Some of our services are closed or have different hours over Easter, from Friday 29 March to Monday 1 April.

Theme 5: Moving around

Case study: removal of the Union Road level crossing

On 2 December 2020, the Victorian Government announced plans to fast track the removal of the level crossing at Union Road, Surrey Hills. The project will lower the rail line under the roads into a trench and combine the existing Surrey Hills and Mont Albert stations into a new premium station.

As part of our role in the project, we have continued to:

  • meet regularly with the Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP) to advocate on behalf of our community
  • work with the community and share their concerns and ideas with the LXRP
  • advocate to the LXRP to ensure the new open space at Union Road is safe and accessible, enhances the environment and neighbourhood character, and meets community needs.

We worked with the community to develop an Urban Design Advice (UDA) document for the Surrey Hills level crossing removal project. The UDA highlights the community’s preferences, and the LXRP used our UDA to inform its designs.

The widened bridge will:

  • connect with open spaces on either side of the rail trench
  • unite the north and south sides of the shopping centre
  • encourage active transport
  • improve accessibility
  • reduce congestion
  • create a more usable open space for everyone to enjoy.
A train going through the current surrey hills level crossing on union road

Theme 5 performance

Below is a breakdown of the strategic indicators, progress of initiatives and other service performance indicators for this theme. You can find out more detail about these indicators and previous year’s results in the full report.

You can also read through our continuous improvement initiatives, community engagement, and benchmarking activities for this theme in the full report.

Strategic indicators

A strategic indicator that met our forecasted goal was the number of advocacy initiatives related to public transport services (12).

Some indicators did not meet our forecast this year. These include the following.

Satisfaction with sealed local roads:

71 (out of 100)

This saw a slight decline in performance but continues to be one of our top performing areas in the Customer Satisfaction Survey, performing above both metro and state-wide averages.

Satisfaction with local shared paths for cycling and walking as a way to get around Boroondara:

61%

This remains stable, but may have been affected by the increased use of shared paths during lockdowns.

Number of traffic counts and surveys used to investigate, assess, and respond to traffic and parking issues:

95

These recommenced with the relaxation of pandemic restrictions and the return of schools and offices. We are working to clear the backlog of traffic counts and surveys which had been held off due to the pandemic.

Number of sustainable transport programs delivered to primary schools:

0

This was affected by COVID-19 restrictions and with extended periods of home learning. Officers are completing planning works with a view to deliver programs during FY2022-23.

Average daily bicycle users for Gardiners Creek Trail, the Anniversary Trail, Koonung Trail, and Main Yarra Trail:

3,381

Bicycle use over the four main trails has been impacted by the pandemic lockdowns during the 2021-22 financial year. Commuter bicycle use has also been impacted by flexible working arrangements.

Percentage of sealed local roads that are below the renewal intervention level set in the Road Management Plan:

89%

Based on new 5-year condition data, this shows an increase in roads rated as very poor. We have increased renewal expenditure for the next 4 years to bring road conditions back to target.

Percentage of footpath inspections completed, and defects remediated within the timeframes as specified in the Road Management Plan:

87%

This is largely caused by the difficulty in ensuring contractors complete replacement of asphalt and concrete paths within specified time frames.

Progress of initiatives in the Budget

All 5 initiatives for this theme from the budget were completed in the FY2021-22. This includes:

  • advocating to the Victorian Government for the needs of the Boroondara community in relation to Public Transport improvements for disability access and network linkages
  • advocating to the Victorian Government for the Box Hill to City cycling corridor project
  • completing the review and adopting the Boroondara Bicycle Strategy
  • conducting a feasibility and design of improvements to the shared path networks.

Our major initiative of advocating to the Victorian government to address the needs of the Boroondara community was also completed. This advocacy was in relation to public and active transport, open space, urban design and environmental opportunities associated with the North East Link and Union Road Level Crossing Removal projects to ensure the community is represented in the decision-making.

Other service performance indicators

The following other service performance indicators and measures are based on the FY2021-22, unless stated otherwise. You can find out more detail including how these indicator results were calculated in the full report.

Sealed local road requests

FY2021-22: 66 requests per 100 kilometres of sealed local road

FY2020-21: 61 requests per 100 kilometres of sealed local road

Sealed local roads maintained to condition standards

FY2021-22: 92%

FY2020-21: 95%

Cost of sealed local road reconstruction

FY2021-22: $104 per square metre of sealed local roads reconstructed

FY2020-21: $101 per square metre of sealed local roads reconstructed

Cost of sealed local road resealing

FY2021-22: $27 per square metre of sealed local roads resealed

FY2020-21: $24 per square metre of sealed local roads resealed

Satisfaction with sealed local roads

FY2021-22: 71 (out of 100)

FY2020-21: 74 (out of 100)