Fusion has successfully submitted comprehensive infrastructure feedback regarding the Anderson Street, Yarraville level crossing removal. Our submission targets the optimisation of public space and active transit interfaces under a rigorous planning lens
Official Submission Registry:
Connection to Area: I shop, dine or enjoy entertainment in the area
Plaza Priorities: More trees or planting, Areas for dining and outdoor entertainment, More seating areas, Pocket play areas
1. Improved Active Transport Links
The decision to build two crossing points is a sound approach to separating conflicting active transport streams. Re-establishing cross-corridor connectivity via the pedestrian plaza at Anderson Street significantly elevates local walkability, transforming a historical transport barrier into a community asset.
However, the operational success of these connections hinges entirely on the execution of the entry portals: As seen in the artist impressions, the Anderson Street underpass serves the primary retail and station concourse footprint. Because it relies heavily on vertical lift transport rather than continuous ramps, the configuration risks acute bottlenecks during peak school drop-off and commuter windows. To satisfy Active Transport Measure M5.11, the lift infrastructure must have an expanded capacity allocation to comfortably process high volumes of prams, scooters, and mobility devices without inducing prohibitive wait times.
The inclusion of a continuous ramp structure at the northern location is the correct design to allow cyclists to maintain momentum without being forced to dismount, meeting Active Transport Measure M5.11. However, as public consultation has already brought to light, this alignment lands near Goulburn Street rather than directly at Murray Street. The design must be audited to preserve maximum width and open, straight sightlines to ensure personal safety, passive surveillance (CPTED), and clear delineation between bicycle commuters and pedestrians entering the precinct.
2. Pedestrian-Only Plaza and Safer Station Precincts
Removing vehicle traffic to establish a pedestrian-only plaza on the east side of Anderson Street is an exceptional outcome for Yarraville. It directly reflects best-practice transit-oriented development by prioritising pedestrians over private vehicles, turning a congested pinch point into an active civic space.
As illustrated in the birds-eye view, this intervention integrates with the existing high-street retail strip. Retaining vehicle access strictly on the west side through the bus interchange creates an appropriate, clear modal separation that safeguards public transport flows while maximizing pedestrian safety on the village side.
3. Adaptive Heritage Reuse (Signal Box)
The interface surrounding the historical signal box, presents an opportunity for adaptive reuse. In accordance with Commercial Opportunities Measure M13.12, this heritage asset should not sit as a passive background monument.
The immediate paved forecourt should be future-proofed with integrated utility connections (power, water, and waste infrastructure) to host temporary kiosks, pop-up markets, or community activations. Activating the space directly adjacent to the rail barrier will maximize natural passive surveillance, enhance night-time lighting utility, and firmly anchors the heritage fabric into the daily economic life of the new plaza.
4. Future Engagement Architecture
To ensure high-quality transparency and maintain community trust during construction disruptions, all future design updates, engineering modifications, and consultation summaries should be automatically published directly to the Engage Victoria portal in an open, easily accessible digital format. Reliance on closed mail-outs or fragmented project updates should be minimised in favor of a central, public digital ledger of project decisions.
Fusion works consistently inside state structures to demand transparency, future-proofed accessibility, and design metrics that serve humans before developer margins.