Project description

The Westall Rail Upgrade Project involves works within the Dandenong rail corridor to improve service reliability and reduce crowding on this busy line.

Specifically the project involves:

• construction of a third track between Centre Road and Springvale Road
• a significant upgrade to Westall Station including a third platform, 80 extra car spaces and improvements to passenger facilities, safety and accessibility
• pedestrian crossing upgrades between Centre Road and Springvale Road
• additional overnight storage space for five trains at the Westall stabling depot.

Project benefits

• The Westall Rail Upgrade will ensure more trains can start from Westall Station. By commencing trains empty at this location, passengers who travel from Westall station and stations towards the city will benefit from less crowded trains and therefore a more reliable service.
• Passengers who travel from outer suburban stations on the Dandenong line will also benefit from reduced crowding and improved service reliability as passengers will be more evenly spread across trains commencing from Pakenham, Cranbourne and Dandenong.
• Commuters will benefit from a significant upgrade to Westall Station including improvements to passenger safety, amenity and accessibility.

Mr Lim stated that the project, which includes improvements to passenger amenities, an additional 83 car parks and the replacement of three pedestrian level crossings between Springvale and Centre roads will be of assistance to local residents.“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to create the best transport network in Australia so Victorians can spend less time commuting and more time with their families,” Mr Lim said.

“The start of works at Westall Station is the first step in delivering this important project that will deliver significant benefits to the commuters residing and using Westall, Clayton and Huntingdale stations as the new services will commence their journey with a new service into the city.

“The Westall station will incorporate a lift in the overhead pedestrian crossing to ensure access for persons with a disability,a total rebuild of the station buildings with more seating and improved lighting.

“We also know security is a concern for some train users and that is why the station will have full digital CCTV that can be accessed in real time by Victoria Police.”

Mr Lim said the Dandenong line corridor carried more than 50,000 commutes every weekday. This project will cater for that with the construction of five new stabling yards which when complete and combined with the 38 new trains on order will allow for more peak services from Westall station.

“Stations right along the line will benefit from increases in frequencies and better reliability,” Mr Lim said.

“Passengers will be spread across rail services coming from Pakenham, Cranbourne, Dandenong and of course at Westall, Clayton and Huntingale stations.

“I know these changes will be embraced by the local community and provide more choice for people of when they travel.

“Works on the Westall Rail Upgrade are expected to be completed in 2011,” Mr Lim concluded.

Preliminary on-site activities have now commenced at the intersection and the installation of the signals is scheduled to begin in January 2010. VicRoads has advised that the works are due to be completed prior to the end of June 2010 and may, in fact, be completed as early as April 2010 if there are no unforeseen delays.

The installation of the crossing is a victory for the Clayton community, after a hard-fought and passionate battle by the Leader, her family, local traders, Kingston Council and Clayton MP Hong Lim, whom have rallied in support of the pending Centre Rd pedestrian crossing following the tragic death of Mrs Tsavasilis.

The Cancer Council Victoria supports research in Victorian universities, hospitals and medical research institutes as well as in its epidemiology, behavioural and tobacco control research centres. This research has significantly contributed to the declining incidence of some cancers and the overall increase in cancer survival in Victoria from 48% in 1990 to well over 60% at present.

Within the electorate of Clayton, three projects from Monash University have been granted almost $900,000.

• Prof Julian Rood, Prof Martin Brown, and Dr Glen Carter for Development of an innovative approach to treating cancer.
• Prof Jamie Rossjohn and Prof James Cluskey for Natural killer T cells and cancer progression.
• Dr Stavros Selemidis, Dr Elizabeth Williams, and Dr Grant Drummond for New therapeutic targets for cancer.

“Going forward we need to think far more about water harvesting,” Mr Barton told those who attended the launch.
Mr Barton thanks the “Facilities and Services project officers, plumbers and other staff” who had done much of the work on the project.
He paid particular tribute to Ms Giovas and Mr Brace who he said “have had water running through their veins for many years” while getting the project up and running.

The new collection system features a sophisticated water level and pump control and utilisation of an existing redundant 113,000 Litre diesel tank that has been refurbished to drinking water standard.

It is anticipated that the project will achieve water savings of five mega litres a year.

This project was supported by the Victorian Government through the DSE which contributed $50,000 through the Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (ICI) Fund which targeted the state’s “top 200″ water users which includes Clayton campus.

This partnership with DSE is the latest water saving initiative that Monash has undertaken as part of the University’s overall commitment to become more environmentally sustainable.

Since 2002 the university has achieved water savings of 31% per effective fulltime student at the Clayton campus.

Therefore we should increase awareness in our community about the uncertainties of our current insurance system. Under the current system people are covered only when they are injured in the workplace or when they are involved in a motor accident, but if they acquire a disability, are born with a disability or have a child with a disability then there is no entitlement.

The goal of the scheme would be to provide lifetime care for the disabled which would relieve pressure on families and charities. This scheme would be funded by a levy across our population. Every Australian should support and pay for it as it will create a safety net for everyone in the country to live with pride and dignity and to have a good quality of life.

The death of this well-loved and respected lady has spurred the local community, traders, church groups and many other people, including the local media, to pursue this matter with passion. I have received unprecedented representations through emails, phone calls and letters and through meeting these people. Therefore I would like to take this particular occasion to pay tribute to them all, particularly the local paper, which has taken up this cause and is pushing the issue.

Installing that pedestrian crossing would go a long way to enhancing the safety and confidence of residents in the area, but unfortunately VicRoads seems to be dragging its feet a bit. There has been consultation, including with the council, and there have been surveys. The residents were hoping that the lights would have been installed on the anniversary of the death of this lady, which was 1 August this year. Unfortunately this was not the case.

They were all traumatised when reading in the local media that this would probably be happening in mid-2010. That is not acceptable to them. I ask the minister to urge, push and ask VicRoads to install the lights as a matter of urgency as soon as possible, not in mid-2010.

The incident that led to this bill occurred in August when a drunk yob at a buck’s party on a party bus left a police officer with a broken jaw. As a government and a Parliament we have an obligation to protect those who protect us. We also have an obligation to protect the general public, including those who enjoy going clubbing without causing harm to themselves or offence to others.

The bill does not affect other types of bus trips such as winery and shopping tours. It targets those party buses in entertainment precincts where some of the participants not only engage in binge drinking but then go looking for trouble. On many of these party buses the operators do not supply alcohol but the passengers themselves bring alcohol on board with them and consume it on the bus.

This bill targets this area by amending the Liquor Control Reform Amendment Act 1998 and creating a new power for the director of liquor licensing to issue a BYO (bring-your-own) permit in respect of a party bus. The bill also makes changes to the offence provisions of the act in respect of a party bus operator. The effect of this amendment is that the operator of a party bus will be subject to existing regulatory controls, whether in respect of a licence or BYO permit, including various existing offence provisions.

A new offence is created of a party bus operator permitting liquor to be consumed on the party bus in proscribed circumstances, attracting a maximum penalty of 50 penalty units. A party bus in respect of which a licence or BYO permit applies will be deemed a public place for the purposes of the Summary Offences Act 1966. Consequently, a drunk or disorderly passenger aboard a party bus will still be liable under that act.

This bill is a measured response to binge drinking on party buses, particularly in the entertainment precincts. I commend the bill to the house.

Nothing is more appropriate than this bill to secure and ensure that the upkeep of the precinct is at a maximum standard.
Yarra Park was established as a public parkland by Governor La Trobe for the enjoyment of the whole community. Over the years the park has served a very important range of functions, including the preservation of biodiversity and the provision of places for recreation and quiet enjoyment in the heart of the Melbourne central business district. Apart from that, Yarra Park surrounds our best known sportsground, the MCG. Each year the MCG welcomes almost 3 million visitors. Yarra Park has also been used as a car park for thousands of football fans.

Recently Yarra Park has faced major challenges due to the drought conditions in Victoria. This bill helps to improve park maintenance by providing additional investment in watering the park.

I am especially impressed by the water saving technology, which uses a wastewater treatment plant to protect the amenity of
Yarra Park. Because of this the condition of the park will be improved substantially in the future.

This bill will allow the MCG Trust to become the delegate operational manager of the MCC as well as Yarra Park. It supports this innovation in water recycling and water consumption reduction, which is consistent with our long-term water saving objective.

Parking on Yarra Park is another major issue to be considered. I have heard some complaints about car parking in Yarra Park. Some people think that car parking in this park is somehow incompatible with the long-term protection and development of the park and that it might raise safety problems for visitors to the park. To solve these questions the bill sets out certain criteria that the MCG Trust must consider before allowing people to park their cars in the park.

Some of these assessments include the effect of parking on the condition of the trees, the effect of parking on the condition of the soil and the level of sub-surface water content, the safety of pedestrians and car parking attendants and the protection of public and private property et cetera.
With these criteria it is reasonable to believe the MCG Trust will be able to manage parking in a safe and orderly manner, ensuring its use in the best way to support any major event held at nearby Yarra Park.

In addition to the above the bill also emphasises the importance of MCG Trust management effectiveness over Yarra Park. It also includes some additional regulation and amendments regarding the current regulation. For instance, this bill increases the penalties by up to 20 penalty units under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978. The change of committee of management is reflected the Melbourne (Yarra Park) Land Act 1980.

Furthermore, the bill makes a number of amendments to the Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 2009. The provisions of the Melbourne Cricket Ground Act 2009 ensure that whoever is delegated with the trust approval must apply the trust’s role as committee of management as well as in relation to Yarra Park. To emphasise the Yarra Park management transparency, the amendments included in this bill also require the trust business plan to include key performance measures from the management. The annual report is used to examine whether the performance is satisfied to meet the target.
Finally, this bill also includes the unused area in the north of the park for open space, which will be permanently reserved as Yarra Park. In the future this can be used to build up more facilities for families to access. The bill covers comprehensive regulations to make sure the MCG Trust manages Yarra Park in a more effective way and that it keeps its value as a world-class park for every Victorian to enjoy.
I commend the bill to the house.

Save water with a free water efficient showerhead

On December 5 2009, Hong Lim offered the opportunity to make your home more water-efficient.

The showerhead exchange replaced old showerheads with new, water-efficient models is an easy way to improve your home’s water efficiency and help you achieve Target 155. One water-efficient showerhead can save up to 13,500 litres of water each year and save you money off your water and energy bills.

The exchange was a great success with over 200 participants attending to have their showerheads exchanged. The total water saving as a result of this initiative is estimated to be in excess of 2,000,000 litres. That’s less water out of our dams and more money in your pocket!

Hong would like to thank all those who attended and made the event a resounding success.

Residents can continue to visit South East Water’s office located at 20 Corporate Drive Heatherton (off Warrigal Road) between 9.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday with their old showerhead and a copy of their water bill and receive a new water efficient showerhead, telephone 9552 3000.