By Mikayla van Loon
Since the completion of the Mooroolbark and Lilydale rail projects, the Hull Road Drainage Reserve has still been used as a storage and parking area, leaving residents questioning the intention for the land.
Mooroolbark resident of 17 years Michael Trueman was disappointed to see the once open space being used for shipping container sheds and excess materials beyond the level crossing completion dates.
“It was fenced and mostly paved to use as a parking area during the construction of new underpasses at Mooroolbark and Lilydale, with a small fenced area used for construction materials,” he said.
“There’s all sorts of untidy stuff and in a residential area it shouldn’t look like that. I was more than happy when they were making the new station and so forth, it was used for parking and that’s understandable.
“I assumed that when these two projects were completed, the area would be rejuvenated, but this has not happened.”
With at least 15 shipping containers, piles of rock, metal and large concrete dividers, Mr Trueman said it is an eyesore for the township.
While not used all that much for community purposes, Mr Trueman would like to see the large block on the corner of Cardigan and Hull Roads returned to open space.
“It wasn’t really used very much at all. It was mainly used by kids coming down from the high school and walking through there. It was just a nice, open area that didn’t look like it does now,” he said.
As State government owned land, the Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP) authority has elected to continue using the site throughout the duration of the projects occurring at Surrey Hills, Mont Albert, Croydon and Ringwood.
The LXRP confirmed residents and local landowners were notified in August 2022 about the continued use of the site, which would last until the end of 2025.
“While we carry out this important work our crews will continue to use the road reserve at Cardigan Road for offset parking and equipment storage. When works are completed in 2025, the reserve will be restored to its original state,” LXRP Program Director Steve Brown said.
Mr Trueman said there would be potential for the site to be returned to its original form and condition or even upgraded to provide a playground.
Either way, he said anything would be better than the “messy” and “unpleasant” look of it now.
