1. Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission
Edithvale & Bonbeach Level Crossing Removals Environmental Effects Statement
NSRFL Response (No Sky Rail: Frankston Line) Community Association No: A C
Part E: Summary
No Sky Rail: Frankston Line
Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission

2. Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission: Part A
Chapter Introduction
In this section of our presentation, we bring together all the other sections of our presentation and link these to the EES panel hearings over the past two weeks.
Section
Title
Duration
Contents
Chapter A
Introduction
20 mins
Introduces NSRFL presentation on the EES on the Edithvale and Bonbeach Level Crossing Removals.
Chapter B
Methodology
NSRFL response to the EES statement, reviewing its Methodology and Approach.
Chapter C
Rebuttals
Reviews pro-Sky Rail submissions and other anti-Rail Under Road position taken by a small number of people
Chapter D
Community View
30 mins
Community views of a Rail Under Road solution.
This shows you want the community actually would like to see.
Chapter E
Summary
Brings together all sections of our presentation.
Links these to the EES panel hearings over the past two weeks.
Chapter F
Publicity Material
Appendix of supplementary and supporting material.
No Sky Rail: Frankston Line
Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission: Part A

3. NSRFL – a real community group
No Sky Rail: Frankston Line
Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission: Part A

4. NSRFL = not aligned with ANYONE
NSRFL was not initiated by the opposition political party as some people believe
We do not have a political position
We do not support, or campaign against, or for any political party, or any specific politician, at either the federal, state, or local government level.
We fund ourselves
Everything we have done, from the very first leaflet I printed at Officeworks two-and-a-half years ago, to the printing of the presentations in your hands today, has been produced and PAID for by our group
No political donations
No government grants
No funding from other groups
No Sky Rail: Frankston Line
Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission

5. Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission
NSRFL = the Residents!
NSRFL is the only group to actually represent the community on this issue
We are a single-purpose group with the sole intent of preventing elevated rail on the Frankston Line
No other group has the express aim of speaking up for the residents on this issue
No other group has canvassed public opinion like we have
No other group has communicated with residents to the extent and breadth that we have
No other group can actually say they represent the community on this issue
Most other groups have other agendas and this is just another issue for them
We exist because of this issue, and this issue alone.
And we have 3,000 active supporters who have joined us for this very same reason.
So its about time, that we – the actual residents who live in these suburbs – next to this railway line, finally get a say in what is done with our community!
No Sky Rail: Frankston Line
Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission

6. Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission
How we work
We are open to everyone
All our material is available on line
Dozens of Files on our Facebook page and our website
We are made up of everyday residents who actually live in the local community
We have done the hard yards
36 Committee meetings over two and half years, and counting
We have only one agenda… to stop Sky Rail
We do not answer to anyone else or for any other cause
No Sky Rail: Frankston Line
Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission

7. NSRFL is just the catalyst
We didn’t invent opposition to elevated rail!
It existed in the community before us and despite us
We simply provided an outlet for the community to get its voice heard
For once, the community had an avenue to express its opinion
And it did… vociferously as evidenced by the thousands of responses we have had
And the general feeling across Melbourne is that no one wants elevated rail if there is a alternative
And there is an alternative… and a very viable alternative at that.
No Sky Rail: Frankston Line
Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission

8. Other Rail Under Road groups
There are many groups fighting against elevated rail
(Not under one umbrella. Genuine community groups)
Below is a listing of single-purpose anti-Sky Rail groups
No Sky Rail: Frankston Line
No Sky Rails
Seaford Action Team
Willicrossing (Williamstown) x 2
Bonbeach & Edithvale Action Team
North-East suburbs Group
Carrum Action Team
Alphington & Fairfield Rail Under Road
Frankston Action Team
Communities Against Sky Rail
Lilydale anti-Sky Rail group
No Sky Rail Carrum
No Sky Rail: Frankston Line
Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission

9. Getting the balance right!
No Sky Rail: Frankston Line
Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission: Part A

10. Wetlands Protection = Management!
The experts have shown no impact on the Wetlands
Any environmental concerns at all are “Minor” or “Negligible”
Regardless, any “potential” impact down the track can be managed
The Wetlands are artificially managed now.
And this can continue to be done in the future
The bottom line is, the Wetlands are in the middle of a major urban area.
As has been pointed out, the Wetlands have been impacted by human development in the past, yet continue to endure.
We propose that this can continue quite successfully well into the future.
No Sky Rail: Frankston Line
Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission

11. Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission
“Cost” of Maintenance
There has been some comment about the cost of servicing the horizontal drain
Every infrastructure project needs to be maintained… this requires effort and expense
This will hold true for the replacement for the Level Crossings, whether it is elevated or Rail Under Road.
But it will be money well spent.
Just as the money that is currently spent maintaining the Wetlands – which need constant maintenance – is money well spent.
If you can expend effort and money maintaining the Wetlands, why not do the same for the passive drain should the need arise.
And just as the Wetlands management has continued over time, so too can the same be done for the maintenance of the horizontal drain over the coming years
And this is our money. We, the residents, should be able to determine how our taxes are spent.
And in this instance we want it spent on maintaining the horizontal drain – and for the continued preservation of the Wetlands – should either be required!
No Sky Rail: Frankston Line
Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission

12. Local concerns continually discounted
We have heard about “many elevated rails around Melbourne”
Yes, there are many, and I don’t hear anyone saying they are a great addition to the landscape
Many are not well maintained and have become eyesores in their communities
Just because we got it wrong in the past, does not mean we should deliberately make the same mistake again.
“Notwithstanding local residents concerns, the long-term effect is much bigger”
This discounts the very real and valid concerns of the local community.
We talk about mitigate the environment… what about residents?
How will they mitigate the loss of amenity to local residents?
The increased noise from elevated rail
The overshadowing
No Sky Rail: Frankston Line
Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission

13. Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission
Loss of vegetation
The vegetation along the railway line
This is very poor quality vegetation.
No decent flora
No fauna to speak of
This IS “zero” value vegetation
They are an ugly eyesore at the very best!
Will be removed regardless of which option is chosen, and hopefully, replaced by better vegetation
The project gives us an opportunity to improve on this much discarded and maligned component of the railway corridor.
No Sky Rail: Frankston Line
Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission

14. Power Poles = a red herring
We heard about power poles yesterday…
This is NOT an issue
There are power poles on both sides of Station St, and Nepean Highway.
As well as the overhead railway gantries and railway electrification
The air space above these roads are cluttered and an eyesore
The placement of the railway in a trench will actually improve this by removing one set of wiring.
I live on Station St, and the last thing I am concerned about is which side of the road the power poles are on!
No Sky Rail: Frankston Line
Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission

15. Transport Objectives of the Project
A quick word about the Transport Objectives
“Connectivity”
We heard about connectivity across railway line
The fear is that this will be reduced by a trench.
Lets just consider this for a moment….
Both Edithvale and Bonbeach crossings are bordered by Nepean Highway …. and Station St … that’s six lanes of traffic – including a major highway, and an arterial road
So just how will “connectivity” change with elevated rail?
Or more to the point, how will “connectivity” be reduced by a trench?
Unless we condone jay-walking, how do you increase connectivity when you have two major roads to cross?
Bicycling Tracks
Another furphy doing the rounds is the increase in cycling tracks
We already have a recreational bicycle track alongside the wetlands
Why would mums and dads want to ride under a railway line when they can enjoy the wetlands as they ride.
And the weekend warriors won’t use a cycling track anyway.. They prefer riding on the roads.
Any cycling tracks under elevated rail will be short and disjointed
This is not what we need.
No Sky Rail: Frankston Line
Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission

16. Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission
Community Process
“How best to involve the community”
I was somewhat taken aback by the John Stone’s suggestion that the community does not know how good elevated rail is because we have not been shown just how good it can be.
“Best way is to visualise what is proposed”
But we did not need to visualise this
We saw it first hand….
A la Dandenong line!
Just look at the devastation on that line…
Indeed this was far worse than the false artist impressions from the LXRA
This is very different to what Ian Woodcock and John Stone have visualised in their RMIT work
That was very fanciful design work done by an academic in their other-worldly ivory tower far removed from the communities that have to live with the actual end result
So we fully understand what we are looking at with elevated rail, and its awful to say the least.
No Sky Rail: Frankston Line
Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission

17. Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission
Photo of CD 9
This is what elevated rail would look like
This is very different to the LXRA’s artist impressions, or the work of our esteemed RMIT experts who presented yesterday
No Sky Rail: Frankston Line
Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission

18. Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission: Part A
What do we want?
No Sky Rail: Frankston Line
Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission: Part A

19. Urban Design – what we worry about
Visual Impact
Upkeep of vegetation
Don’t want massive infrastructure project in our community
Removal of rubbish
Parking
Want this added under the Urban Design Framework EPR UD 1
Same as before, or more
Graffiti
Support KCC council request to amend UD1 to include:
Less opportunity for graffiti
“J. Vegetation Replacement as a Design and Development component”
Rubbish
Less opportunity to dump rubbish (under elevated rail)
Grafitti (EPR)
Assign responsibility of graffiti removal
No Sky Rail: Frankston Line
Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission

20. EES Methodology Outcomes
Concerns about Visual Concrete
This data set needs to be increased and updated as a the project proceeds through design, construction and operation
We have shown what our members want to hide this concrete
Kingston Residents Association “Expert Witness”
EPRs
Discard this evidence as he is not qualified to speak on the topics he has chosen to discuss.
Want them made public
This will help to win public confidence back to the project
Key Result Areas
GHD Report
Should be reported publicly
Risks
Was Feb 2017… 16 months later the EES debunked the concerns in that report
Treatment of risks against known standards = support this
Would like this made public.
Hydrology
No Sky Rail: Frankston Line
Edithvale & Bonbeach EES Submission