Imagine waking up to the blaring sound of a train station announcement or having your bedroom flooded with the glare of fluorescent lights at all hours of the night. This is the reality for residents of two apartment blocks in Thomastown, Melbourne's east, who are now living just a stone's throw away from the newly opened Keon Park Station.

The station, which is part of a 750m rail bridge over a road, was unveiled by Transport Infrastructure Minister Danny Pearson on Friday. While the infrastructure project is aimed at improving transport in the area, it has brought with it a host of issues for nearby residents, who are now grappling with a significant invasion of their privacy and peace.

Residents near Keon Park Station were upset by noise, lights, and privacy issues. Credit: Shutterstock

The proximity of the rail bridge to the apartment balconies is so close that residents are being rudely awakened by loudspeakers and find themselves in the spotlight of the station's bright lights. The situation has become so dire that some have likened the intrusive light to 'torture tactics' akin to those used in Guantanamo Bay.

Angela Villella, a resident of the affected area, expressed her dismay at the scale of the new station, which she compared to the grandeur of the Taj Mahal. 'We think it’s great the rail crossing has been removed, but we have gone from a single car garage-looking train station to something that looks like the Taj Mahal. It’s massive,' she said.

The residents, while not opposed to the project itself, are calling on the government to take measures to mitigate the impact on their lives. They have requested the installation of double or triple-glazed windows to dampen the noise and shades across their balconies to shield their privacy from prying eyes at the station. However, their pleas have been met with resistance, and their requests have reportedly been rejected.

The response from the authorities has been less than satisfactory for those affected. One resident recounted how complaints about the noise during the station's construction were met with the offer of earplugs, a gesture they found laughable given the severity of the situation.

The government has acknowledged the issue, with Mr. Pearson stating that residents who purchased their apartments before 2022 are eligible for the Voluntary Purchase Scheme. For those who bought after 2022, discussions are ongoing to find ways to assist them. Yet, the question remains as to what extent these measures will alleviate the problems faced by the residents.

The impact of the station on property values is yet to be determined, but it's a pressing concern for homeowners and investors in the area. With the median house price in Thomastown sitting at $704,000 and units at $482,000, according to realestate.com.au, the proximity to the station could potentially affect the market desirability and pricing.

Matt Thorpe, acting CEO of Level Crossing Removals, has stated that while they anticipated some concerns from residents, the location of the station could not be altered. During construction, various options were offered to residents, including headphones and, in some cases, relocation.

This situation in Thomastown raises broader questions about urban development and the balance between infrastructure growth and the well-being of residents. It's a reminder that progress should not come at the cost of community comfort and that consultation and consideration are key in planning such projects.

Key Takeaways

• Residents near the newly opened Keon Park Station are outraged over privacy concerns and disturbances caused by loud noises and bright lights.
• The rail bridge, part of the station just metres away from apartment balconies, is disrupting residents' sleep and they are requesting government action for soundproofing and privacy measures.
• Some residents have compared the intrusive bright lights to torture tactics and seek to have double or triple-glazed windows and balcony shades installed, although their requests were initially rejected.
• While Transport Infrastructure Minister Danny Pearson offered a Voluntary Purchase Scheme for some residents, the Level Crossing Removals organization acknowledges concerns but indicates the station location cannot be changed. They offer various options to affected people during construction, like providing headphones or sometimes relocation.

For our readers, have you experienced similar issues with infrastructure projects in your area? How do you think such situations should be handled to ensure that the needs of the community are met? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below – let's discuss how we can advocate for better solutions that respect both progress and privacy.

 

[Maggie96]

Your can't stop progress, good luck to the people involved, hopefully they will get some compensation.

 

[BellaB18]

The Victorian government, has really let most of us Melbourne people down. Yes that level crossing needed to be updated and that is probably the only good thing the government has done since it's been in power. Really there must have been a better way to build the station truly no one could expect people to live with loud speakers and bright lights blaring into peoples homes no privacy either. Surely they could have put up barriers something that blended with the area or even offered the home owners to replace their windows with double glazed glass and blinds anything. Not good enough.
Victoria is in huge poop with the over spending on the big builds, ambulance ramping, hospital waiting times over the top youth violence, so sad to say this debacle does not surprise me over the railway station.
The Victorian government does not listen or care about the people of Victoria.
Sorry for you poor souls living at the station area.
Kind regards to all Vicki