Improved pedestrian connectivity, new active areas, the retention of heritage buildings and beautiful expanded green spaces are the key features of Kingston’s Parkdale/Mentone Urban Design Framework (UDF) for the Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP).
While Council and our community remain opposed to the State Government’s plans for an elevated rail solution at Parkers Road and Warrigal Road, they are proceeding, therefore it was essential Council developed a UDF to capture the community’s aspirations.
Importantly, the UDF provides a clear community informed position, applies a local and precinct wide lens and seeks to respond to Parkdale’s unique village character, ahead of designs, contracts and budgets being locked in.
Kingston Mayor Steve Staikos said the Government’s announcement last year was a surprise.
“We continue to request the State Government revisit its rail over road plans, but as they are pushing ahead, the UDF outlines a detailed mitigation strategy they must implement,” Cr Staikos said.
“We are working alongside our community, who are fiercely protective of their unique village, and we expect the detailed work we have done to put our community at the heart of the process.
“This project will shape the landscape in and around Parkdale/Mentone for generations and we have heard loud and clear from our community that they strongly support our whole of precinct approach.”
“Among the key elements in the UDF are a shared user path including the provision of a safe crossing over Nepean Highway to Mordialloc, LXRP funded streetscape upgrades on both sides of Como Parade East and Como Parade West, the retention and refurbishment of the heritage station building for a practical use, the undergrounding of powerlines and provision of a safe crossing point at Elm Grove,” Melaleuca Ward Councillor Tim Cochrane said.
“As a direct result of similar Council led work at Cheltenham, Mentone and Chelsea the project scopes were expanded, and community benefits increased, and we are focused on achieving the best possible outcome in this case too,” Como Ward Councillor Chris Hill said.
The UDF builds on the key objectives adopted by Council in early 2022:
- Sustainability: Create the greenest, most sustainable level crossing removal corridor in Australia
- Character: Preserve and enhance Parkdale’s village character
- Public Realm: Upgrade the surrounding streetscapes
- The New Station: Optimise the station entrance and platform location
- Traffic integration: Create integrated intersections and crossings that are attractive and accessible
- Car Parking: Optimise carparking provision
- Heritage: Retain and repurpose heritage structures
- Active Transport: Create new active transport connections to Mentone, Mordialloc and beyond
