The fifth elevated station built as part of the Caulfield to Dandenong level crossing removal project is now taking passengers, following a massive effort by hundreds of workers and technicians.
Minister for Industry and Employment Ben Carroll was at Hughesdale Station today to thank crews who have worked around the clock in often wintry conditions to make the station operational.
In a major milestone for the project, more than 10 million hours have been worked so far by a huge cohort of engineers, tradespeople, crane operators, drivers and technical specialists.
Across Melbourne, a staggering 25 million work hours have been clocked up on level crossing removals and the Mernda Rail extension, with an average one million hours worked per month between February and June 2018.
In a team effort involving thousands of workers, 26 crossings – including nine between Caulfield and Dandenong – have now been consigned to the past. During peak construction in June this year, there were more than 6,600 workers across 18 sites.
While these crucial projects are rolling out right now, we are wasting no time in building the rail workforce we’ll need for the future.
In Clayton, nearly 50,000 hours of training have been delivered at a dedicated training centre boosting the skill base in Melbourne’s booming south east. The centre, established as part of the Caulfield to Dandenong project in partnership with Chisholm TAFE, is training entry level workers and upskilling experienced ones.
To ensure cost is not a barrier to people wanting to get the skills they need to contribute to our massive infrastructure program, we’re making 30 priority TAFE courses free and adding 30,000 new training places.
Across the board, apprentices, trainees and cadets also continue to play a huge part in Victoria’s pipeline of infrastructure projects, completing at least 10 per cent of work hours in accordance with the Andrews Labor Government’s Major Projects Skills Guarantee.
While escalators and lifts at Hughesdale Station will not initially be operational, the full system will be up and running in the coming weeks. Work continues to build the 11 MCGs of new parkland and put the final touches on station precincts at Noble Park, Clayton, Murrumbeena and Carnegie along with Hughesdale.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Industry and Employment Ben Carroll
“Every single hour of work and training contributes to a stronger, more highly skilled workforce.”
“Skills, jobs and training happening today are vital to making sure Victorians are ready to deliver the infrastructure projects we’ll need down the track.”
Quote attributable to Member for Oakleigh Steve Dimopoulos
“Thanks to local residents for their patience whilst we got the station ready – after decades of an old second-rate station we now have a station we can be proud of.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020