Sky rail proposal over Park St moves forward, but Royal Park concerns deepen

Plans to elevate the Upfield rail line over Park St at the northern edge of Royal Park are progressing, with some local residents viewing the emerging design as having limited impact on nearby homes.

However, park advocates have warned the effects on Royal Park itself will be far more significant than first suggested.

The project forms part of the Victorian Government’s level crossing removal program, which aims to eliminate the congested crossings at Park St in Parkville and Brunswick Rd in Brunswick.

Together, the two crossings carry around 71,000 vehicles each day, with boom gates currently down for up to 30 minutes during the morning peak, causing significant traffic delays and disruption for commuters.

Under the emerging concept, trains will run on an elevated rail bridge over Park St before descending into the existing rail corridor through Royal Park. For Parkville residents, one of the most notable design features is the proposal to slightly lower Park St itself, allowing the rail bridge to begin descending earlier as it approaches the parkland.

Local community group the Parkville Association has indicated it is broadly comfortable with the direction of the project, noting that the latest concept appears to have minimal impact on residents living along The Avenue. The design has therefore been seen by some as a relatively balanced outcome between transport improvements and neighbourhood impacts.

However, the Friends of Royal Park have pushed back strongly on any suggestion that the project’s impact on the park will be limited.

Friends of Royal Park’s Kaye Oddie said the sky rail through Royal Park did “not represent any kind of balance in reference to neighbourhood impacts”.

“Impacts will be totally detrimental,” she said.

Ms Oddie said public descriptions of the structure’s height over Park St had understated what people would actually see once the full rail infrastructure, trains and overhead electrical equipment were taken into account.

According to Ms Oddie, while the sky bridge itself may be around 4.8 metres above Park St, the total visible height including rails, trains and gantries would be closer to 10 to 12 metres as it enters Royal Park.

She said that was a major change from the current situation, where trains run through a cutting from Park St towards Royal Park Station and are largely not visible, with minimal light and sound impact for both residents in The Avenue and park users.

Ms Oddie also noted that Royal Park was designated a “Dark Space” under the City of Melbourne’s 2021 Lighting Strategy in order to protect biodiversity and wildlife. She said the introduction of elevated rail, lit trains and overhead infrastructure would undermine that objective and affect the park’s environmental values.

The Friends group is also critical of the state government’s decision not to require a full Environmental Effects Statement for the project.

In March, the Minister for Planning ruled that a full Environment Effects Statement would not be required, allowing planning and design work to continue. But Ms Oddie said that was “disappointing and unacceptable”, particularly given Royal Park’s status as bushland parkland and the likely removal of mature trees and other vegetation near McAlister Oval for construction purposes.

The authority says feedback gathered through community consultation in 2024, along with technical and engineering requirements, will help shape the final concept design, which is expected to be released in 2027.

Public information sessions were also held in February, giving residents an opportunity to review early planning ideas and ask questions about the project.

A Victorian Government spokesperson said that it would plant two new trees for every one required to be removed, as well as planting shrubs and grasses across the project area, while creating two MCGs worth of open space beneath the new elevated rail line.

“We are removing eight dangerous and congested level crossings in Brunswick and Parkville to improve safety and ease congestion for all road users," the spokesperson said.

“This project will unlock two MCGs worth of open space, plant new trees and is an important first step to delivering further enhancements to the Upfield Line.” •