Ms HUTCHINS (Minister for Local Government) — The Andrews government is getting on with removing the Melton Highway level crossing, just a stone’s throw away from Watergardens station. Recently the crossing was closed to put in place 24 beams, each weighing 76 tonnes and cast locally in Melton. Despite strong winds, all critical works were completed with the help of one of Australia’s largest cranes, a crane that required 30 trucks to bring the parts in to build it.

Once the southern half of the structure is completed by early next year, all four lanes of traffic will be moved onto the new southern side of the bridge and work will begin on the north side. Once the level crossing is gone, it is gone for good and it is out of the way, before the new Metro Tunnel project helps increase the capacity on the Sunbury line by around 60 per cent. I am very proud that through infrastructure investment by the Victorian Labor government we are able to drive this new era of purchasing locally produced steel in Victoria and creating manufacturing jobs.

Where this intersection sits is the heart of my community, and this heart has had some blocked valves over the last few years because of the traffic. We know that the removal of the Melton Highway level crossing is going to change the face of our local suburbs.