID-19COVID-19 IN AUSTRALIA New cases Reported Apr 19 (Updated 11.08): 0 locally acquired; 12 in hotel quarantine

How Sydney rose from colony to thriving city. Garry Maddox April 18, 2021 with ATN
<www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/how-sydney-rose-from-colony-to-thriving-city-20210309-p5795h.html>
* <www.smh.com.au/interactive/2021/190-years/index.html> a pictorial folio

Sewers, gutters and an airport road: Sydney’s strangest heritage listings Andrew Taylor April 18, 2021 with ATN
<www.smh.com.au/national/sewers-gutters-and-an-airport-road-sydney-s-strangest-heritage-listings-20210310-p579aj.html>

Locals claim lack of proper consultation over rail project in Surrey Hills and Mont Albert. John Masanauskas April 18, 2021
A controversial Andrews government plan to discard Surrey Hills and Mont Albert stations, and build a new station has riled locals.
video: The level crossings at Surrey Hills and Mont Albert will be removed. The Andrews government has been accused of poor planning and failing to properly consult locals over a controversial plan to remove two level crossings in the city’s east.
Surrey Hills and Mont Albert stations will be discarded for the project and a new premium station built in between.
This will allow removal of level crossings at Union Road, Surrey Hills, and Mont Albert Road, Mont Albert, in 2023, with trains to use a trench.
But Surrey Hills Progress Association president Greg Buchanan has written to the government criticising the “unprofessional community consultation process” of its Level Crossing Removal ­Project (LXRP) body.
“The association is not ­satisfied that the LXRP has conducted a genuine consultation process and that, in fact, there was ever any intention to critically review the initial plan,” Mr Buchanan said.
Removal of the Union Road level crossing had caused a furore
Mr Buchanan questioned whether the project was consistent with the government’s Plan Melbourne strategy involving issues such as disabled, motorised scooter and pram access to the new station, parking, bike separation from cars at main road crossings, and loss of public open space.
“We query whether the relaxation of statutory planning controls for this major infrastructure … project has acted as a cue for the LXRP … to step away from the government’s major strategic planning policy for Melbourne,” he said.
Opposition transport infrastructure spokesman David Davis said the non-genuine consultation was a shambles.
“Premier Daniel Andrews and Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan are riding roughshod over an honest and engaged local community heading to their predetermined objective no matter what the damage,” Mr Davis said.
Local group Friends of Lorne Parade Reserve held a protest on Sunday against plans to use the reserve to store equipment during the works.
A government spokeswoman said it had received thousands of pieces of community feedback on the project.
“We want to keep speaking to locals as we progress works on this vital upgrade,” she said.
“These crossings are two of Melbourne’s worst, with a tragic safety record, and removing them as soon as possible is our highest priority.”
The spokeswoman said there was “enormous” local support for the fast-tracked removal of the level crossings, and “huge support” for the rail trench and new stations.
Some 2000 survey responses had been received from ­December to February, and more than 15,000 people had engaged online.
* The article failed to highlight the large scale removal of mature trees and vegetation from surrounding streets. The loss of open space and mature trees from Lorne Parade Reserve if the planned proposed single station goes ahead, equals a loss of community amenity and heritage. All this from suburbs that has one of the lowest ratios of open space per head of population in the wider Melbourne area.
* Sounds fair to me. There are way too many stations on most of Melbourne's train lines, and whilst it is bad for residents near those stations, it should be beneficial to people who use the train line overall due to reduced travel times for people traveling from further out. Now lets see if they can do the same on the Mernda line, because the trip from Mernda to the City is currently around the same time as from Geelong to Melbourne, despite being around half the distance and they have quite a few stations that are less than 2KM apart that could easily go.
* But you will be able to just walk up and the on demand train will be there,greenie utopia.
* makes sense actually - two small stations turned into one
* Say goodbye to Lorne Parade Reserve.  It's obvious that will be the land used the for the station and car park. Once finished, the tracks should be covered over at the current Surrey Hill station site and turned into a park / green open space.
* How is it obvious? The park is still on the concept plan.
* They will need room for the station and access.  The concept plans aren't detailed enough to show you what happens to it. When they've done these near us, any park that doesn't become part of the station or train line gets taken over for trucks and site huts for 2 years.
* The sky is falling, take 2. The last carry on was over use of sporting ovals to store equipment, and that was sensibly resolved.
* The term ‘consultation’ is often misinterpreted as being negotiation.
* You want progress vote Labor you want virtually nothing until just before an election vote Liberal.
* You want community consultation vote Liberal. You want dictator Dan vote Labor.
* Consultation? That's not in the Labor lexicon.
* So BoxHill High Students and those going to Whitehorse Oval walk from Blacburn. You jest.
* No, Laburnum station remains. Mont Albert and Surrey Hills stations are on the western side of Box Hill... nowhere near Middleborough road.
* so Box Hill High Students
* The design of the existing Surrey Hills crossing makes it a death trap for car drivers and their passengers, as was shown about 5 years ago with a double fatality there. About 30 years ago local traders defeated a plan to have it eliminated. Good riddance to it.
* not really the fault lies with drivers
* Get rid of Laburnum Station. It's a waste and too close to Blackburn, and Chatham and Canterbury are close together and a waste of time. Too many stops on the Bel/Lil line.
* So Box Hill High students have to tramp it from Blackburn or Box Hill?
* Honestly people need to get on board and stop trying to make problems just because they don’t like change. Every single level crossing project has had someone complaining about views, consultation, public space etc but they all shut up pretty quickly once it’s finished and the see how much better things are. Remember the drama about sky rail? Go take a look now! Better traffic flow, clean bright safe stations with disabled access and toilets, bike paths, public parks, recreation equipment and historic station sites preserved (eg clayton) The problem is people have no vision. 
* Let's close down Chatham station (less than 800m from both Canterbury and Surrey Hills) as well, not a lot uses that station anyway. This will definitely free up more space for peak hour express trains to/from Lilydale and Belgrave, as they'll be held up less by signalling.
* If this leafy, low-density area needs two platforms only 870m apart then how much closer should stations be for much high density suburbs - 500m or maybe less? I’ll bet the good folks of Mont Albert and Surrey Hills would be first to complain if the trains were stopping every 500m from Blackburn to Flinders St.
* This is quite normal.   The decision is made with the consultation taking place after the decision already been made. It doesn’t matter what the community say or want the decision has been made already.
* very true. Happened in Essendon and Glenroy. Waste of time and money on so called “community consultations” and an insult to our intelligence.
* Same thing happening here in Lilydale. Community meetings only occurred after they had made the decision to put an ugly great overpass and station over Maroondah Highway, instead of underground. Lilydale "gateway to the concrete Yarra Valley".
( The new level crossings are great - traffic flow is better, less road hazards and more green space for residents.
* Another mess. Why change something that isn’t broken? Sure, the crossings need to go, but those stations are needed where they are, not some distance away.
* Once built, you can say goodbye to the shops in Hamilton Street and Churchill Street in Mont Albert.  The station is a vital part of the shopping strip bringing people in and out.  And how horrible using the Lorne Parade Reserve for their equipment.  This is directly opposite houses.
* Sensible solution. Mont Albert and Surrey Hills are way to close (870 metres). A fully staffed premium station is what 90% of residents want!
* How many of these residents have you or the LXRP spoken directly with, Mark. It is extremely unusual to have 90% of the public agree on any one thing. Particularly, loss of amenity and public transport services. 
* A better design is to keep the existing station locations, and run the train line underground from Mont Albert to Box Hill which overcomes the issue of the steep climb at the Elgar Rd Bridge.
* $$$$
* Liberal area.. what do you expect?
* Think your headline should be "Some locals..." Quite a few of us locals are OK with it.
* Most will be 
* This local and quite a few others aren’t.
* Dumb and dumber. So much for a rich history.
* Victorians get about the same consultation as the Chinese communist party gives its citizens.  We are doing this and you will like it.
* It's obvious the sole reason is to save money by building one station instead of two.
* One would have to wonder what support the locals are getting from their local Member of State Parliament. These MPs are out for themselves mostly, and not their constituents. Another disgrace for Victoria.
* With Daniel Andrews and his minions you never get any genuine consultation.
* This lack of community consultation is the trademark of this state government and its agencies. The exact same process (or lack thereof) is repeating itself across our city (and state) and is currently affecting several major projects. This government is intent of imposing its one-size-fits-all approach to major infrastructure projects to varied communities, with no real regard for what makes a community. Ask locals in Eltham what consultation and genuine community engagement there has been for the MRPV's giant roundabout on Fitzsimons Lane. This project will destroy the much loved green gateway to Eltham for no proven long term traffic benefit. Ask locals in Montmorency and Briar Hill what consultation and genuine community engagement there has been for stage 2 of the Hurstbridge line Duplication project by LXRP. This project includes the demolition and rebuild of a small railway station, transforming what is currently an oasis of tall mature gum trees over 50 years old into wide expanses of bitumen for car parks, and resulting in the destruction of a protected wildlife corridor with thriving populations of sugar gliders and a newly discovered colony of endangered Eltham Copper butterflies. There has been no attempt to involve local experts and provide sensitive design solutions to fit a very particular landscape and topography. Our state government and its planning minister seem to think they have been elected to do as they wish in our communities, with complete disregard to existing local planning laws and regulations that everyone else must abide by. Victorian planning Scheme amendments (VC170, GC119, VC190, VC187 among others) give all powers to agencies who cannot be held to account by the public who fund them. This is a pattern of behaviour that is made worse by the lack of action by our elected Labor representatives who seem to think that their career in parliament is more important than the will and wellbeing of their constituents. Where will it stop?
* it has always been Andrews way or the highway vote them out next time
* What will happen to the businesses around these two stations? These are not Labour seats so the Labour VicGov does not care about these constituents!
* it is labor
* Shockingly poor consultation process
* This is very much the same situation at Montmorency as part of the Hurstbridge Line Stage 2 upgrade. Residents were initially advised that the Montmorency Station would be upgraded. The next communication received from LXRP was that the station was being moved some 100 metres from its present location. Despite repeated requests to LXRP and local member Vicki Ward MP the community has not been able to have any true and meaningful consultation with LXRP as to such matters as what other options were considered and the various implications of tree removal, parking losses. LXRP just continue to charge ahead with the project and despite a Freedom of Information being lodged for documentation, some two months after the request being lodged LXRP still will not commit to when the information will be provided.
* Montmorency station had to be moved due to its location being on a curved section of track, which new stations are not allowed to be built on. That is why they moved it 100 meters away, where the track was straight. That is a small sacrifice to pay for a duplicated train line, which will greatly improve the frequency of the services.
* Give them sky rail like us and then they will genuinely have something to complain about.
* we wanted one and they said no.
* Isn’t that what good socialists do? Ride roughshod over citizens rights!
* Clearly, there are too many Stations in that section of track already, so eliminating one or two isn't such a bad idea!
* Andrews is a Dictator clown so dont hold ya breath
* Well if residents voted for Andrews This is what happens Suffer!
* I am still doing my homework on the figures which LXRA refuses to divulge. Its standard method of operation is to maximise management convenience, and to use jackboot techniques with affected people.  In this case, it claims that it can't build separate stations without demolishing lots more property and destroying lots more trees..  It won't fund escalators or elevators for a Mont Albert 'too expensive'.  Its so-called 'consultation' meetings are simply to dictate what it will do. I have refused to join a so-called reference group: simply a way of sugar-coating the LXRA pill. LXRA has been that way ever since being formed in the image of its Labor parent: first Caulfield - Oakleigh, and then Essendon. I am an affected Surrey Hills resident.  I get a longer walk to the new hybrid.  Bizarrely I then have to climb up to the concourse to then descend into the cutting.  The bus to train interchange, not handled well with the 1970 makeover gets even worse.  Mont Albert passengers are sacrificed completely, as the carparking is at the Box Hill end of the station, not the Surrey Hills end.
* so many stations between box hill and hawthorn could be merged. completely unnecessary
* Unless you live in the areas.  If it bothers you, get the express trains.
* How is this going to work? How can they get rid of Surrey Hills and Mont Albert. This government is a joke.
* Save Mont Albert Train Station
* Just ask the locals around Gardiner Park in Glen Iris about how much you can trust promises from this government about your local ovals.  (Burke Road Gardiner station project) “Only a couple of years” turned into about 5. 
* David Davis oh please has done nothing for our area when he was in government or opposition just all talk no action
* Community consultation is where the government tells residents what they are going to do irrespective of what the residents want.
* The Andrews Government has form on ramming its rail crossing removal projects through without public consultation. The also did the same with the Western tunnel link. They don't feel there's any need for community consultation, especially in the leafy inner east. Why would they consult with you, they aren't interested in Liberal voters.
* how far apart are the stations now?
* 800m
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/locals-claim-lack-of-proper-consultation-over-rail-project-in-surrey-hills-and-mont-albert/news-story/df6d6dfe4eaa6792739f75371b921d13>

Sun.18.4.21 Melbourne 'Herald Sun' Trains to run every 2min from Caulfield. MATT JOHNSTON [standard propaganda, spin and outright lies; that could have been happening for 20 years, using two tracks each at 24 tph]
COMMUTERS from Melbourne’s southeast are being promised peak-hour trains every two minutes from Caulfield station once the Metro Tunnel is built.
The $13.7b project, which began in 2017 and is scheduled to open by 2025, will finally enable a proper turn-up-and-go service.
The services every two minutes — a promise never made before — will see Caulfield transformed into a critical new interchange for Pakenham, Cranbourne and Frankston line trains.
Passengers could then journey to the CBD via the Metro tunnel and Anzac Station on Pakenham and Cranbourne line trains, or through the existing City Loop via Richmond on Frankston line trains.
In order to speed up trains along the Frankston line, level crossings are set to be removed at Glen Huntly Road and at Neerim Road, through a $507m works package by 2024. That project has been awarded to a consortium of Acciona, Coleman Rail, WSP and Metro Trains, and will include a new Glenhuntly station.
Boom gates in that area can be down 58 per cent of peak periods.
By the end of the decade, Metro tunnel services will also run through to Tullamarine Airport where a new line will be under construction from next year.
The first tender for that $10b line, backed by a $5b federal cash injection, has been released for Sunshine station/ Albion line improvements. This will enable airport trains to hook into existing corridors and run through the CBD.
Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan said the crossing removals meant “supporting Victorian jobs and delivering more trains more often”, adding: “Locals using Caulfield station are set to be big winners.”
It is claimed the Metro Tunnel will allow 36,000 more peak-period passengers on the Frankston line every week.

Sun.18.4.21 Melbourne 'Herald Sun' Trains to run every 2min from Caulfield. MATT JOHNSTON
Kept in eviction Loop.  It starts in late 2022 MATT JOHNSTON KIERAN ROONEY
THE first of up to 300 home and business owners forced to make way for the multi-billion dollar Suburban Rail Loop could be packing their bags by the end of next year.
Letters sent to the affected property owners – about half of which are homes – last month say they are now “likely” to be bought out to make way for stage one of the underground rail line, from Cheltenham to Box Hill.
“While different properties will be required at various stages of the project, we expect that the first compulsorily acquired properties required for stage one will not need to be vacated until at least late 2022,” a letter to residents and business owners says.
The government has confirmed the acquisitions process will start late next year after planning and environmental approvals, but that most families won’t be kicked out for a further two years.
Half of those who will have to move live in one apartment block in Box Hill.
Other areas affected include station precincts at Cheltenham, Clayton, Monash University and Burwood, as well as around a proposed stabling yard at Heatherton.
Information packs sent to affected owners outline the buyout process, including that market rates will be paid, plus stamp duty and conveyancing for new homes or commercial buildings, and possibly up to 10 per cent compensation for “non-financial disadvantage”.
Property owners in the path of the project previously told the Herald Sun they did not want to move but accepted that the SRL would enhance public transport.
Carlo Corallo, who is building 13 townhouses across two blocks his family has owned for generations, said in February it would “break my heart” if the under-construction homes were demolished.
The SRL acquisition process is further complicated by local planning matters, including next to Glen Waverley station where a car park that has been earmarked for the rail loop is also the subject of multiple proposals by Monash City Council.
The council last week deferred a commitment to build a multi-level carpark on the site, partly supported with funds from local traders, while awaiting confirmation it would be demolished for the SRL. A church opposite the car park is also concerned for its future.
A government spokeswoman said the 26km train tunnel and six new stations for stage one were mostly underground but “some disruption and property acquisition is unavoidable”. The final total of properties required “will be determined after the planning and approval processes are complete”. matthew.johnston@...

Sun.18.4.21 Melbourne 'Herald Sun' Letters:
I WONDER how deep the cleaning of trains really is? Walking around with a spray bottle and rag doesn’t cut it for me.